The
source is northeast of
Hightown along
U.S. Route 250 on the eastern side of Lantz Mountain (3,934 ft) in
Highland County, Virginia. From Hightown, the South Branch is a small
meandering stream that flows northeast along Blue Grass Valley Road through the communities of
New Hampden and
Blue Grass. At
Forks of Waters, the South Branch joins with Strait Creek and flows north across the Virginia/West Virginia border into
Pendleton County. The river then travels on a northeastern course along the western side of Jack Mountain (4,045 ft), followed by Sandy Ridge (2,297 ft) along
U.S. Route 220. North of the
confluence of the South Branch with Smith Creek, the river flows along Town Mountain (2,848 ft) around
Franklin at the junction of U.S. Route 220 and
U.S. Route 33. After Franklin, the South Branch continues north through the
Monongahela National Forest to
Upper Tract where it joins with three sizeable streams: Reeds Creek, Mill Run, and Deer Run. Between Big Mountain (2,582 ft) and Cave Mountain (2,821 ft), the South Branch bends around the Eagle Rock (1,483 ft)
outcrop and continues its flow northward into
Grant County. Into Grant, the South Branch follows the western side of Cave Mountain through the long
Smoke Hole Canyon, until its confluence with the
North Fork at
Cabins, where it flows east to
Petersburg. At Petersburg, the
South Branch Valley Railroad begins, which parallels the river until its
mouth at
Green Spring. on the South Branch in the 1890s In its eastern course from Petersburg into
Hardy County, the South Branch becomes more navigable allowing for canoes and smaller river vessels. The river splits and forms a series of large islands while it heads northeast to
Moorefield. At Moorefield, the South Branch is joined by the South Fork South Branch Potomac River and runs north to
Old Fields where it is fed by Anderson Run and Stony Run. At
McNeill, the South Branch flows into
the Trough where it is bound to its west by
Mill Creek Mountain (2,119 ft) and to its east by Sawmill Ridge (1,644 ft). The Trough passes into
Hampshire County and ends at its confluence with Sawmill Run south of
Glebe and
Sector. The South Branch continues north parallel to
South Branch River Road (
County Route 8) toward
Romney with a number of historic plantation farms adjoining it. En route to Romney, the river is fed by Buffalo Run,
Mill Run, McDowell Run, and
Mill Creek at
Vanderlip. The South Branch is traversed by the
Northwestern Turnpike (
U.S. Route 50) and joined by Sulphur Spring Run where it forms
Valley View Island to the west of town. Flowing north of Romney, the river still follows the eastern side of Mill Creek Mountain until it creates a horseshoe bend at
Wappocomo's
Hanging Rocks around the George W. Washington plantation,
Ridgedale. To the west of
Three Churches on the western side of
South Branch Mountain, 3,028 feet (923 m), the South Branch creates a series of bends and flows to the northeast by
Springfield through Blue's Ford. After two additional horseshoe bends (meanders), the South Branch flows under the old
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad mainline between
Green Spring and South Branch Depot, and joins the North Branch to form the Potomac. == Tributaries ==