792:
761:, the South Fork is about twice the size of the North Fork in terms of both discharge and watershed area above their confluence at Index, making it the true hydrologic source of the Skykomish River. The South Fork average flow of 2,431 cu ft/s (68.8 m/s) is sourced from a drainage area of 355 square miles (920 km), compared to the North Fork which has an average flow of 1,216 cu ft/s (34.4 m/s) from a drainage area of 146 square miles (380 km). In turn the source of the South Fork – in terms of streamflow – is the
175:
827:, were built at Stevens Pass. The first one was built slightly north of the pass. It was replaced in 1929 with the New Cascade Tunnel, which at 7.8 miles (12.6 km) long was for nearly 60 years the longest railroad tunnel in North America and is still the longest in the United States. The New Cascade Tunnel is a few miles south of Stevens Pass. Its western entrance is near the confluence of Tunnel Creek and the Tye River. A small amount of the water flows out of both tunnels into the Tye River. An interpretive center for the
203:
783:. As a whole, the area of the Skykomish watershed that was covered by glacial ice decreased from 3.8 km (1.5 sq mi) in 1958 to 1.7 km (0.66 sq mi) in 2022 - a 55% loss. Consequently, days with streamflow below the threshold necessary to maintain short-term survival of fish in the river has increased. Annual precipitation values had not been observed as declining.
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protects tributaries and forests adjacent to the North Fork
Skykomish, although not the river itself. The river flows generally in a southwestern direction from its source to its mouth. Just before picking up Goblin Creek, the river flows through a short but impressive canyon and within that canyon
855:
The
Skykomish River is used for rafting and kayaking, especially around the Index, WA area during the summer months. The Skykomish River is mostly ranked between Class III and Class III+ rapids, depending on the circumstances and season, but includes Boulder Drop, a class IV+ rapids. Skykomish and
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1052:
568:
is 29 miles (47 km) long, from the confluence of its North and South fork, until it and the
Snoqualmie forms the Snohomish River. Adding the longest headwater tributaries, South Fork Skykomish and Tye River, the length is 62.4 miles (100 km). The Skykomish's
835:
on the upper Tye River, describes the history of the area including the old railroad and new trail. The interpretive center was built near the site of one of the greatest railroad tragedies in
American history, the
657:
Silver Creek: Rises near
Silvertip Mountain and Poodle Dog Pass, flows by Mineral City, joins North Fork just above Galena (early route to Monte Cristo mining district; both Mineral City and Galena former mining
1247:
775:
in the higher portion of the watershed in the
Cascades has led to declining streamflow, especially during the late summer. In 2022, researchers determined that
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Trout Creek: Upstream of the town of Index, just downstream of the Index-Galena Road washout. Trout Creek road is currently blocked (as of 2015).
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1237:
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its tributaries also popular place for recreational fishing. River is a home for chinook, coho and pink salmon, steelhead and bull trout.
503:. The river starts with the confluence of the North Fork Skykomish River and South Fork Skykomish River approximately one mile west of
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622:. A short ways down from that, the river flows through an even shorter but very twisted and unusually shaped canyon at
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779:, which as recently as 1971 was the largest glacier in the river's watershed, had completely retreated as a result of
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685:. From the confluence the South Fork flows northwest. Near the eastern boundary of the city of Skykomish, the
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One of the Native
American trails crossing the Cascades followed the Skykomish and North Fork Skykomish to
807:
was built along the
Skykomish, South Fork Skykomish, and Tye Rivers, crossing the crest of the Cascades at
758:
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Troublesome Creek: Flows from Monte Cristo Peak, through Blanca Lake, to join the North Fork just below
20:
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556:, meaning "upriver people." It is sometimes referred to by the nickname "Sky River" or "The Sky".
