| Dry Fork | |
|---|---|
 The Dry Fork nearHarman | |
 Map of the Monongahela River basin, with Dry Fork highlighted. | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| Counties | Tucker,Randolph |
| Cities | Hendricks,Harman |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Col between Harper and Yokum knobs,Randolph County |
| • coordinates | 38°44′01″N79°38′52″W / 38.73361°N 79.64778°W /38.73361; -79.64778 |
| • elevation | 3,740 ft (1,140 m) |
| Mouth | Confluence withBlackwater River |
• location | Hendricks,Tucker County |
• coordinates | 39°04′20″N79°37′45″W / 39.07222°N 79.62917°W /39.07222; -79.62917 |
• elevation | 1,700 ft (520 m) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Hendricks(2005)[1] |
| • average | 756 cu ft/s (21.4 m3/s)(2005)[1] |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Glady Fork,Laurel Fork,Otter Creek |
| • right | Red Creek |
TheDry Fork is a 39.1-mile-long (62.9 km)[2]tributary of theBlack Fork of theCheat River in theAllegheny Mountains of easternWest Virginia, USA. Via the Black Fork, the Cheat, and theMonongahela andOhio rivers, it is part of thewatershed of theMississippi River. The Dry Fork flows for much of its length in theMonongahela National Forest and drains mostlyrural andforested areas.[3] It was traditionally considered one of the fiveForks of Cheat.
According to theGeographic Names Information System, Dry Fork has also been known historically asDry Run.[4] 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.[5] (SeeSinks of Gandy)
The Dry Fork rises betweenRich Mountain andLittle Middle Mountain in easternRandolph County and initially flows north-northeastwardly, past the towns ofWhitmer,Job, andHarman. After it entersTucker County (atDryfork) it turns to the northwest and flows to the town ofHendricks, where it meets theBlackwater River to form theBlack Fork.[3]
Gandy Creek — which passes through the well-known cave known as the "Sinks of Gandy" — joins Dry Fork at the town of Gandy. In the lower part of its course the Dry Fork collects theLaurel Fork, which joins it in Randolph County, and theGlady Fork, which joins it in Tucker County.[3] Both of these are also considered principal tributaries of the Cheat River.[6] Red Creek — which enters Dry Fork at the town ofDryfork — drains much of theDolly Sods Wilderness area.