Virginia is home to beautiful mountains that provide scenic views and great opportunities for outdoor recreation. From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Appalachian Mountains, Virginia’s peaks have been sources of fascination and folklore for centuries.
Can you solve these 43 riddles about mountains in Virginia? Read on for some brain-teasing puzzles with answers provided at the end!
Riddles
1. What has a head and a tail but no body?
A mountain range like the Blue Ridge Mountains located in the state of Virginia.
2. What mountain in Virginia has a name meaning “dark woods” in Native American language?
3. Famous for its scenic Skyline Drive, what National Park in Virginia features impressive mountain peaks like Hawksbill and Stony Man?
4. Home to Virginia’s highest peak, Mount Rogers, what long mountain range stretches from Virginia to Tennessee?
5. The tallest peak completely within Virginia, what mountain rises to an elevation of 5,729 feet?
6. Located near Roanoke, Virginia, which mountain is said to resemble a giant sleeping or resting?
7. What two-word Virginia mountain is rumored to be inhabited by a mythical monster called the “devil dog”?
8. Which historic Virginia mountain path was used by pioneers and frontiersmen like Daniel Boone?
9. What common Virginia mountain wildflower is sometimes called “lightning weed” in folklore?
10. Home to ski resorts like Wintergreen and Massanutten, what mountain region lies between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Allegheny Mountains?
11. In 1716, Governor Alexander Spotswood led an expedition across which mountain gap located along the Virginia-West Virginia border?
12. Which mountain was once thought to mark the end of civilization by 18th century Virginia explorers and settlers?
13. Site of a famous Civil War battle and flowing waterfalls, what Shenandoah National Park mountain was originally known as Horsehead Mountain?
14. Located along the West Virginia border, which national recreation area is named for a prominent sandstone ridge mountain?
15. Home to hiking trails like Devil’s Marbleyard, what is the second tallest mountain in Virginia after Mount Rogers?
16. Which scenic mountain parkway in Virginia is named after a flowering dogwood tree?
17. In 1716, which Knights of the Golden Horseshoe member had a mountain along the Blue Ridge named after him by Governor Spotsylvania?
18. Known for its towering sandstone cliffs, what is the longest mountain range contained entirely within Virginia?
19. Which year-round resort located in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains is home to land formations called “hogbacks”?
20. What exposed granite dome mountain in Madison County, Virginia was once called Etlan by local Monacan tribes?
21. Located near Charlottesville, which Virginia mountain is said to resemble a sleeping elephant or camel?
22. Home to oak and hickory forests, what mountain range stretches from Lynchburg, Virginia to the state’s southern border?
23. Named after an early 1800s French guest at a resort, which Virginia peak was originally known as Bald Mountain?
24. Which Virginia mountain valley was once called “Quirank” meaning “bear hunting grounds” by local Monacan Indians?
25. What Virginia mountain was nicknamed the “Barrier Mountains” in the 1700s for separating coastal Tidewater from the unknown frontier?
26. Believed to harbor mountain lions in local folklore, which forested Virginia mountain range includes peaks like Three Ridges and Apple Orchard Mountain?
27. Which winding mountain road located northwest of Roanoke, Virginia is rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of star-crossed lovers?
28. Home to Devil’s Bathtub and other unique rock formations, which Virginia mountain takes its name from an early Indian tribe?
29. Nestled between Shenandoah National Park and George Washington National Forest, what rounded, berry-named Virginia mountain peak rises to 2,940 feet?
30. Located near Blacksburg, Virginia, what popular recreation area is named for its dome-shaped mountain peaks?
31. Believed to be named after a regional rodent, what rocky, ridge-lined Virginia mountain near Lexington soars to an elevation of 4,002 feet?
32. Which historic mountain crossroad located 40 miles southwest of Roanoke takes its name from an early German settler family?
33. Which 3,000-foot peak located in George Washington and Jefferson National Forest is said to resemble an upside-down canoe?
