Germany Valley

Germany Valley
National Natural Landmark
Germany Valley
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
County	Pendleton
Elevation	2,100 ft (640.1 m)
Coordinates	38°45′54″N 79°23′24″W / 38.76500°N 79.39000°W / 38.76500; -79.39000Coordinates: 38°45′54″N 79°23′24″W / 38.76500°N 79.39000°W / 38.76500; -79.39000
Established	May 1973
Owner	USDA Forest Service and private owners
Nearest city	Riverton, West Virginia
Location of Germany Valley in West Virginia
Website: Germany Valley Karst Area

Germany Valley is a scenic upland valley high in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia originally settled by German (including Pennsylvania Dutch) farmers in the mid-18th Century. It is today a part of the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area of the Monongahela National Forest, although much ownership of the Valley remains in private hands.

The Valley is noted for its extensive karst and cave development, with dozens of caves and cave systems having been formally documented and mapped. The area was made a National Natural Landmark, the Germany Valley Karst Area[1], in 1973 by the National Park Service. The NPS cited it as "one of the largest cove or intermountain karst areas in the country, unique because all the ground water recharge and solution activities are linked with precipitation within the cove."

Germany Valley is situated in the upper reaches of the North Fork South Branch Potomac River in northeastern Pendleton County, West Virginia. The Valley floor is at an elevation of approximately 2100 feet (640 m) with the surrounding mountaintops about 500 to 1200 feet (150–370 meters) higher. The Valley is about 10 miles (16 km) long and 2.5 miles (4.0 km) wide with a general northeast to southwest orientation. The Valley is defined on the east by North Fork Mountain and on the west by the River Knobs.

Motorized traffic may gain access to the valley from the west by either Riverton Gap (via the town of Riverton) or Hinkle Gap, through which Root Run and Mill Creek, respectively, drain it. The southernmost Valley is also slightly entered, via Judy Gap, where a popular overlook is located along U.S. Route 33 just west of Franklin, West Virginia. Seneca Rocks rise near the northern end of the Valley.