Take a drive through Goshen Pass and marvel at the natural beauty. In the summer, take a dip in the cool mountain waters of the Maury River.

Twelve miles north of Lexington on State Route 39, visitors enter a great mountain gorge; three miles of rushing, boulder-strewn river, its shores teeming with rhododendron, mountain laurel, ferns, magnificent pines, maples and dogwoods. This is the Goshen Pass, where the Maury River cuts through a range of the Allegheny Mountains.

Aside from its natural beauty, the pass offers a variety of recreational activities. Swimming and tubing in the cool mountain water are perennial favorites in the hot summer months, while kayaking, fishing, hiking and picnicking are enjoyed virtually year round. About mid-way through Goshen Pass is a wayside park with a picnic tables. A shelter, showcasing the talents of local timber framers, is a worthy centerpiece for the picnic area.

The pass, with a rich history as a natural thoroughfare through the mountains, was used by the stagecoach lines in the 19th century.

Goshen Pass is managed by the Virginia Department of Transportation and is a game forest preserve.