Dry Fork (Cheat River)
Encyclopedia
The Dry Fork is a 39.1 miles (62.9 km) tributary
of the Black Fork
of the Cheat River
in the Allegheny Mountains
of eastern West Virginia
in the United States
. Via the Black Fork, the Cheat, and the Monongahela
and Ohio
rivers, it is part of the watershed
of the Mississippi River
. The Dry Fork flows for much of its length in the Monongahela National Forest
and drains mostly rural
and forest
ed areas. According to the Geographic Names Information System
, it has also been known historically as Dry Run. The stream's name derives from the occurrence of underground passages through which portions of the stream flow, leaving a dry streambed on the surface at times during the year. (See Sinks of Gandy
)
The Dry Fork rises between Rich Mountain and Little Middle Mountain in eastern Randolph County
and initially flows north-northeastwardly, past the town of Harman
; in Tucker County
it turns to the northwest and flows to the town of Hendricks
, where it meets the Blackwater River
to form the Black Fork.
") joins Dry Fork at the town of Gandy. In the lower part of its course the Dry Fork collects the Laurel Fork
, which joins it in Randolph County, and the Glady Fork
, which joins it in Tucker County. Both of these are also considered principal tributaries of the Cheat River. Red Creek also drains much of the Dolly Sods Wilderness
area.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Black Fork
Black Fork (Cheat River)
The Black Fork is a principal tributary of the Cheat River in eastern West Virginia in the United States. It is a short stream, about four miles in length,The American Rivers Outstanding Rivers List, Second Edition, May 1991. Compiled and edited by Matthew H. Huntington and John D. Echeverria. ...
of the Cheat River
Cheat River
The Cheat River is a tributary of the Monongahela River in eastern West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Via the Monongahela and Ohio rivers, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed, ultimately draining into the Gulf of Mexico.-Geography:The Cheat is formed at...
in the Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
of eastern West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Via the Black Fork, the Cheat, and the Monongahela
Monongahela River
The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States...
and Ohio
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
rivers, it is part of the watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. The Dry Fork flows for much of its length in the Monongahela National Forest
Monongahela National Forest
The Monongahela National Forest is a national forest located in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, USA. It protects over of federally-owned land within a proclamation boundary that includes much of the Potomac Highlands Region and portions of 10 counties.The MNF includes some...
and drains mostly rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
and forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
ed areas. According to the Geographic Names Information System
Geographic Names Information System
The Geographic Names Information System is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its territories. It is a type of gazetteer...
, it has also been known historically as Dry Run. The stream's name derives from the occurrence of underground passages through which portions of the stream flow, leaving a dry streambed on the surface at times during the year. (See Sinks of Gandy
Sinks of Gandy
The Sinks of Gandy, also called the Sinks of Gandy Creek, or simply “The Sinks” are a modestly celebrated cave and underground stream at Osceola in eastern Randolph County, West Virginia, USA...
)
The Dry Fork rises between Rich Mountain and Little Middle Mountain in eastern Randolph County
Randolph County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 28,262 people, 11,072 households, and 7,661 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile . There were 13,478 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
and initially flows north-northeastwardly, past the town of Harman
Harman, West Virginia
Harman is a small town in Randolph County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 126 at the 2000 census.-History:The Day-Vandevander Mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.-Geography:...
; in Tucker County
Tucker County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,321 people, 3,052 households, and 2,121 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile . There were 4,634 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
it turns to the northwest and flows to the town of Hendricks
Hendricks, West Virginia
Hendricks is a town in Tucker County, West Virginia, USA. The population was 319 at the 2000 census. The Blackwater River and the Dry Fork join at Hendricks to form the Black Fork, a principal tributary of the Cheat River.-History:...
, where it meets the Blackwater River
Blackwater River (West Virginia)
The Blackwater River is a river in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, USA. Via the Black Fork, it is a principal tributary of the Cheat River. Via the Cheat, the Monongahela and the Ohio rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River and drains an area of...
to form the Black Fork.
Tributaries
Gandy Creek (which passes through a well-known cave, the "Sinks of GandySinks of Gandy
The Sinks of Gandy, also called the Sinks of Gandy Creek, or simply “The Sinks” are a modestly celebrated cave and underground stream at Osceola in eastern Randolph County, West Virginia, USA...
") joins Dry Fork at the town of Gandy. In the lower part of its course the Dry Fork collects the Laurel Fork
Laurel Fork (Cheat River)
Laurel Fork is a river in eastern West Virginia, USA. It is a tributary of the Dry Fork; via the Dry Fork, the Black Fork, and the Cheat, Monongahela and Ohio rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of in the Allegheny Mountains...
, which joins it in Randolph County, and the Glady Fork
Glady Fork
Glady Fork is a river in eastern West Virginia in the United States. It is considered one of the five principal headwaters tributaries of the Cheat River.-Geography:...
, which joins it in Tucker County. Both of these are also considered principal tributaries of the Cheat River. Red Creek also drains much of the Dolly Sods Wilderness
Dolly Sods Wilderness
The Dolly Sods Wilderness — originally simply Dolly Sods — is a U.S. Wilderness Area in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, USA, and is part of the Monongahela National Forest of the U.S. Forest Service ....
area.