The Potomac River is one of the most historic rivers in the United States. It begins in West Virginia with the North Branch at the Fairfax Stone. The Potomac flows 287 miles and forms the border between West Virginia/Maryland and Maryland/Virginia before winding through Washington, D. C., and emptying into the Chesapeake Bay.

The river has two main forks. Historically, the North Branch has been home to a lot of industry and mining. The South Branch flows down from our state’s highest mountains, near landmarks like Seneca Rocks and Spruce Knob.

The entire Potomac River system drains all of West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. George Washington chose its banks for the site of a national armory at Harpers Ferry.

The river was prone to devastating floods, including a record-breaking one in 1936. While the Potomac is cleaner than it used to be, it still faces serious challenges from pollution, including acid drainage from old mines on the North Branch and runoff from farms and cities. Today, the river and the preserved Chesapeake & Ohio Canal (on the Maryland side) are popular for recreation.