Glade Creek (New River tributary)

This article is about Glade Creek, a tributary of the New River in Raleigh County, West Virginia. For the Manns Creek tributary with Glade Creek Grist Mill, see Glade Creek (Manns Creek).
Glade Creek
Waterfalls along Glade Creek
Map
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWest Virginia
CountiesRaleigh
Physical characteristics
SourceFlat Top Mountain
 • locationRaleigh County, WV
 • coordinates37°35′25″N 81°05′41″W / 37.59028°N 81.09472°W / 37.59028; -81.09472
 • elevation3,271 ft (997 m)[1]
MouthNew River[2]
 • location
Raleigh County, WV
 • coordinates
37°49′47″N 81°00′46″W / 37.82972°N 81.01278°W / 37.82972; -81.01278
 • elevation
1,207 ft (368 m)

Glade Creek is a major tributary of the New River in Raleigh County, West Virginia. Glade Creek lies within the largest side valley off New River in the New River Gorge National River area.

Sources

Glade Creek is formed on Flat Top Mountain just north of the point where Raleigh, Summers and Mercer counties intersect. Just north of its source near Ghent, it is impounded to form Flat Top Lake. Further north, it is again impounded to form Glade Creek Reservoir.

Canyon

Immediately north of Glade Creek Reservoir, Glade Creek begins its canyon section. The canyon varies from about 200 feet (61 m) in depth at its upstream end to over 1,200 feet (370 m) deep near its mouth at the New River southeast of Prince.

Much of the lower canyon is traversed by an abandoned railroad bed. Today, this former railbed is maintained as a hiking trail by New River Gorge National River.

Phil G. McDonald Bridge

Main article: Phil G. McDonald Bridge

Approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) upstream of its mouth, Glade Creek is crossed by Interstate 64 on the Phil G. McDonald Memorial Bridge, also known as the Glade Creek Bridge. This 2,179-foot (664 m) long deck truss bridge[3] towers 700 feet (210 m) above the creek bed,[4][5] and was the highest Interstate bridge in the United States before the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge was designated as part of Interstate 11 in 2018.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Glade Creek Source". Elevation Query. U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 2008-09-13.
  2. ^ "Glade Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1980-06-27. Retrieved 2008-09-13.
  3. ^ "American Bridge - Glade Creek Bridge". American Bridge Company. Retrieved 2008-09-14.
  4. ^ "Phil G. McDonald Memorial Bridge Inspection Report" (PDF). West Virginia Division of Highways. September 24, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 27, 2010. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
  5. ^ "Phil G. McDonald Bridge". Highest Bridges.com. Retrieved June 5, 2010.