Shenandoah National Park, located along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, is home to headwater streams that feed into the Shenandoah River to the west and the Rappahannock and James Rivers flow to the east. These mighty rivers ultimately drain into the Chesapeake Bay. The park has about 90 perennial streams start in the park. A main feature of these high elevation streams is their high gradient, meaning that the quick drop off the mountain includes pools interspersed with riffles, rapids, cascades and falls. In many places, streams drop over ledges, creating waterfalls up to 93 feet high. The stream floor consists of large gravel, rubble, boulder, and bedrock. Most streams are heavily shaded and cool or even cold in the summer, and they are typically clear with rain-caused turbidity quickly disappearing.
Shenandoah River Shenandoah River|Rappahannock|James Rivers
Shenandoah River Shenandoah River|Rappahannock|James Rivers