Valley Falls Split Stream EarthCache

Valley Falls State Park, located near Fairmont and Grafton in northern West Virginia, is a 1,145-acre day-use park renowned for its natural beauty and rich history. The park’s centerpiece is a series of four picturesque waterfalls along the Tygart Valley River, where the dark, rushing waters cascade over sandstone ledges, creating a stunning and dynamic landscape.

In the 19th century, the area around Valley Falls was a thriving industrial community, featuring a lumber mill, gristmill, ferry, post office, shops, and a Baltimore & Ohio Railroad depot. However, a devastating fire in 1886 followed by floods in 1888 led to the decline of the community. Today, remnants of this past, including mill ruins, can still be seen along the riverbanks.

Visitors to Valley Falls State Park can enjoy a variety of recreational activities. The park offers 18 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails that wind through scenic woodlands and along the river. Anglers can fish for smallmouth bass, trout, and panfish in the Tygart Valley River. While swimming is prohibited due to strong currents, kayaking is permitted for experienced paddlers seeking adventure.

The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to sunset and provides amenities such as picnic areas, a playground, and a gift shop. Its combination of natural splendor and historical significance makes Valley Falls State Park a cherished destination for outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

Split Stream at Valley Falls

At Valley Falls State Park, the Tygart Valley River flows over a broad sandstone ledge, forming a dramatic series of waterfalls. One of the most interesting features here is the split stream formation, a phenomenon where the river’s flow divides into two distinct paths just before the falls.

Surprisingly, this split is not purely natural. Historical accounts indicate that dynamite was used here to alter the rock and redirect part of the river’s flow. While the initial division of the stream was human-made, nature has since taken over, with the split continuing to grow and evolve under the constant work of flowing water.

On approaching the falls, you’ll notice the river dividing around a raised rock outcrop or elevated riverbed near the crest:

• Main channel - The majority of the river’s water plunges over the falls in a powerful cascade.
• Secondary channel (near side) - A calmer, slower stream hugs the near bank, bypassing the main falls altogether. This side channel is deep (around 6 feet), tranquil, and moves more like a lazy river than a roaring waterfall.

How Does This Continue to Grow?

Although dynamite created the initial separation, the split stream persists, and expands, because of ongoing natural processes:

1. Selective Erosion - Once the initial blast exposed fractures and softer layers in the sandstone, water began to erode these weaker zones more quickly, deepening both channels over time.
2. Hydraulic Feedback - The deeper and calmer the side channel becomes, the more it attracts steady water flow, which in turn increases its ability to carry sediment and slowly widen.
3. Sediment Sorting - Slower-moving water in the side channel allows sediments to settle along certain edges, shaping the flow path and reinforcing the channel boundaries.
4. Energy Distribution - Water naturally follows the path of least resistance. The steep drop of the main falls pulls most of the energy into the center, while the side channel maintains a gentler slope, allowing it to remain calm but steadily carve deeper into the bedrock.

Why It Matters

The Valley Falls split stream is a perfect example of how human influence and natural forces can combine to create lasting geological features. While a few sticks of dynamite started the process, the river’s constant flow continues to sculpt the channels, offering a living lesson in river dynamics and erosional change.