What is the name of the pass through the Appalachian Mountains that allowed pioneer families to travel west?

The Cumberland Gap is a significant geographical feature located in the Appalachian Mountains, serving as a natural passageway. Its importance lies in the role it played during the westward expansion of the United States in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Pioneers and settlers utilized the Cumberland Gap to traverse the challenging terrain of the Appalachian Mountains as they moved into the western territories. This gap provided a relatively easier route through the mountains, allowing families to transport their belongings and livestock, thus facilitating settlement in areas beyond the mountains. The Gap is located near the borders of Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee, making it a strategic point for migration during that era.

In contrast, the other options listed do not refer to any notable passes through the Appalachian Mountains associated with pioneer travel. Cumberland Pass is not recognized in the same context, Sierra Pass is linked to the Sierra Nevada in a different region, and Potomac Pass does not exist as a known geographical feature linked to this historical movement.