Little Wenatchee River

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Little Wenatchee River
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Location of the mouth of the Little Wenatchee River in Washington
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Little Wenatchee River (the US)
Etymology Sahaptin word meaning "river issuing from a canyon" [1]
Location
Country United States
State Washington
County Chelan
Physical characteristics
Source Cascade Range
 - location Dishpan Gap, Wenatchee National Forest
 - coordinates 47°58′19″N121°08′45″W / 47.97194°N 121.14583°W / 47.97194; -121.14583 [2]
 - elevation5,580 m (18,310 ft) [3]
Mouth Lake Wenatchee [2]
 - location
South of Telma
 - coordinates
 47°49′38″N120°49′07″W / 47.82722°N 120.81861°W / 47.82722; -120.81861 Coordinates: 47°49′38″N120°49′07″W / 47.82722°N 120.81861°W / 47.82722; -120.81861 [4]
 - elevation
1,873 m (6,145 ft) [2]

The Little Wenatchee River is the southern and smaller of the two rivers that flow into the west end of Lake Wenatchee. The northern and larger one is the White River. A large number of place names in the Little Wenatchee River basin, including the river's name itself, were given by Albert H. Sylvester.

River Natural flowing watercourse

A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of water. Small rivers can be referred to using names such as stream, creek, brook, rivulet, and rill. There are no official definitions for the generic term river as applied to geographic features, although in some countries or communities a stream is defined by its size. Many names for small rivers are specific to geographic location; examples are "run" in some parts of the United States, "burn" in Scotland and northeast England, and "beck" in northern England. Sometimes a river is defined as being larger than a creek, but not always: the language is vague.

Lake Wenatchee lake in Washington

Lake Wenatchee is a glacier- and snowmelt-fed lake situated in the Wenatchee National Forest on the eastern slopes of the Cascades Mountain Range in the state of Washington. Lake Wenatchee covers 2,480 acres (1,000 ha) and reaches a depth of 244 feet (74 m). Lake Wenatchee is the source of the Wenatchee River. Its main tributaries are the White River and the Little Wenatchee River. At its eastern end, the lake is breasted by Lake Wenatchee State Park. Lake Wenatchee State Airport, an unimproved grass and dirt landing strip, is adjacent to the north side of the state park.

The White River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the northern and larger of the two rivers that flow into the west end of Lake Wenatchee. The smaller southern one is the Little Wenatchee River. The White River is part of the Columbia River basin, being a tributary of the Wenatchee River, which empties into the Columbia River. A large number of place names in the White River basin, including the river's name itself, were given by Albert H. Sylvester.

Contents

The Little Wenatchee River begins at Dishpan Gap, a pass between the headwaters of the Little Wenatchee River and North Fork Skykomish River. The river flows southeast for a bit before turning south until its confluence with Cady Creek. From there it continues to flow southeast all the way to Lake Wenatchee.

Skykomish River river in Washington

The Skykomish River is a Washington river which drains the west side of the Cascade Mountains in the southeast section of Snohomish County and the northeast corner of King County. The river starts with the confluence of the North Fork Skykomish River and South Fork Skykomish River approximately one mile west of Index, then flowing northwesterly towards Puget Sound. It is joined by the Sultan River and the Wallace River at Sultan. It then meets the Snoqualmie River to form the Snohomish River at Monroe. The Snohomish River continues along the river valley eventually dumping into Port Gardner Bay on Possession Sound.

At Little Wenatchee Falls, the river drops about 60 feet (18 m) in a series of cascades. [5]

Recreation

For part of its 7.2-mile (11.6 km) length, the Little Wentatchee Trail follows the river. The trail runs from a trailhead at the end Little Wenatchee River Road to the Pacific Crest Trail. [6] The Little Wenatchee Ford Trailhead also provides access to Cady Creek Trail, Cady Ridge Trail, and Poe Mountain Trail. [7]

Pacific Crest Trail long-distance hiking and equestrian trail in the USA

The Pacific Crest Trail, officially designated as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) is a long-distance hiking and equestrian trail closely aligned with the highest portion of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges, which lie 100 to 150 miles east of the U.S. Pacific coast. The trail's southern terminus is on the U.S. border with Mexico, just south of Campo, California, and its northern terminus on the Canada–US border on the edge of Manning Park in British Columbia; its corridor through the U.S. is in the states of California, Oregon, and Washington.

Soda Springs Campground, 9 miles (14 km) from Lake Wenatchee, has 5 campsites and a vault toilet. There is a natural soda spring here that bubbles cool mineral water up from underground. It is not entirely clear if the water is safe for consumption. [8] Lake Creek Campground is along the Little Wenatchee 11 miles (18 km) upstream of Lake Wenatchee. The campground consists of 7 sites spread under an open but shady section of forest a short walk from the river. There are 2 pit toilets but no other amenities. A short loop trail leaves from the campground and follows the river for a ways leading you past two beautiful pools for fishing or swimming in hot weather. [9]

See also

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Little Minam River river in the United States of America

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Eagle Creek (Powder River)

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Fall Creek (Middle Fork Willamette River)

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References

  1. ↑ Bright, William (2004). Native American Placenames of the United States. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 561. ISBN   0-8061-3576-X.
  2. 1 2 3 "Little Wenatchee River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. September 10, 1979. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  3. ↑ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  4. ↑ "Fanno Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Little Wenatchee Falls". Northwest Waterfall Survey. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Little Wenatchee Trail #1525". United States Forest Service. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Little Wenatchee Ford Trailhead". United States Forest Service. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Soda Springs Campground". United States Forest Service. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Lake Creek Campground – Little Wenatchee River". United States Forest Service. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
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