Cranberry River (West Virginia)
| Cranberry River | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | Gauley River, Nicholas County, West Virginia |
| Length | 24 mi (39 km), or 33 mi (53.5 km) including the South Fork |
The Cranberry River is a tributary of the Gauley River located in southeastern West Virginia in the United States.[1] It is a part of the Mississippi River watershed, by way of the Gauley, Kanawha, and Ohio Rivers, draining an area of 74 mi² (192 km²).[2]
The river has also been known historically as Cranberry Creek.[3]
Course
The Cranberry River is formed in southwestern Pocahontas County by the confluence of its north and south forks.[3] The south fork, the longer of the two at a length of 9 mi (14.5 km)[4], rises on Cranberry Mountain at an elevation of 4600 ft (1403 m)[2] and passes through the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area. Below the confluence of its forks, the Cranberry flows for 24 mi (39 km), [3] generally westwardly in the Gauley District of the Monongahela National Forest, passing through southern Webster and eastern Nicholas Counties to its mouth at the Gauley River, about 3 mi (5 km) southeast of Craigsville,[1] at an elevation of 1920 ft (586 m).[2] Since the river flows mostly through United States Forest Service land, no more than a handful of people live along its banks; the few that do reside near the mouth of the river.[citation needed] However, the Cranberry River has several pay campgrounds, free campsites, and picnic areas along its banks.[5]
Fishing
The Cranberry River and its small tributaries are regarded as some of the finest trout streams in the eastern United States. Until recently, however, trout fishing on the south fork was limited to the lower half of the river due to acid rain. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources has worked to counter this problem by installing a liming station on the north fork of the river.[6]
The best fishing results from riding a bike in on the non-vehicle road. This road runs alongside the stream for 14 miles. The fish are well scattered throughout the river. It is possible to catch native brook, stocked brook, rainbow, golden, and brown trout.
See also
External links
- Monongahela National Forest map of the Richwood area, including the course of the Cranberry River and recreational amenities along its banks
- Real-time water data for the Cranberry River
References
- ^ a b DeLorme (1997). West Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. ISBN 0-89933-246-3.
- ^ a b c Grafton, Emily. 2006. "Cranberry River." The West Virginia Encyclopedia. Ken Sullivan, editor. Charleston, WV: West Virginia Humanities Council. ISBN 0-9778498-0-5.
- ^ a b c Geographic Names Information System entry for Cranberry River
- ^ GNIS entry for South Fork Cranberry River
- ^ Big Rock Campground, Cranberry Campground, Cranberry River campsites, Woodbine Picnic Area, in the Monongahela National Forest
- ^ Gasper, Donald C. New Native Brook Trout Streams, A New Wilderness (pdf)