West Virginia’s lost underground rivers and creeks

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Sometimes, rivers just seem to disappear. From rivers that go into underground caves to creeks that were buried intentionally, West Virginia has a handful of streams that do just that.

Lost River

According to the West Virginia Encyclopedia , the Lost River and Cacapon Rivers are actually the same river, but it goes underground for about two miles between Baker and Wardensville in Hardy County, which led to the two separate names. “The Sinks,” which is along W.Va. Route 259, is the area where the river disappears, according to West Virginia State Parks . A historic marker has been at the “end” of the Lost River on Old W.Va. Route 55 since 2012.

The unique feature has inspired the name of the Lost River, a community in the county called Lost River, and the Lost River State Park.

Sinks of Gandy

The Sinks of Gandy is probably the most dramatic disappearance on this list. Located in the Monongahela National Forest in Randolph County, the Sinks are a cave that Gandy Creek flows into, causing it to disappear underground for about a mile. The cave goes under Dry Fork Road near Osceola.

One entrance to the Sinks was listed for $14 million in 2021 and sold in 2023 ; and both ends are on private land.

Falling Run

Falling Run doesn’t naturally run underground, but it has been for 100 years. Located on West Virginia University’s campus in downtown Morgantown, Falling Run was moved underground when old Mountaineer Field was built in 1924 . According to the Morgantown Utility Board, the creek now flows inside a 5×5 concrete culvert for about a half mile before it hits its confluence with the Monongahela River along the Caperton Trail.

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