1. Confluence of Laurel Fork and Straight Fork to Cherry Grove

This section is fairly continuous class I-II rapids with a few approaching class III especially when complicated by strainers. At medium-high flows, a couple of the rapids have waves large enough to nearly swamp open canoes without full-boat floatation. The main gauge (North Fork South Branch Potomac at Cabins) is located many miles downstream so some guesswork is required to know the flow level. There is no wireless coverage throughout the whole North Fork valley so it's hard to check the gauges online while in-person scouting. The scenery is pretty mountain views in a pastoral setting. Noteworthy wildlife (e.g. bald eagles, river otters) is common. As of 2019, the river has at least two sets of wires strung across it - presumably to keep cattle constrained. The wires were both duckable at medium high flows but be aware. The bridges are easily passable at medium high flows. It's easy to park and put-in directly at the confluence along Nance Run Rd. For the take-out, there is parking just downstream of the Snowy Mountain Rd. bridge aka Cherry Grove.