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Cacapon River

Coordinates:39°37′13″N78°16′58″W/ 39.62028°N 78.28278°W/39.62028; -78.28278
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Cacapon River
The Cacapon River looking south from the Cacapon River Rt 127 Bridge Public Access Site
Cacapon River is located in West Virginia
Cacapon River
Location of the mouth of the Cacapon River in West Virginia
Cacapon River is located in the United States
Cacapon River
Cacapon River (the United States)
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWest Virginia
CountiesHampshire,Hardy,Morgan
Physical characteristics
SourceLost River
• locationWardensville,Hardy County
• coordinates39°04′52″N78°38′10″W/ 39.08111°N 78.63611°W/39.08111; -78.63611[1]
MouthPotomac River
• location
Great Cacapon,Morgan County
• coordinates
39°37′13″N78°16′58″W/ 39.62028°N 78.28278°W/39.62028; -78.28278[1]
Length81.0 mi (130.4 km)[2]
Basin size680 sq mi (1,800 km2)
Discharge
• locationGreat Cacapon[3]
• average592 cu ft/s (16.8 m3/s)[3]
• minimum26 cu ft/s (0.74 m3/s)
(September 12, 1966)[3]
• maximum87,600 cu ft/s (2,480 m3/s)
(March 18, 1936)[3]

TheCacapon River(locally/kəˈkeɪpən/kə-KAY-pən;meaningMedicine Waters), located in theAppalachian MountainsofWest Virginia'sEastern Panhandleregion, is an 81.0-mile-long (130.4 km)[2]shallow river known for its fishing, boating, wildlife, hunting, and wilderness scenery. As part of thePotomac Riverwatershed,it is anAmerican Heritage River.

The Cacapon River Watershed is made up of three major river segments and many smaller stream watersheds. Theheadwatersof the Cacapon River, known as theLost River,is 31.1 miles (50.1 km) long[2]and receives water from a watershed covering 178 square miles (460 km2). The largest tributary of the Cacapon is theNorth River,which drains 206 square miles (530 km2), an area comparable to that of the Lost River. Overall, the Cacapon River watershed includes the Lost and North River watersheds, and those of many smaller streams for a total of 680 square miles (1,800 km2). The Cacapon watershed is itself part of theChesapeake Baywatershed.

In recent years the Cacapon River and its watershed have become threatened by development, and industrial and agricultural growth. Concern about these issues led to the establishment of the Cacapon Institute in 1985 (originally known as the Pine Cabin Run Ecological Laboratory).[citation needed]

Course

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Emergence to Hampshire County line

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TheCapon Lake Whipple Truss BridgeatCapon Lake, West Virginia

The Cacapon River emerges from underground in a gap in Sandy Ridge (1683 feet/513 m) west ofWardensville.It is actually the reemergence of theLost River,which sinks into an underground channel east ofMcCauleynear the entrance to Camp Pinnacle. From its emergence, the Cacapon River creates a horseshoe bend shaped gap through Sandy Ridge and flows east parallelingWest Virginia Route 55/West Virginia Route 259to its north. At Wardensville, the river is joined byTrout Runand then curves northeastward where it meanders through an expansive valley plain. Here, it is fed by Slate Rock Run and then Moores Run further north. Waites Run, a tributary draining some of the western slopes ofGreat North Mountainenters the Cacapon River near the bridge on Rt. 55, north of Wardensville. Shortly after its confluence with Sine Run, the Cacapon River continues north intoHampshire County.

Hampshire County line to Yellow Spring

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From the county line, the river is bounded to its east by theGeorge Washington National Forestand to its west byBaker Mountain(2024 feet/617 m). Throughout this stretch, the Cacapon River is also joined by sections of the oldWinchester and Western Railroadgrade. It continues its meandering course northeastward, flowing past the community ofIntermontandHebron Church.AtCapon Lake,the river is joined byCapon Springs Runand is the site of the historicCapon Lake Whipple Truss Bridge.West Virginia Route 259parallels the Cacapon River to its west along the eastern flank of Baker Mountain until the road turns east across the Kenneth Seldon Bridge atYellow Spring.From Yellow Spring Gap, the river is fed by a run whose source is the "Yellow Spring".

Yellow Spring to Kale Hollow

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Kenneth Seldon Bridge on the Cacapon atYellow Spring, West Virginia

The Cacapon River moves north along the eastern flank of Cacapon Mountain (1913 feet/583 m) with Cacapon River Road (West Virginia Secondary Route 14) paralleling it to its west. From Yellow Spring, the river flows by Camps Rim Rock and White Mountain. After another immense horseshoe bend, the Cacapon River moves past the communities ofHooks MillsandBubbling Springand is joined by Old Man Run and Kale Hollow's run. The river's stretch through Bubbling Spring is a popular location for summer river camps which consist ofcottages,trailers,andcamperson narrow river lots. This stretch of the Cacapon River is also the scene for numerous oldplantation housesincluding theCaptain David Pugh House(Riversdell) at Hooks Mills, listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.