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1053:"USGS Gage #12133000 on the South Fork Skykomish River near Index, WA: Monthly Statistics"
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1078:"USGS Gage #12134000 on the North Fork Skykomish River at Index, WA: Monthly Statistics"
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535:. The Snohomish River continues along the river valley eventually dumping into
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joins it. Shortly before converging with the North Fork the river drops over
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932:
U.S. Geological Survey
Geographic Names Information System: Skykomish River
819:
from 1970 to 1995. Stevens Pass is named after the Great
Northern surveyor
157:
162:
Map of the Skykomish River highlighted in the Snohomish River watershed
601:
The headwaters of the North Fork Skykomish River are located in the
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are routed to follow the Skykomish River, South Fork Skykomish, and
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790:
480:
466:
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Pinecone Creek: Joins the South Fork between Baring and Grotto.
673:
The South Fork Skykomish River begins at the confluence of the
29:
23:. For the similarly named river also in Washington State, see
769:, which in turn is a tributary of the South Fork Skykomish.
1189:
735:
Lowe Creek: Joins the South Fork between Baring and Grotto.
1139:"Loss of Hinman Glacier, North Cascade Range 1958-2022"
1110:: Climbing and High Routes: Stevens Pass to Rainy Pass
689:
joins it. To the west of the city of Skykomish, the
609:. It flows as a small stream off the north slope of
795:Loggers' bridge on the Skykomish (1910). Photo by
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60:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
661:Salmon Creek: Joins North Fork just below Galena.
551:
1021:Native American placenames of the United States
989:, National Cartography & Geospatial Center
732:Money Creek: Joins the South Fork near Grotto.
1024:. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 453.
573:is 834 square miles (2,160 km) in area.
8:
16:River in northwest Washington, United States
705:before its confluence with the North Fork.
644:Goblin Creek: Flows from Monte Cristo Peak.
457:129,000 cu ft/s (3,700 m/s)
189:Mouth of the Skykomish River in Washington
120:Learn how and when to remove this message
1211:"Skykomish - Sunset Falls to Split Rock"
437:3,973 cu ft/s (112.5 m/s)
921:
741:Index Creek: Joins the South Fork near
712:: Joins just below the river's source.
281:Confluence of the North and South Forks
209:
181:
1248:Rivers of Snohomish County, Washington
927:
925:
131:
973:
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507:, then flowing northwesterly towards
7:
1165:Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway
823:. Two railroad tunnels, both called
546:The name "Skykomish" comes from the
447:298 cu ft/s (8.4 m/s)
58:adding citations to reliable sources
1192:. Volunteers for Outdoor Washington
1084:. U.S. Geological Survey. 1910–1948
1059:. U.S. Geological Survey. 1902–1982
403:834 sq mi (2,160 km)
217:Skykomish River (the United States)
19:For the city of the same name, see
491:which drains the west side of the
14:
1243:Rivers of King County, Washington
1082:National Water Information System
1057:National Water Information System
949:. United States Geological Survey
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479:is a 29-mile (47 km) long
45:needs additional citations for
1168:. MBI Publishing. p. 83.
947:"National Hydrography Dataset"
811:. Today the track is owned by
550:name of the Skykomish people,
354: • coordinates
287: • coordinates
192:Show map of Washington (state)
1:
269:Physical characteristics
220:Show map of the United States
1238:Rivers of Washington (state)
1143:From a Glacier's Perspective
979:"Watershed Boundary Dataset"
817:Burlington Northern Railroad
499:and the northeast corner of
495:in the southeast section of
1137:Pelto, Mauri (2022-12-29).
605:near Dishpan Gap along the
603:Henry M. Jackson Wilderness
421: • location
342: • location
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453: • maximum
443: • minimum
433: • average
18:
910:List of Washington rivers
637:Quartz Creek: Flows from
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1162:Solomon, Brian (2005).
552:
543:(part of Puget Sound).
395:29 mi (47 km)
805:Great Northern Railway
800:
759:U.S. Geological Survey
564:The Skykomish River's
511:. It is joined by the
472:
376:47.83028°N 122.04667°W
309:47.81306°N 121.57806°W
1213:. American Whitewater
794:
765:, a tributary of the
641:, leads to Curry Gap.
