Elk RiverPocahontas County, West Virginia, is called the birthplace of rivers because the area marks the headwaters of no fewer than eight major rivers. Outdoor enthusiasts of every stripe flock to Pocahontas County to take advantage of its remarkable natural landscape. The Elk River, named for the large population of elk that once roamed the area, is the crown jewel of the state's many trout streams.

The confluence of Big Spring Creek and Old Field Creek near Slatyfork, West Virginia, forms the Elk River, which is fed along its way by numerous underground springs, some of which emanate from caves. The first four and a half miles of the Elk River, which is a catch-and-release only fishery, is unique, home to a naturally reproducing population of wild rainbows, brook, and brown trout. According to Mike Singleton, assistant Chief of Fisheries for the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources "There is nothing comparable to the Elk" when it comes to naturally reproducing trout rivers in the state. The Elk is a cold water stream year round, in part because much of the upper river goes in and out of dozens of caves. The Elk is also poplar with hikers, canoe lovers, and rafters.