South Fork New River

South Fork New River
Map of the Kanawha River watershed, with the New River and its watershed highlighted.
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountiesWatauga, Alleghany, Ashe
Physical characteristics
SourceMiddle Fork South Fork New River
 • locationBlowing Rock, NC
 • coordinates36°07′34″N 81°40′20″W / 36.12611°N 81.67222°W / 36.12611; -81.67222
 • elevation3,543 ft (1,080 m)
2nd sourceEast Fork South Fork New River
 • locationWatauga County, NC
 • coordinates36°10′56″N 81°36′37″W / 36.18222°N 81.61028°W / 36.18222; -81.61028
 • elevation3,271 ft (997 m)
Source confluence 
 • locationBoone, NC
 • coordinates36°12′16″N 81°38′59″W / 36.20444°N 81.64972°W / 36.20444; -81.64972
 • elevation3,104 ft (946 m)
MouthNew River[1]
 • location
Ashe County, NC
 • coordinates
36°32′46″N 81°21′11″W / 36.54611°N 81.35306°W / 36.54611; -81.35306
 • elevation
2,546 ft (776 m)
Discharge 
 • locationJefferson, NC[2]
 • average552 cu ft/s (15.6 m3/s)
 • minimum227 cu ft/s (6.4 m3/s)(1986)
 • maximum2,120 cu ft/s (60 m3/s)(1998)

The South Fork New River is a river in the U.S. state of North Carolina.

It stretches from its headwaters at a spring near Blowing Rock and the Eastern Continental Divide and meanders northward along the northwestern face of the Blue Ridge Mountains through the eastern and central portions of Watauga County and then Ashe County in northwestern North Carolina, passing through the town of Boone. It joins the North Fork New River in Ashe County to form the New River. Its waters ultimately reach the Gulf of Mexico through the Kanawha River, the Ohio River, and the Mississippi River. Its tributaries include Winkler's Creek, Boone (Kraut) Creek and Payne Branch.