Virginia State Route 39
Encyclopedia
Virginia State Route 39 (SR 39) is a primary state highway
in the U.S. state of Virginia
. The state highway runs 59.17 miles (95.2 km) from the West Virginia
state line near Mountain Grove
, where the highway continues as West Virginia Route 39 (WV 39), east to U.S. Route 11
(US 11) in East Lexington
. SR 39 connects Lexington
with several communities formed around hot springs
in Bath County
. In Rockbridge County
, the state highway passes through the town of Goshen
and Goshen Pass
, a gorge formed by the Maury River
.
and between the James River
and Monongahela River
watersheds. The roadway continues west of the state line as WV 39 toward Minnehaha Springs
and Marlinton
. SR 39, which is named Mountain Valley Road, passes through a hairpin turn on its descent of the dividing ridge, then follows Big Turn Run to the valley of Little Back Creek, which passes by the hamlet of Mooretown
. At Mountain Grove, the state highway turns south to follow Back Creek
through a gap in Back Creek Mountain. SR 39 ascends the east side of the mountain along O'Rourke Draft, then descends to the Jackson River
. The state highway continues east along Warm Springs Run through a gap in Little Mountain to the village of Warm Springs. SR 39 has a short concurrency with US 220 (Ingalls Boulevard) north of the village in which the highways pass the Jefferson Pools
.
SR 39 ascends Warm Springs Mountain and passes around the edge of Big Piney Mountain, then follows Jordan Creek and Thompson Creek past Bath Alum
, the site of an airport, and McClung
. The state highway follows the Cowpasture River
to Millboro Springs
, where the highway begins to run concurrently
with SR 42
(Cow Pasture River Road). SR 39 and SR 42 leave the Cowpasture River and enter the valley of Mill Creek, which the highways and a CSX
rail line follow through the gap in Mill Mountain at which they enter Rockbridge County and the town of Goshen and continue as Maury River Road. Just north of the center of town, SR 39 Alternate splits to the south as Main Street. SR 42 (Virginia Avenue) splits to the north immediately before SR 39 passes under another rail line and crosses Mill Creek just above its confluence with the Calfpasture River
. SR 39 meets the first rail line at grade immediately before receiving the eastern end of SR 39 Alternate (Main Street).
South of Goshen, SR 39 leaves the rail line after an at-grade crossing and follows the Calfpasture River through a gap between Bratton Mountain and Knob Mountain and passes to the south of Lake Merriweather, an impoundment of the Little Calfpasture River
. The two Calfpasture rivers merge to form the Maury River. SR 39 passes through Goshen Pass, a gorge formed by the Maury River through Great North Mountain
that is preserved in the Goshen Pass Natural Area Preserve
. East of the gorge, the state highway crosses to the north side of the river and passes through Rockbridge Baths
. SR 39 leaves the immediate vicinity of the river and meets the southern end of SR 252
(Brownsburg Turnpike) at Cedar Grove
. The state highway veers south along a curvaceous path toward East Lexington. SR 39 briefly parallels Interstate 64
(I-64) before reaching its eastern terminus at US 11 (Lee Highway). US 11 has an interchange with I-64 immediately to the south, which also leads to I-81
a short distance to the east.
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=4|Bath
|Mountain Grove
|0.00
|
|Western terminus; West Virginia
state line
|-
|rowspan=2|Warm Springs
|17.81
|
|West end of concurrency with US 220
|-
|18.00
|
|East end of concurrency with US 220
|-
|Millboro Springs
|31.05
|
|West end of concurrency with SR 42
|-36.78
|rowspan=5|Rockbridge
|rowspan=3|Goshen
|
|SR 39 Alt. east (Main Street)
|
|-
|39.25
|
|East end of concurrency with SR 42
|-
|
|SR 39 Alt. west (Main Street)
|
|-
|Cedar Grove
|51.62
|
|
|-
|East Lexington
|59.17
|
|Eastern terminus
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. The state highway runs 59.17 miles (95.2 km) from the West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
state line near Mountain Grove
Mountain Grove, Virginia
Mountain Grove is an unincorporated community in Bath County, Virginia, in the United States.-Reference:...
, where the highway continues as West Virginia Route 39 (WV 39), east to U.S. Route 11
U.S. Route 11 in Virginia
U.S. Route 11 in Virginia runs north–south through the western part of the state, parallel to Interstate 81.-History:What is now US 11 was added to the state highway system in 1918 as portions of State Route 10 and State Route 3 . SR 3 became State Route 33 in 1923, and US 11 was applied to...
(US 11) in East Lexington
East Lexington, Virginia
East Lexington is a census-designated place in Rockbridge County, Virginia. The population as of the 2010 Census was 1,463....
. SR 39 connects Lexington
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
with several communities formed around hot springs
Hot Springs
Hot Springs may refer to:* Hot Springs, Arkansas** Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas*Hot Springs, California**Hot Springs, Lassen County, California**Hot Springs, Modoc County, California**Hot Springs, Placer County, California...
in Bath County
Bath County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,048 people, 2,053 households, and 1,451 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 2,896 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile...