630:Pass Creek: Leads to
618:the river drops over
470:
21:Skykomish, Washington
1108:Cascade Alpine Guide
523:. It then meets the
381:47.83028; -122.04667
314:47.81306; -121.57806
54:improve this article
838:Wellington Disaster
701:and then, finally,
615:Wild Sky Wilderness
607:Pacific Crest Trail
575:U.S. Highway 2
372: /
305: /
146:Skykomish River at
821:John Frank Stevens
801:
473:
150:, near flood stage
1190:"Iron Goat Trail"
1175:978-0-7603-2108-9
1031:978-0-8061-3598-4
803:In the 1890s the
757:According to the
681:, to the east of
639:Monte Cristo Peak
493:Cascade Mountains
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1114:The Mountaineers
1112:(3rd ed.).
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537:Port Gardner Bay
525:Snoqualmie River
497:Snohomish County
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829:Iron Goat Trail
815:, known as the
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529:Snohomish River
477:Skykomish River
471:Skykomish River
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1116:. p. 23.
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781:climate change
777:Hinman Glacier
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571:drainage basin
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797:Asahel Curtis
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767:Beckler River
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748:Barclay Creek
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710:Beckler River
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687:Beckler River
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517:Wallace River
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65:Find sources:
59:
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43:This article
41:
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32:
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22:
1215:. Retrieved
1205:
1194:. Retrieved
1184:
1164:
1157:
1146:. Retrieved
1142:
1132:
1106:
1103:Beckey, Fred
1097:
1086:. Retrieved
1081:
1072:
1061:. Retrieved
1056:
1047:
1035:. Retrieved
1020:
1010:
1005:data viewer.
991:. Retrieved
965:data viewer.
951:. Retrieved
898:Sunset Falls
893:Canyon Falls
881:
880:
864:
863:
854:
842:
813:BNSF Railway
809:Stevens Pass
802:
773:Glacial loss
771:
756:
727:Miller River
723:Miller River
703:Sunset Falls
699:Canyon Falls
691:Miller River
672:
600:
587:Stevens Pass
579:BNSF Railway
563:
545:
527:to form the
513:Sultan River
476:
474:
116:
110:January 2023
107:
97:
90:
83:
76:
64:
52:Please help
47:verification
44:
1000:ArcExplorer
993:4 September
960:ArcExplorer
953:4 September
888:Eagle Falls
763:Rapid River
725:: Joins at
716:Rapid River
695:Eagle Falls
548:Lushootseed
509:Puget Sound
501:King County
379: /
312: /
300:121°34′41″W
263:King County
1232:Categories
1217:2023-03-28
1196:2009-07-18
1148:2023-01-30
1088:2016-02-27
1063:2016-02-27
916:References
882:South Fork
871:Deer Falls
865:North Fork
860:Waterfalls
851:Recreation
679:Foss River
669:South Fork
620:Deer Falls
597:North Fork
489:Washington
485:U.S. state
400:Basin size
367:122°2′48″W
364:47°49′49″N
297:47°48′47″N
249:Washington
80:newspapers
845:Cady Pass
753:Discharge
683:Skykomish
675:Tye River
632:Cady Pass
583:Tye River
566:main stem
553:sq̓ixʷəbš
412:Discharge
1105:(2003).
1037:11 April
1018:(2004).
904:See also
677:and the
589:and the
577:and the
515:and the
426:Gold Bar
230:Location
787:History
658:towns).
613:. The
483:in the
235:Country
94:scholar
1172:
1120:
1028:
833:Scenic
743:Baring
560:Course
533:Monroe
521:Sultan
415:
392:Length
347:Monroe
278:Source
255:County
148:Monroe
96:
89:
82:
75:
67:
505:Index
481:river
330:Mouth
245:State
101:JSTOR
87:books
1170:ISBN
1118:ISBN
1039:2011
1026:ISBN
995:2010
987:NRCS
983:USDA
955:2010
475:The
73:news
1003:GIS
963:GIS
585:to
539:on
531:at
519:at
487:of
56:by
1234::
1141:.
1080:.
1055:.
985:,
981:.
970:^
938:^
924:^
847:.
840:.
626:.
593:.
261:,
1220:.
1199:.
1178:.
1151:.
1126:.
1091:.
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997:.
957:.
799:.
745:.
729:.
654:.
634:.
123:)
117:(
112:)
108:(
98:·
91:·
84:·
77:·
50:.
27:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
