The Rapidan River, flowing U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data
The National Map
accessed April 1, 2011 through north-central

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

in the United States, is the largest

tributary A tributary, or an ''affluent'', is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream (''main stem'' or ''"parent"''), river, or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries, and the main stem river into which they ...

of the

Rappahannock River The Rappahannock River is a river in eastern Virginia, in the United States, approximately in length.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 1, 2011 It traverses the enti ...

. The two rivers converge just west of the city of Fredericksburg. The Rapidan River begins west of Doubletop Mountain in

Shenandoah National Park Shenandoah National Park (often ) is a List of national parks of the United States, national park of the United States that encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. The park is long and narrow, with the Shenandoah River and its ...

where the Mill Prong meets the Laurel Prong at Rapidan Camp, approximately south of Big Meadows. The river defines the border of Orange County with Culpeper and Madison Counties. Sections of the lower Rapidan River are preserved by a conservation easement. The Rapidan River was the scene of severe fighting in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

, and historic sites such as Ely's Ford, Chancellorsville, Brandy Station, Kelly's Ford, and the

Battle of the Wilderness The Battle of the Wilderness was fought on May 5–7, 1864, during the American Civil War. It was the first battle of Lieutenant general (United States), Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against General (C ...

are nearby. The name is a combination of the word "rapids" with the name of Queen Anne of

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. Originally, it was known as the Rapid Ann River. The Rapidan River ranks #38 in ''

Trout Unlimited Trout Unlimited (TU) is a US non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of freshwater streams, rivers, and associated upland habitats for trout, salmon, other aquatic species, and people. It is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. ...

's Guide to America's 100 Best Trout Streams''. In 2000, the upper Rapidan River was nominated for EPA designation as a Tier III Exceptional Waterway. In 2001, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality rejected the application, citing uncertainty about the impact of the designation. File:Germanna Ford.jpg, Germanna Ford, Rapidan River

Trails

* Mill Prong Trail to Rapidan, - Enjoyable hike to Rapidan Camp. The trail starts high in the

Blue Ridge Mountains The Blue Ridge Mountains are a Physiographic regions of the United States, physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Highlands range. The mountain range is located in the Eastern United States and extends 550 miles southwest from southern ...

(3,200 ft) on

Skyline Drive Skyline Drive is a National Parkway that runs the entire length of the National Park Service's Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, generally along the ridge of the mountains. The drive's northern terminus is at ...

, goes southeast to the headwaters of the Rapidan River and returns to the point of origin. ''Note: This trail will not take you to the Rapidan Canal of the Rappahannock Navigation.'' * Shenandoah National Park - Rapidan Loop, - The trail starts high in the

(3,200 ft) on

and loops, following the Mill Prong and Laurel Prong and includes the confluence of the two prongs. The Rapidan River is formed at the confluence. ''Note: This trail will not take you to the Rapidan Canal of the Rappahannock Navigation.''

References

External links

{{authority control Rivers of Virginia Shenandoah National Park Rivers of Madison County, Virginia Tributaries of the Rappahannock River

Trails

See also

References

External links