Great Cacapon on the Potomac River

Great Cacapon is located on the Potomac River, just upstream from its confluence with the Cacapon River. This gives the town two river connections: the Potomac at the town and the Cacapon, whose lower reaches extend to Great Cacapon. When making your selection, you can consider historic bridges, hiking trails, and different stretches of river as separate points of interest. This makes it clear from the outset of planning whether you would rather focus on construction history or the riverside landscape.

Bridges and construction history

The Great Cacapon Bridge carries WV Route 9 over the Cacapon River east of Great Cacapon. It was built in 1937 with funding from the New Deal program. Previously, an earlier bridge stood several hundred yards upstream, but it was destroyed by the devastating Saint Patrick’s Day flood in March 1936. The current bridge is a Parker through-truss bridge with girder-supported approach spans. This structure brings together a specific design and the history of rebuilding after the flood.

North of the road bridge is the CSX’s multi-arch stone railway viaduct. The B&O Railroad built it in 1910. Compared with the Great Cacapon Bridge, it serves a different transportation function: the viaduct is a railway structure, while the bridge carries WV Route 9. The dates place the structures in chronological order: the 1910 viaduct predates the 1937 road bridge, which was built after the 1936 flood.

River routes and riverside access

There is a boat launch or take-out on the Cacapon River in Great Cacapon. The lower river, from the Route 127 Bridge to Great Cacapon, includes more than 38 miles of Class I water. The Cacapon River Water Trail, which extends for about 65 miles to its confluence with the Potomac near Great Cacapon, is a separate route. The figures refer to different stretches: the lower river’s endpoints are the Route 127 Bridge and Great Cacapon; for the Water Trail, the stated reference point is its confluence with the Potomac. So compare the mileage figures along with their respective routes rather than reading them in isolation.

One restriction is important when planning time by the river: the Cacapon River Water Trail passes partly over private property; the riverbanks are not publicly accessible without permission.

Hiking and historical connections

The Eidolon Preserve has three hiking trails. This makes hiking a distinct point of interest alongside the river information. If you would rather plan your stay around hiking trails than a particular stretch of river, the preserve is a clearly identified option.

Artifacts from an Indigenous settlement have been found in the Great Cacapon area. During his 1748 surveying expedition, George Washington recorded a stop at “Great Cacapehon.” This historical spelling differs from the modern form, Great Cacapon.

The Washington property located in the Great Cacapon area is privately owned and accessible only by river. Keep its private status in mind when exploring this historical connection to the area.

Discover more destinations: Berkeley Springs

For the broader travel overview: Morgan.