Kale Hollow to Cold Stream

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North of Kale Hollow, the Cacapon River is joined to its west by Dillons Mountain (1913 feet/583 m). To its east, the river is paralleled by Christian Church Road (West Virginia Secondary Route 13), on which is located the 18th centuryCapon Chapel.After its confluence withMill Branch,the Cacapon River bends through the small historic town ofCapon Bridge.It is met byDillons Runfrom its west and traversed by a bridge of theNorthwestern Turnpike(U.S. Route 50), from which Capon Bridge takes its name. From Capon Bridge, the Cacapon River is bounded to its east byBear Garden Mountain(1572 feet/479 m). It is then joined byEdwards Runand Cold Stream near the community ofCold Stream.

Cold Stream to Largent

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Caudy's Castle

The river meanders north around Darbys Nose (1287 feet/392 m), flanked to its east by Leith Mountain (1598 feet/487 m). The stretch of the Cacapon River between Cold Stream andForks of Cacaponis mountainous and forested with little development. It meanders through a series of mountain ridges, on one of which,Castle Mountain(1260 feet/384 m), sits theCaudy's Castlerock outcrop. Bloomery Pike (West Virginia Route 127) passes over the river where it is met by Bloomery Run east of Forks of Cacapon. North of Bloomery Pike lies the actual "Forks of Cacapon" where the Cacapon andNorthRivers converge. From Forks of Cacapon toLargent,the river creates a number of horseshoe bends betweenSideling Hill(2021 feet/616 m) andLittle Mountain(1429 feet/435 m). This stretch of the Cacapon River is also mostly undeveloped and forested with the exception of agated community,The Crossings, located between the WV 127 bridge and Largent.

Largent to Great Cacapon

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Capapon River, atTimber Ridge Camp.

The Cacapon River meanders intoMorgan Countyat Largent where Cacapon Road (West Virginia Route 9) passes over it and the river is met by Stony Creek. It continues its meandering course northeast betweenSideling Hilland Little Mountain until Fisher's Bridge where it is joined to its east by the western flanks ofCacapon Mountain.Tonoloway Ridge(992 feet/302 m) then bounds the Cacapon River to its west until it reaches the railroad hamlet ofGreat Cacapon.After passing under the WV 9 and oldBaltimore and Ohio Railroadbridges, the Cacapon River joins thePotomac.

Name and variants

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Cacapon is a name derived from theShawnee language,meaning "medicine water".[4]

TheBoard on Geographic Namesdecided on "Cacapon River" in 1916 as the river's official name and spelling. Variants include:[1]

  • Big Capon River
  • Cacapehon Creek
  • Cacapehon River
  • Cacapon Creek
  • Cacapon River
  • Cackapehon River
  • Cackapohon River
  • Capcappin Creek
  • Cape Capon River
  • Capecapon River
  • Capon River
  • Great Cacapehon River
  • Great Cacapon River
  • Great Capon River

Bridges

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Bridge Route Location
Wardensville Bridge State Route 259 (WV 259) Wardensville
New Capon Lake Bridge Capon Springs Road (CR 16) Capon Lake
Whipple Truss Bridge Pedestrian Walkway Capon Lake
Kenneth Seldon Bridge State Route 259 (WV 259) Yellow Spring
Army Corporal Rex Marcel Sherman Memorial Bridge Northwestern Turnpike(US 50) Capon Bridge
Cacapon River Bridge Bloomery Pike (WV 127) Forks of Cacapon
The Crosses Deer Meadow Rd (CR 29/4) Capon Crossing, WV
Largent Bridge Cacapon Road (WV 9) Largent
Fisher's Bridge Cacapon Road (WV 9) North ofLargent
Rockford Bridge Rockford Road (CR 7) Great Cacapon
Powerhouse Bridge Powerhouse Road (CR 9/12) Great Cacapon
Great Cacapon Bridge Cacapon Road (WV 9) Great Cacapon
Great Cacapon Railroad Bridge Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Great Cacapon

Float trips

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All locations listed below are designated public access sites by theWest Virginia Division of Natural Resourcesat theirwebsite.Access sites are listed from south to north.

Put In Take Out Distance
Wardensville Bridge Capon Lake Bridge 8.5 miles (13.7 km)
Capon Lake Bridge Cold Stream 19 miles (31 km)
Cold Stream WV Route 127 Bridge 7 miles (11 km)
WV Route 127 Bridge Cacapon Crossings 9 miles (14 km)
Cacapon Crossings Largent, South 6.7 miles (10.8 km)
Largent, South Power Plant 20 miles (32 km)
Power Plant Great Cacapon WV Route 9 Bridge 1.8 miles (2.9 km)

Tributaries

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North RivernearNorth River Mills, West Virginia.

Tributarystreams are listed from south to north. Major tributaries are listed inbold.

Edwards RunatEdwards Run Wildlife Management Area.

Cities and towns along the Cacapon River

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See also

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References

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  1. ^abc"Cacapon River".Geographic Names Information System.United States Geological Survey,United States Department of the Interior.RetrievedDecember 10,2016.
  2. ^abcU.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data.The National MapArchived2012-03-29 at theWayback Machine,accessed August 15, 2011
  3. ^abcd"01611500 Cacapon River near Great Cacapon, WV, Water Data Report 2013"(PDF).National Water Information System.United States Geological Survey. 2013.RetrievedDecember 10,2016.
  4. ^Kenny, Hamill (1945).West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains.Piedmont, WV: The Place Name Press. p. 146.
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