High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The gap has been a major thoroughfare between the Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley since before the European colonization of the area. Native Americans originally cut a trail through the gap that continued to be used by white settlers. The gap was known as Williams' Gap until the early 1780s when the modern name began to be used. The gap derived its name from Edward Snickers, who owned the gap and surrounding land and operated a ferry across the Shenandoah River on the western side of the gap. By the late 18th century the Snickersville Turnpike and the Snickers Gap Turnpike were completed and Snickers Gap became the main thoroughfare between Loudoun and the Shenandoah, bypassing Keyes Gap, which to that point had been the preferred route.