The Cacapon (pronounced kuh-KAY-pon) flows 112 miles through the Eastern Panhandle and is a major tributary of the Potomac River. It drains a long, narrow strip of land. The Cacapon River and the Lost River are actually the same waterway. During dry periods, the Lost River disappears underground at a spot called "the Sinks" and then reappears miles away to become the Cacapon.

George Washington surveyed here in the mid-1740s, and it’s the site of some our earliest European-American settlements.

The river corridor is very biologically rich, supporting diverse forests and wildlife, including rare plants and animals such as the wood turtle and bald eagles. It's also a popular spot for recreation, known for excellent fishing (smallmouth bass and trout) and paddling, especially the beautiful eight-mile stretch from Capon Bridge to Bloomery. Because the area is mostly forest and farmland, the river is generally very healthy.