North River (Cacapon River)
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| North River | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Origin | South Branch Mountain, Hardy County, West Virginia |
| Mouth | Cacapon River at Forks of Cacapon, Hampshire County, West Virginia |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Length | 44 mi (70.81 km) |
| Basin area | 206 mi² |
North River is a tributary of the Cacapon River, belonging to the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay watersheds. The river is located in Hampshire and Hardy counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. The mouth of North River into the Cacapon is located at Forks of Cacapon. From its headwaters to its mouth, the North River spans over 44 miles (70.81 km) in length.
Contents |
[edit] Headwaters and course
[edit] South Branch Mountain to Rio
North River's headwaters comprise of two streams that converge in the southeastern hollows of South Branch Mountain (3028 feet) in Hardy County. From its source, the river flows east through the communities of Inkerman and Rock Oak along North River Road (County Route 1) where it is joined by Grassy Lick Run. North River continues to flow east as a shallow stony stream and after it passes through a gap in Short Mountain (2864 feet), it acts as the border between Hardy and Hampshire counties. It is in this stretch that the river is home to the Rio Turtle, a large turtle-shaped rock painted to resemble a turtle. The river then enters exclusively into Hampshire County where it meets the community of Rio and Sperry Run, which flows in from the south.
[edit] Rio to Forks of Cacapon
At Rio (pronounced RYE-O), North River makes a ninety-degree bend and flows north into the wide fertile North River Valley along North River Mountain (2149 feet). Also beginning at Rio, North River parallels West Virginia Route 29 (Delray Road). On its journey northward, North River is fed from the west by Deep Run and Mick Run, which drain off of Short Mountain. Further north along WV 29, the river passes through the communities of Delray and Sedan at Pearl Ridge (1302 feet). Departing from Sedan, North River flows under the Northwestern Turnpike (U.S. Route 50) at Hanging Rock and winds its way northward around North River Mountain. Pine Draft Run and Tearcoat Creek join the river south of Hoy before the river bends yet again and joins Gibbons Run. Flowing through the historic village of North River Mills, North River is joined by Hiett's Run, which flows from the eastern side of Ice Mountain (1489 feet). After North River Mills, the river makes a sharp linear curve around the Devil's Backbone (856 feet) and then commences its movement northward along Pine Mountain (1726 feet). North River crosses under the Bloomery Pike (West Virginia Route 127) and is then joined from the west by Crooked Run before flowing under Gaston Road's one-lane bridge and finally arriving at its confluence with the Cacapon River at Forks of Cacapon.
[edit] Bridges
| Bridge | Route | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge at Skagg's Run | CR 1/5 | Inkerman |
| Bridge | North River Road (CR 1) | Inkerman |
| Bridge | North River Road (CR 1) | Rock Oak |
| Rock Oak Bridge | Rock Oak Road | Rock Oak |
| Bridge at Waterlick Run | CR 1/1 | Rock Oak |
| North River Bridge | Augusta-Ford Hill Road (CR 53) | Rio |
| Upper Mullins Road Bridge | Mullins Road (off CR 53) | Rio |
| Lower Mullins Road Bridge | Mullins Road (off CR 53) | Rio |
| Rio WV 29 Bridge | Delray Road (WV 29) | Rio |
| Sedan WV 29 Bridge | Delray Road (WV 29) | Sedan |
| Sedan School Road Bridge | Sedan School Road (CR 11/1) | Sedan |
| Hanging Rock Bridge | Northwestern Turnpike (US 50/WV 29) | Hanging Rock |
| One-Lane Double Arch Bridge | Cold Stream Road (CR 45/20) | North River Mills |
| North River WV 127 Bridge | Bloomery Pike (WV 127) | Forks of Cacapon |
| One-Lane Arch Bridge | Gaston Road (CR 45/7) | Forks of Cacapon |
[edit] Tributaries
Tributary streams are listed in order from south (source) to north (mouth).
- Skaggs Run
- Pot Lick Run
- Horn Camp Run
- Waterlick Run
- Grassy Lick Run
- Meadow Run
- Sperry Run
- Deep Run
- Lick Run
- Elkhorn Run
- Hanging Rock Run
- Stuart Hollow Run
- Henderson Hollow Run
- Pine Draft Run
- Tearcoat Creek
- Turkeyfoot Run
- Bearwallow Creek
- Gibbons Run
- Maple Run
- Hiett Run
- Riggs Hollow Run
- Crooked Run
- Castle Run
[edit] List of cities and towns along the North River
[edit] See also
 |
Hardy County, West Virginia |
|---|---|
| Municipalities | |
| Unincorporated communities |
Arkansaw | Baker | Basore | Bass | Baughman Settlement | Bean Settlement | Brake | Cunningham | Durgon | Fisher | Flats | Fort Run | Inkerman | Kessel | Lost City | Lost River | Mathias | McCauley | McNeill | Milam | Needmore | Old Fields | Perry | Peru | Rig | Rock Oak | Rockland | Tannery | Taylor | Walnut Bottom |
| Natural features and areas |
Cacapon River | George Washington National Forest | Grassy Lick Run | Great North Mountain | Kettle Creek | Lost River | Lost River State Park | Mill Creek Mountain | North River | Patterson Creek Mountain | Short Mountain | South Branch Potomac River | South Branch Wildlife Management Area | South Fork South Branch Potomac River | Trout Pond | Trout Run | Warden Lake |