. In Rockbridge County
Rockbridge County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,808 people, 8,486 households, and 6,075 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile . There were 9,550 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
, the state highway passes through the town of Goshen
Goshen, Virginia
Goshen is a town in Rockbridge County, Virginia, United States. The population was 406 at the 2000 census. The town is known amongst the Boy Scouts of America for hosting Goshen Scout Reservation, one of the largest Boy Scout camps in America....
and Goshen Pass
Goshen Pass
Goshen Pass is a water gap, or gorge, in the Little North Mountain, formed by the passage of the Maury River, approximately northwest of Lexington in Rockbridge County, Virginia. State Route 39 traverses the pass along the banks of the Maury River....
, a gorge formed by the Maury River
Maury River
The Maury River is a tributary of the James River in west-central Virginia in the United States. Via the James River, it is part of the watershed of Chesapeake Bay.The Maury flows for its entire length in Rockbridge County...
.
Route description
SR 39 begins at Ryder Gap at the West Virginia state line, which also serves as the boundary between George Washington National Forest and Monongahela National ForestMonongahela National Forest
The Monongahela National Forest is a national forest located in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, USA. It protects over of federally-owned land within a proclamation boundary that includes much of the Potomac Highlands Region and portions of 10 counties.The MNF includes some...
and between the James River
James River
The James River may refer to:Rivers in the United States and their namesakes* James River * James River , North Dakota, South Dakota* James River * James River * James River...
and Monongahela River
Monongahela River
The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States...
watersheds. The roadway continues west of the state line as WV 39 toward Minnehaha Springs
Minnehaha Springs, West Virginia
Minnehaha Springs is an unincorporated community located in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, USA. It was named for the Native American princess, Minnehaha, and the mineral springs on the Lockridge farm. It is the only community with this name in the United States. On the site of what is now Camp...
and Marlinton
Marlinton, West Virginia
Marlinton is a town in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,204 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pocahontas County.-History:...
. SR 39, which is named Mountain Valley Road, passes through a hairpin turn on its descent of the dividing ridge, then follows Big Turn Run to the valley of Little Back Creek, which passes by the hamlet of Mooretown
Mooretown, Virginia
Mooretown is an unincorporated community in Bath County, Virginia, in the United States.-Reference:...
. At Mountain Grove, the state highway turns south to follow Back Creek
Back Creek (Jackson River)
Back Creek is a river in the United States state of Virginia. It is a tributary of the Jackson River, part of the James River watershed.- References :* USGS Hydrologic Unit Map - State of Virginia...
through a gap in Back Creek Mountain. SR 39 ascends the east side of the mountain along O'Rourke Draft, then descends to the Jackson River
Jackson River (Virginia)
The Jackson River is a major tributary of the James River in the U.S. state of Virginia, flowing . The James River is formed by the confluence of the Jackson River and the Cowpasture River.-Course:...
. The state highway continues east along Warm Springs Run through a gap in Little Mountain to the village of Warm Springs. SR 39 has a short concurrency with US 220 (Ingalls Boulevard) north of the village in which the highways pass the Jefferson Pools
Jefferson Pools
-External links:* - Homestead Resort...
.
SR 39 ascends Warm Springs Mountain and passes around the edge of Big Piney Mountain, then follows Jordan Creek and Thompson Creek past Bath Alum
Bath Alum, Virginia
Bath Alum is an unincorporated community in Bath County, Virginia, in the United States.-Reference:...
, the site of an airport, and McClung
McClung, Virginia
McClung is an unincorporated community in Bath County, Virginia, in the United States.-Reference:...
. The state highway follows the Cowpasture River
Cowpasture River
The Cowpasture River is a chief tributary of the James River in western Virginia in the United States. It is long.-Course:The Cowpasture rises in northeastern Highland County and flows generally southwestwardly, initially between Bullpasture Mountain and Shaws Ridge through a narrow valley floor...
to Millboro Springs
Millboro Springs, Virginia
Millboro Springs is an unincorporated community in Bath County, Virginia, in the United States.-Reference:...
, where the highway begins to run concurrently
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with SR 42
Virginia State Route 42
State Route 42 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Running parallel to and west of Interstate 81, SR 42 consists of three sections with gaps filled by secondary routes in between. Some of SR 42 lies along the old Fincastle and Cumberland Gap Turnpike...
(Cow Pasture River Road). SR 39 and SR 42 leave the Cowpasture River and enter the valley of Mill Creek, which the highways and a CSX
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
rail line follow through the gap in Mill Mountain at which they enter Rockbridge County and the town of Goshen and continue as Maury River Road. Just north of the center of town, SR 39 Alternate splits to the south as Main Street. SR 42 (Virginia Avenue) splits to the north immediately before SR 39 passes under another rail line and crosses Mill Creek just above its confluence with the Calfpasture River
Calfpasture River
The Calfpasture River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It flows about from its source, Gordons Peak in the Allegheny Mountains, to its confluence with the Little Calfpasture River, forming the Maury River. Via the Maury, the Calfpasture's waters flow into the James River, thence...