34. Home to over 100 tree species like yellow birch and mountain ash, which Virginia mountain range’s name means “foot hills” or “land at the foot of the hills”?
35. Located along Virginia and West Virginia border, which Shenandoah Mountain is believed to be named after a local 18th century shepherd?
36. Believed to be named after Colonel William Preston’s hometown, which market town located 40 miles south of Roanoke took its name from a mountain in Scotland?
37. Which winding mountain road near Roanoke is nicknamed the “Claw of the Mountain” and is said to be inhabited by ghostly “little people”?
38. Known as “The Crest of Virginia”, which is the most northern mountain range of the Appalachians located entirely with in state borders?
39. Home to Sugar Hollow Reservoir, what Blue Ridge Mountain is said to resemble a giant mound when viewed from a distance?
40. Which rocky Virginia mountain near Lexington shares its Cherokee name meaning “river of death” with a famous ghost town?
41. What isolated, boulder-strewn Virginia mountain located south of Harrisonburg was once home to mysterious Newark Holy Stones?
42. Site of old coal mines and the Mountain Lake resort what Virginia peak near West Virginia border is nicknamed the “High Knob”?
43. Name the Triple Peaks located in central Virginia that are said to resemble the face of Queen Nefertiti when viewed from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Answers
1. What has a head and a tail but no body?
Answer: A mountain range like the Blue Ridge Mountains located in the state of Virginia.
2. What mountain in Virginia has a name meaning “dark woods” in Native American language?
Answer: Dismal Mountain
3. Famous for its scenic Skyline Drive, what National Park in Virginia features impressive mountain peaks like Hawksbill and Stony Man?
Answer: Shenandoah National Park
4. Home to Virginia’s highest peak, Mount Rogers, what long mountain range stretches from Virginia to Tennessee?
Answer: The Appalachian Mountains
5. The tallest peak completely within Virginia, what mountain rises to an elevation of 5,729 feet?
Answer: Mount Rogers
6. Located near Roanoke, Virginia, which mountain is said to resemble a giant sleeping or resting?
Answer: Sleeping Giant Mountain
7. What two-word Virginia mountain is rumored to be inhabited by a mythical monster called the “devil dog”?
Answer: Devil’s Knob
8. Which historic Virginia mountain path was used by pioneers and frontiersmen like Daniel Boone?
Answer: The Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap
9. What common Virginia mountain wildflower is sometimes called “lightning weed” in folklore?
Answer: Blue Camas / Wild Hyacinth
10. Home to ski resorts like Wintergreen and Massanutten, what mountain region lies between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Allegheny Mountains?
Answer: The Valley and Ridge Province
11. In 1716, Governor Alexander Spotswood led an expedition across which mountain gap located along the Virginia-West Virginia border?
Answer: Swift Run Gap
12. Which mountain was once thought to mark the end of civilization by 18th century Virginia explorers and settlers?
Answer: The Appalachian Mountains
13. Site of a famous Civil War battle and flowing waterfalls, what Shenandoah National Park mountain was originally known as Horsehead Mountain?
Answer: Cedar Mountain
14. Located along the West Virginia border, which national recreation area is named for a prominent sandstone ridge mountain?
Answer: New River Gorge National River
15. Home to hiking trails like Devil’s Marbleyard, what is the second tallest mountain in Virginia after Mount Rogers?
Answer: Whitetop Mountain
16. Which scenic mountain parkway in Virginia is named after a flowering dogwood tree?
Answer: The James River Face Wildflower Greenway
17. In 1716, which Knights of the Golden Horseshoe member had a mountain along the Blue Ridge named after him by Governor Spotsylvania?
Answer: French Carpenter Mountain, after Peter Jefferson’s young servant
18. Known for its towering sandstone cliffs, what is the longest mountain range contained entirely within Virginia?
Answer: Clinch Mountain
19. Which year-round resort located in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains is home to land formations called “hogbacks”?
