The North Fork New River is a cool, freshwater river flowing through the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. It originates at Elk Knob in Watauga County at an elevation of 4,446 feet and travels northeast through Ashe County before joining the South Fork New River to form the main stem of the New River. This confluence occurs in northern Ashe County near the Virginia state line. The river is part of a 26-mile section designated as a National Wild and Scenic River, characterized as a gentle and scenic waterway suitable for beginners and family outings. The overall paddling experience offers a cool escape with refreshing water and mountain air, flowing through a historic valley once used by Native Americans and later settled for farming.

Resources like Paddleways.com and local outfitters such as A Wahoo's Adventures and River Girl Fishing Co. provide access information and services. The river's character is gentle, making it appropriate for novice paddlers. A notable geographical feature is that the larger New River system, which this fork helps create, is one of the few major rivers in the world that flows north for its entire length. The surrounding area is a mix of farmland and growing tourism, with summer homes present. A section of the North Fork New River from the Watauga County line to Sharp Dam is a Hatchery Supported Trout Water, indicating angling activity that paddlers may share the river with.