Meadow River
Encyclopedia
The Meadow River is a tributary of the Gauley River
, making its headwaters in Greenbrier County
and terminating in Nicholas County of West Virginia
. It is named for the grassy meadows wetlands which its upper watershed drains, and from which it springs.
, Charmco
, and Rainelle
. Major tributaries include Methodist Branch, Otter Creek,Little Clear Creek, Big Clear Creek, Mill Creek, Laurel Creek, Meadow Creek, Brackens Creek, Young's Creek, Glade Creek, Hendricks Creek and Dogwood Creek, before reaching its mouth at the Gauley River
at Carnifex Ferry
, West Virginia. The river flows a total of 53 miles (85.3 km), mostly within the Meadow River Wildlife Management Area
. The lower 5 miles (8 km) is within the Gauley River National Recreation Area
. The river drains 365 square miles (945.3 km²).
Via the Gauley, New, Kanawha
and Ohio
Rivers, it becomes a part of the Mississippi River
watershed
.
bridge. The final lower section below the U.S. 19 bridge to the confluence of the Gauley River
is arguably the most difficult whitewater river in West Virginia. This class V+ section has an extreme gradient and severely undercut rocks-claiming the lives of three experienced paddlers since records began to be kept.
Rapids include:
Gauley River
The Gauley River is a river in West Virginia. It merges with the New River to form the Kanawha River, a tributary of the Ohio River. It is one of the most popular advanced whitewater runs in the Eastern United States and is the chief feature of the Gauley River National Recreation Area.-Headwaters...
, making its headwaters in Greenbrier County
Greenbrier County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,453 people, 14,571 households, and 9,922 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile . There were 17,644 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
and terminating in Nicholas County of 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...
. It is named for the grassy meadows wetlands which its upper watershed drains, and from which it springs.
Course
Formed at the confluence of Eagle Branch and Callahan Branch, and flowing generally southeast to northwest, it passes RupertRupert, West Virginia
Rupert is a town in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 940 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rupert is located at ....
, Charmco
Charmco, West Virginia
Charmco is an unincorporated community in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. Charmco is located at the junction of U.S. Route 60 and West Virginia Route 20 northeast of Rainelle. Charmco has a post office with ZIP code 25958. The community was named for an acronym of the Charleston...
, and Rainelle
Rainelle, West Virginia
Rainelle is a town in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,545 at the 2000 census.-History:Rainelle was named for the Raine family. Thomas and his brother John Raine moved there from Pennsylvania in 1906 to exploit one of the last large stands of virgin hardwoods in...
. Major tributaries include Methodist Branch, Otter Creek,Little Clear Creek, Big Clear Creek, Mill Creek, Laurel Creek, Meadow Creek, Brackens Creek, Young's Creek, Glade Creek, Hendricks Creek and Dogwood Creek, before reaching its mouth at the Gauley River
Gauley River
The Gauley River is a river in West Virginia. It merges with the New River to form the Kanawha River, a tributary of the Ohio River. It is one of the most popular advanced whitewater runs in the Eastern United States and is the chief feature of the Gauley River National Recreation Area.-Headwaters...
at Carnifex Ferry
Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park
Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park is an American Civil War battle site that commemorates the Battle of Carnifex Ferry. It is located on the rim of the Gauley River Canyon near Summersville, a town in Nicholas County, West Virginia. The park features Patterson House Museum, three views of the...
, West Virginia. The river flows a total of 53 miles (85.3 km), mostly within the Meadow River Wildlife Management Area
Meadow River Wildlife Management Area
Meadow River Wildlife Management Area, is located near Rupert, West Virginia in Greenbrier County. Occupying of river bottomland, the WMA is located along the Meadow River and consists mainly of wetlands habitat.-Hunting and Fishing:...
. The lower 5 miles (8 km) is within the Gauley River National Recreation Area
Gauley River National Recreation Area
The Gauley River National Recreation Area, located near Summersville, West Virginia, protects a portion of the Gauley River and a segment of the Meadow River in southern West Virginia. Little of the park is accessible via roads; one must travel via the river...
. The river drains 365 square miles (945.3 km²).
Via the Gauley, New, Kanawha
Kanawha River
The Kanawha River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 97 mi long, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The largest inland waterway in West Virginia, it has formed a significant industrial region of the state since the middle of the 19th century.It is formed at the town of Gauley...
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 becomes a part 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...
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...
.
History
In 1858 a dam was proposed near the present day site of the town of Rainelle, between Big Sewell and Laurel Mountains. It was never built.Whitewater Paddling below Rainelle
The 15 miles (24.1 km) stretch between Rainelle, WV and Russelville features class III, IV, and a touch of class V in high water. After a flatwater stretch the river reaches the town of Nallen. Immediately below Nallen features mostly class III and IV water for the next 5 miles (8 km) running up to the U.S. 19U.S. Route 19
U.S. Route 19 is a north–south U.S. Highway. Despite encroaching Interstate Highways, the route has remained a long-haul route, connecting the Gulf of Mexico with Lake Erie....
bridge. The final lower section below the U.S. 19 bridge to the confluence of the Gauley River
Gauley River
The Gauley River is a river in West Virginia. It merges with the New River to form the Kanawha River, a tributary of the Ohio River. It is one of the most popular advanced whitewater runs in the Eastern United States and is the chief feature of the Gauley River National Recreation Area.-Headwaters...
is arguably the most difficult whitewater river in West Virginia. This class V+ section has an extreme gradient and severely undercut rocks-claiming the lives of three experienced paddlers since records began to be kept.
Rapids include:
- Put In (Class III+)
- Rites of Passage (Class IV+)
- Hells Gates (Class 5.2)
- Brink of Disaster (Class 5.0)
- Coming Home Sweet Jesus (Class 5.3)
- Sieve City (Class 5.0)
- Heavy Water (Class IV)
- Lets Make a Deal (Class IV+)
- First and Second Island (Class V)
- Sliding Board (Class IV+)
- Double Undercut (Class 5.1)