470:, a resort spa built in 1912 and refurbished in the 1980s by the National Park Service. Nearby is the Sol Duc Campground, and the Soleduck Ranger Station, after which its valley becomes considerably wider. The Sol Duc River continues northwest, paralleled by the Sol Duc Road leading to the campground. For a short distance the boundary of Olympic National Park runs approximately along the river. Just before the river exits the national park it is joined by its two main tributaries. First the North Fork Sol Duc River then the South Fork Sol Duc River. Goodman Creek joins about a mile below the South Fork confluence.
45:
422:
streamflow figures than the
Washington Department of Ecology. Also, Wuerthner uses metric units while Ecology uses imperial units. Wuerthner says the mean annual flow is 37 m/s (1,300 cu ft/s), Ecology says it is 1,270 cu ft/s (36 m/s). The maximum and minimum recorded discharges were, according to Wuerthner, 588.85 m/s (20,795 cu ft/s) and 4.39 m/s (155 cu ft/s). According to Ecology they were 19,200 cu ft/s (540 m/s) and 214 cu ft/s (6.1 m/s).
293:
606:, on the west slope of Pine Mountain. It flows north, joining the Sol Duc River 2.8 miles (4.5 km) southwest of Fairholm and 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Mount Muller. It is approximately 7.7 miles (12.4 km) long. Tom Creek joins less than a mile from the South Fork's confluence with the main stem Sol Duc River. The South Fork is entirely within Olympic National Forest.
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In the early 20th century the logging potential of the northwest
Olympic Peninsula drew increasing numbers of settlers. Tracts of timberland were purchased throughout the Sol Duc watershed, especially in the relatively accessible Sol Duc Valley. In January 1921 a massive "blowdow" toppled trees over
421:
of the Sol Duc River has considerable seasonal variation. According to George
Wuerthner, the river's average winter flow is 104.75 cubic metres per second (3,699 cu ft/s) but its average summer flow is only 12.74 m/s (450 cu ft/s). Wuerthner cites slightly different annual
445:
The Sol Duc flows generally west and northwest, collecting numerous headwater tributaries. Bridge Creek, which flows from Heart Lake in the high alpine
Soleduck Park, joins the Sol Duc in Soleduck Flats. Rocky Creek flows from Mount Appleton near Appleton Pass, joining the Sol Duc from the north.
634:
The 1951 fire started on
September 20 after 108 days without rain. Driven by high winds the fire spread west down the Sol Duc Valley at a rate of about 18 miles (29 km) in 6 hours. Over 30,000 acres (120 km) of timber was destroyed. Smoke in the city of Forks was so dense that drivers
516:, called La Push Road, continues down the Sol Duc Valley. After making a number of large meanders the Sol Duc River ends at its confluence with the Bogachiel River. The combined rivers are known as the Quillayute River, which flows west several miles and empties into the Pacific Ocean near
659:
salmon. The lack of glaciers at stream headwaters keeps the consistency of river fish habitats. Of the
Quillayute's tributaries, the Sol Duc River is remarkable in its migratory fish diversity and health. It is the only Quillayute tributary that supports spring chinook salmon. It contains
679:
Selected tributaries are listed from the source to the mouth of the Sol Duc River. "East" and "west" notes indicate the direction from which the tributary enters the Sol Duc from a downriver perspective. Multiple bullet points indicate tributaries of tributaries.
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There are two common spellings of the river's name, Sol Duc and
Soleduck. Before 1992 the accepted spelling was "Soleduck". In 1992 the spelling was officially changed to "Sol Duc" by the State of Washington Board on Geographic Names. The name comes from its
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619:. At least 1,700 trees were toppled in the Sol Duc Valley along the road between Sappho and Lake Crescent. Many settlers who had claimed timberland in order to sell to timber companies found their land worthless. Many simply moved away.
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evacuating in the middle of the day could barely see the road. The fire reached the edge of Forks, destroying 28 houses and a number of other buildings before a light rain began to fall, halting and eventually putting out the fire.
