The North Fork Shenandoah River is a fifth order stream that flows north for 116 miles from Northern Rockingham County to the town of Front Royal, Virginia, where it joins the South Fork to form the Shenandoah River. The river drains 1,034 square miles of northeastern Virginia and cuts through the karst geology of the Shenandoah Valley, creating many bedrock ledges that cross the channel perpendicular to the flow of the river. These features are especially prominent in the seven bends section between Woodstock and Edinburg. The North Fork is relatively small and shallow, making it highly accessible for wade angling. Water clarity is typically good, though excessive nutrients in the watershed promote the growth of algae and aquatic plants, which can become very dense during summer and fall months, potentially impeding fishing and boating activities.