| Mitchell River | |
| Name Other: | Tributary to Yadkin River |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA North Carolina#USA |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Mitchell River mouth |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | North Carolina |
| Subdivision Type3: | County |
| Subdivision Name3: | Alleghany Surry |
| Length: | 21.62miles[1] |
| Discharge1 Location: | Yadkin River |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 172.17cuft/s at mouth with Yadkin River[2] |
| Source1: | divide between Mitchell River and Little River |
| Source1 Location: | about 1.5 miles north of Roaring Gap, North Carolina |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 36.4192°N -80.9975°W[3] |
| Source1 Elevation: | 2740feet[4] |
| Mouth: | Yadkin River |
| Mouth Location: | Burch, North Carolina |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 36.2753°N -80.7694°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 856feet |
| Progression: | east then southeast |
| River System: | Yadkin |
| Tributaries Left: | Stewart Fork Long Creek Mill Creek Saddle Mountain Creek Butler Creek Robertson Creek Potters Creek Pine Branch Snow Creek |
| Tributaries Right: | Mill Creek South Fork Mitchell River Camp Creek |
| Bridges: | Devotion Estate Way (x5), Haystack Road (x3), River Road, Judsville School Road, Millstone Trail, Kapps Mill Road, Zephry Mountain Park Road, I-77, NC 268 |
The Mitchell River is a tributary of the Yadkin River in northwestern North Carolina in the United States.[5] Via the Yadkin it is part of the watershed of the Pee Dee River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean. According to the Geographic Names Information System, it has also been known historically as "Mitchells River," "Mitchels River," and "Mountain Creek."
The Mitchell rises in eastern Alleghany County in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and flows generally southeastwardly through Surry County, where it joins the Yadkin River about 5 mi (8 km) northeast of Elkin at the community of Burch.[5]
In Surry County, it collects the short South Fork Mitchell River, which has also been known historically as "Mill Creek," "South Fork Creek," and "South Fork Mitchells River." The river is a popular destination for anglers who catch Brown, Brook, and Rainbow trout.