West Branch Mad River
Encyclopedia
The West Branch of the Mad River is a 3.2 miles (5.1 km) stream
located in the White Mountains
of New Hampshire
in the United States
. It is a tributary
of the Mad River, part of the Pemigewasset River
and ultimately the Merrimack River
watershed
.
The West Branch rises east of Thornton Gap, between Mount Osceola
and Mount Tecumseh
, two major summits
of the White Mountains. The stream flows east, paralleled by the Tripoli Road, until it encounters Osceola Brook joining from the north, then turns south into the intervale
in which the village of Waterville Valley
is situated. The West Branch joins the Mad River close to the center of the Waterville Valley resort
.
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
located in the White Mountains
White Mountains (New Hampshire)
The White Mountains are a mountain range covering about a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a small portion of western Maine in the United States. Part of the Appalachian Mountains, they are considered the most rugged mountains in New England...
of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Mad River, part of the Pemigewasset River
Pemigewasset River
The Pemigewasset River , known locally as "The Pemi", is a river in the state of New Hampshire, the United States. It is in length and drains approximately...
and ultimately the Merrimack River
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport...
watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
.
The West Branch rises east of Thornton Gap, between Mount Osceola
Mount Osceola
Mount Osceola is a peak within the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Located in the White Mountain National Forest, Mount Osceola is named for a Seminole chief. Osceola can be ascended from the Greeley Pond Trail to the northeast of the mountain, which requires crossing the East Peak of Osceola...
and Mount Tecumseh
Mount Tecumseh
Mount Tecumseh is a mountain located in Grafton County, New Hampshire. The mountain is named after the Shawnee leader Tecumseh , and is part of the Sandwich Range of the White Mountains. The east side of Tecumseh drains into the Mad River; the west side drains into several brooks...
, two major summits
Four-thousand footers
The term Four-Thousand Footers refers to a group of forty-eight mountains in New Hampshire at least 4,000 feet above sea level...
of the White Mountains. The stream flows east, paralleled by the Tripoli Road, until it encounters Osceola Brook joining from the north, then turns south into the intervale
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
in which the village of Waterville Valley
Waterville Valley, New Hampshire
Waterville Valley is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 247 at the 2010 census.Waterville Valley attracts many visitors in the winter months with alpine skiing at Waterville Valley Resort and many miles of trails for cross-country skiing. During the summer,...
is situated. The West Branch joins the Mad River close to the center of the Waterville Valley resort
Waterville Valley Resort
Waterville Valley is a ski resort in the White Mountain National Forest of New Hampshire. The resort's motto is "Altitude without the Attitude". Built on Mount Tecumseh, with a summit elevation of above sea level, the ski trails extend to a high point on the south ridge of the mountain at ,...
.