. SR 39 meets the first rail line at grade immediately before receiving the eastern end of SR 39 Alternate (Main Street).
South of Goshen, SR 39 leaves the rail line after an at-grade crossing and follows the Calfpasture River through a gap between Bratton Mountain and Knob Mountain and passes to the south of Lake Merriweather, an impoundment of the Little Calfpasture River
Little Calfpasture River
The Little Calfpasture River is a tributary of the Maury River in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is part of the James River watershed.The river rises east of Elliott Knob on Great North Mountain in the Allegheny Mountains of western Virginia, in Augusta County...
. The two Calfpasture rivers merge to form the Maury River. SR 39 passes through Goshen Pass, a gorge formed by the Maury River through Great North Mountain
Great North Mountain
Great North Mountain is a long mountain range within the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians in the U.S. states of Virginia and West Virginia. The range is located west of the Shenandoah Valley and Massanutten Mountain in Virginia, and east of the Allegheny Mountains and Cacapon River in West...
that is preserved in the Goshen Pass Natural Area Preserve
Goshen Pass Natural Area Preserve
Goshen Pass Natural Area Preserve is a Natural Area Preserve located in Rockbridge County, Virginia. The oldest such state-managed property in Virginia, it was first acquired in 1954 to help protect views of the gorge along the Maury River...
. East of the gorge, the state highway crosses to the north side of the river and passes through Rockbridge Baths
Rockbridge Baths, Virginia
Rockbridge Baths is an unincorporated community in Rockbridge County, Virginia, United States....
. SR 39 leaves the immediate vicinity of the river and meets the southern end of SR 252
Virginia State Route 252
State Route 252 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. It runs from State Route 39 near Rockbridge Baths in a general north-northeast direction, paralleling U.S. Route 11 to the west, to U.S. Route 250, U.S. Route 11 Business, and State Route 254 in Staunton.-External links:*...
(Brownsburg Turnpike) at Cedar Grove
Cedar Grove, Virginia
Cedar Grove is an unincorporated community in Northampton County, Virginia, United States.-References:*...
. The state highway veers south along a curvaceous path toward East Lexington. SR 39 briefly parallels Interstate 64
Interstate 64 in Virginia
In the U.S. state of Virginia, Interstate 64 runs east–west through the middle of the state from West Virginia to the Hampton Roads region, a total of . It is notable for crossing the mouth of the harbor of Hampton Roads on the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, the first bridge-tunnel to...
(I-64) before reaching its eastern terminus at US 11 (Lee Highway). US 11 has an interchange with I-64 immediately to the south, which also leads to I-81
Interstate 81 in Virginia
Interstate 81 is an long highway. In the U.S. state of Virginia, I-81 runs for , making it longer in Virginia than in any other state. It stretches from the Tennessee state line near Bristol to the West Virginia state line near Winchester. U.S...
a short distance to the east.
Major intersections
{| class="wikitable"!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=4|Bath
Bath County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,048 people, 2,053 households, and 1,451 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 2,896 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile...
|Mountain Grove
Mountain Grove, Virginia
Mountain Grove is an unincorporated community in Bath County, Virginia, in the United States.-Reference:...
|0.00
|
|Western terminus; West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
state line
|-
|rowspan=2|Warm Springs
Warm Springs, Virginia
Warm Springs is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Bath County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 123. It lies along U.S. Route 220 near the center of the county.-History and geography:...
|17.81
|
|West end of concurrency with US 220
|-
|18.00
|
|East end of concurrency with US 220
|-
|Millboro Springs
Millboro Springs, Virginia
Millboro Springs is an unincorporated community in Bath County, Virginia, in the United States.-Reference:...
|31.05
|
|West end of concurrency with SR 42
|-36.78
|rowspan=5|Rockbridge
Rockbridge County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,808 people, 8,486 households, and 6,075 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile . There were 9,550 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
|rowspan=3|Goshen
Goshen, Virginia
Goshen is a town in Rockbridge County, Virginia, United States. The population was 406 at the 2000 census. The town is known amongst the Boy Scouts of America for hosting Goshen Scout Reservation, one of the largest Boy Scout camps in America....
|
|SR 39 Alt. east (Main Street)
|
|-
|39.25
|
|East end of concurrency with SR 42
|-
|
|SR 39 Alt. west (Main Street)
|
|-
|Cedar Grove
Cedar Grove, Virginia
Cedar Grove is an unincorporated community in Northampton County, Virginia, United States.-References:*...
|51.62
|
|
|-
|East Lexington
East Lexington, Virginia
East Lexington is a census-designated place in Rockbridge County, Virginia. The population as of the 2010 Census was 1,463....
|59.17
|
|Eastern terminus