Tearcoat Creek facts for kids
Tearcoat Creek is a cool stream in Hampshire County, West Virginia. It's about 18.3 miles (29.5 km) long. This creek flows into the North River. The North River then joins the Cacapon River. All these rivers are part of the big Potomac River system. Eventually, their water flows into the Chesapeake Bay.
The name "Tearcoat Creek" has an interesting story. People believe it came from a time when British soldiers were crossing the stream. Low-hanging tree branches might have torn their coats! This could have happened during the French and Indian War or the American Revolutionary War.
Tearcoat Creek is a fun spot for whitewater rafters. Rafters enjoy a 3.9-mile (6.3 km) part of the creek. This section is between U.S. Route 50 at Pleasant Dale and where the creek meets the North River. The creek has exciting rapids, which are fast-moving, rocky parts of the water. These rapids are mostly in a forest area near the end of the creek. You can get to the creek from Tear Coat Road (CR 50/17). This road runs next to the stream from US 50.
Where Tearcoat Creek Begins and Flows
Tearcoat Creek starts near a place called Ruckman. From there, it flows northeast. It runs along the side of Short Mountain, which is 2,864 feet (873 meters) tall. The creek flows next to Augusta-Ford Hill Road (CR 7).
As it continues, Tearcoat Creek meets Mack Road (CR 7/5) at Ford Hill. The creek keeps flowing northeast. Along this path, especially south of Augusta, many smaller streams join Tearcoat Creek. These little streams often come from places where cattle drink. They help make Tearcoat Creek bigger.
After leaving Mack Road, the creek winds through a deep, narrow valley called a gorge. This gorge is west of Dunmore Ridge. South of US 50, two of Tearcoat Creek's biggest side streams join it. First, Turkeyfoot Run adds its water, and then Bearwallow Creek joins in.
Soon after Bearwallow Creek, Tearcoat Creek flows under the US 50 bridge at Pleasant Dale. It then continues northeast through another winding, forested gorge. This is the part of the creek where the water can be deep enough and flow fast enough for exciting rapids. From this gorge, the creek turns east. It then meets the North River, just north of Hanging Rock.