626:
burned through the forests of the upper Sol Duc Valley in 1907 and in the 1951 Forks Fire. Wildfires in this area tend to spread quickly east to west while remaining narrow north to south. This is due to the wind patterns near
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485:
Klahowya
Campground. A few miles west of the campground the river exits Olympic National Forest. Bear Creek joins from the north near Bear Creek Campground. Beaver Creek joins from the north near
371:
The Sol Duc River's main tributaries are its two forks, the North Fork Sol Duc River and the South Fork Sol Duc River. Other notable tributaries include Bear Creek, Beaver Creek, and Lake Creek.
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477:. Its valley, here called the Sol Duc Valley, widens to about a mile across. The valley, about 35 miles (56 km) long, continues to widen as the river flows west and southwest.
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of the northern
Olympic Peninsula, 629 square miles (1,630 km). The Sol Duc's watershed is the largest of the Quillayute's tributaries, at 219 square miles (570 km).
374:
Much of the Sol Duc River's watershed is valuable timber land. Most of the forests have been logged at least once. The forests within
Olympic National Park are protected.
671:
The Sol Duc River is one of the only rivers of the Olympic Peninsula that supports all five major species of salmon. The upper Sol Duc is a prime coho spawning stream.
567:, about 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of Mount Muller. It is approximately 13.5 miles (21.7 km) long. The North Fork is entirely within Olympic National Park.
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The river plunges over Sol Duc Falls, after which Canyon Creek joins from the south. The Sol Duc turns more directly northwest and its valley broadens. It passes
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The Sol Duc River originates in the northern Olympic Mountains, in Olympic National Park, on the north side of High Divide, which separates the Sol Duc and
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runs through most of the valley. Numerous tributaries flow from the high mountain ridges to the north and south. Kugel Creek joins the river near the
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Seven Lakes Creek flows from Seven Lakes Basin through several lakes including Soleduck Lake, to join the Sol Duc River from the south.
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rises near Bogachiel Peak and flows south of the Sol Duc River. The confluence of the two forms the Quillayute River.
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The Sol Duc and the other tributaries of the Quillayute River support some of the healthiest stocks of wild winter
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follows the Sol Duc River for many miles through Olympic National Forest and the Sol Duc Valley to the vicinity of
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508:, a tributary of the Bogachiel River. U.S. Route 101 leaves the Sol Duc Valley in this area, turning south toward
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General course info from USGS topographic maps accessed via the "GNIS in Google Map" feature of the USGS
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356:. Although the Quillayute River is short, its large tributary rivers—the Sol Duc, Bogachiel,
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384:. The city of Forks is so named due to the close convergence of the Sol Duc, Bogachiel, and
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River & Stream Water Quality Monitoring, Station 20A090 Soleduck River near Forks
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320:. About 78 miles (126 km) long, it flows west through the northwest part of the
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U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: South Fork Sol Duc River
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U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: North Fork Sol Duc River
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U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Soleduck Salmon Hatchery
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U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Soleduck Ranger Station
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salmon in June and July and so-called summer coho salmon in August and September.
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After leaving Olympic National Park the Sol Duc River flows west through part of
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793:"Physical characteristics of selected rivers draining the Olympic Peninsula"
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U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sol Duc Valley
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U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sol Duc Falls
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U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sol Duc River
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989:
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sol Duc Lake
978:
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sol Duc Park
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U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: High Divide
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U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Shuwah
462:
The Salmon Cascades on the Sol Duc River in Olympic National Park.
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Wild beauty of the Sol Duc valley is therapeutic any time of year
497:. Lake Creek, flowing from Lake Pleasant, joins the Sol Duc near
563:. It flows generally northwest, joining the Sol Duc River near
827:"Stream flow monitoring station Sol Duc River near Quillayute"
881:, Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC). Archived from
799:, Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC). Archived from
504:
For several miles the Sol Duc River flows very close to the
59:
Location of the mouth of the Sol Duc River in Washington
1102:. University of Washington Press. pp. 465–466.
1100:
Exploring Washington's Past: A Road Guide to History
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1257:Washington placenames of Native American origin
909:Native American placenames of the United States
850:Washington State Place Names: From Alki to Yelm
912:. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 456.
8:
1223:, Washington Department of Natural Resources
1217:; Department of Ecology, State of Washington
1178:Wuerthner, George; Douglas W. Moore (2003).
940:Wuerthner, George; