Corrotoman River facts for kids

The Corrotoman River is a small river located in Virginia, United States. It flows into the northern side of the Rappahannock River. The Corrotoman River is about 8 miles (13 km) from where the Rappahannock River meets the large Chesapeake Bay.

The Corrotoman River cuts into a special area of land called the Northern Neck. This region is a peninsula, meaning it's almost surrounded by water. It sits between the Potomac River and the Rappahannock River. The Corrotoman River itself has a unique shape, looking a bit like the letter "Y".

About the Corrotoman River

Where is it?

The Corrotoman River starts where it meets the Rappahannock River. This opening is found between two points of land: Towles Point and Orchard Point. As you travel further into the river, you'll see several smaller streams joining it.

On the western side, there are Whitehouse Creek, Ewells Prong, and Millenbeck Prong. Further north, Corrotoman Point is on the eastern shore, and Ball Point is on the western shore. At this spot, the river becomes much narrower.

What does it look like?

After Ball Point on the western side, you'll find Yankee Point. This is where Myers Creek begins. Myers Creek is home to the Yankee Point Marina, which is the only marina on the entire river. A marina is a place where boats can dock and get supplies. North of Yankee Point is Bar Point. This point marks the start of the river's Western Branch.

On the eastern side of the river, past Corrotoman Point, are Taylor Creek and Moran Creek. North of these creeks is Moran Wharf. This wharf marks the beginning of the river's Eastern Branch.

Exploring the River's Branches

The Corrotoman River splits into two main parts, like the arms of a "Y" shape. These are called the Western Branch and the Eastern Branch.

The Western Branch

The Western Branch starts between Bar Point and West Point. It flows towards the northwest. Near the beginning of this branch, you can find the Merry Point Ferry. This is a special cable ferry that carries cars and people across the water. It travels between Ottoman Wharf and Merry Point.

As you go up the Western Branch, you will pass several creeks. These include John Creek, Lowrey Creek, Senior Creek, and Davis Creek. After these, the branch splits into two smaller forks. The eastern fork ends at Belwood Swamp, which is about one mile west of Lancaster Courthouse. The western fork, called Little Branch, ends at Griffins Landing.

The Eastern Branch

The Eastern Branch begins between West Point and Moran Wharf. It flows in a northeast direction. As you travel up this branch, you will see various creeks and coves. These include Hills Creek, Bells Creek, Punches Cove, Browns Creek, Quarter Cove, and Muller Cove.

From there, the Eastern Branch also splits into two smaller sections. These are Camps Prong and Norris Prong. Camps Prong leads to Camps Millpond, and Norris Prong leads to Norris Pond.