Answer: Wintergreen Resort
20. What exposed granite dome mountain in Madison County, Virginia was once called Etlan by local Monacan tribes?
Answer: Old Rag Mountain
21. Located near Charlottesville, which Virginia mountain is said to resemble a sleeping elephant or camel?
Answer: Camels Hump
22. Home to oak and hickory forests, what mountain range stretches from Lynchburg, Virginia to the state’s southern border?
Answer: The Blue Ridge Mountains
23. Named after an early 1800s French guest at a resort, which Virginia peak was originally known as Bald Mountain?
Answer: Mount Jarmans Bald
24. Which Virginia mountain valley was once called “Quirank” meaning “bear hunting grounds” by local Monacan Indians?
Answer: Wills Creek Valley
25. What Virginia mountain was nicknamed the “Barrier Mountains” in the 1700s for separating coastal Tidewater from the unknown frontier?
Answer: The Blue Ridge Mountains
26. Believed to harbor mountain lions in local folklore, which forested Virginia mountain range includes peaks like Three Ridges and Apple Orchard Mountain?
Answer: The George Washington National Forest
27. Which winding mountain road located northwest of Roanoke, Virginia is rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of star-crossed lovers?
Answer: The Blue Ridge Parkway
28. Home to Devil’s Bathtub and other unique rock formations, which Virginia mountain takes its name from an early Indian tribe?
Answer: Shawvers Run Mountain
29. Nestled between Shenandoah National Park and George Washington National Forest, what rounded, berry-named Virginia mountain peak rises to 2,940 feet?
Answer: Three Ridge Mountain
30. Located near Blacksburg, Virginia, what popular recreation area is named for its dome-shaped mountain peaks?
Answer: Jefferson National Forest
31. Believed to be named after a regional rodent, what rocky, ridge-lined Virginia mountain near Lexington soars to an elevation of 4,002 feet?
Answer: House Mountain
32. Which historic mountain crossroad located 40 miles southwest of Roanoke takes its name from an early German settler family?
Answer: Big Lick
33. Which 3,000-foot peak located in George Washington and Jefferson National Forest is said to resemble an upside-down canoe?
Answer: Canoe Mountain
34. Home to over 100 tree species like yellow birch and mountain ash, which Virginia mountain range’s name means “foot hills” or “land at the foot of the hills”?
Answer: The Allegheny Mountains
35. Located along Virginia and West Virginia border, which Shenandoah Mountain is believed to be named after a local 18th century shepherd?
Answer: Jeremiah’s Mountain
36. Believed to be named after Colonel William Preston’s hometown, which market town located 40 miles south of Roanoke took its name from a mountain in Scotland?
Answer: Radford, Virginia
37. Which winding mountain road near Roanoke is nicknamed the “Claw of the Mountain” and is said to be inhabited by ghostly “little people”?
Answer: Devil’s Marbleyard
38. Known as “The Crest of Virginia”, which is the most northern mountain range of the Appalachians located entirely with in state borders?
Answer: The Blue Ridge Mountains
39. Home to Sugar Hollow Reservoir, what Blue Ridge Mountain is said to resemble a giant mound when viewed from a distance?
Answer: Mount Roosevelt
40. Which rocky Virginia mountain near Lexington shares its Cherokee name meaning “river of death” with a famous ghost town?
Answer: Natural Chimneys
41. What isolated, boulder-strewn Virginia mountain located south of Harrisonburg was once home to mysterious Newark Holy Stones?
Answer: Gap Mountain
42. Site of old coal mines and the Mountain Lake resort what Virginia peak near West Virginia border is nicknamed the “High Knob”?
Answer: Salt Pond Mountain
43. Name the Triple Peaks located in central Virginia that are said to resemble the face of Queen Nefertiti when viewed from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Answer: Three Sisters Peaks
Conclusion
There are the answers to the 43 riddles about mountains in Virginia! From the towering Appalachians to the history-filled Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia’s peaks offer beautiful vistas and intriguing myths. How many riddles could you correctly solve? Virginia’s mountain landscapes hold many secrets waiting to be uncovered by adventurous travelers and avid riddle solvers alike!
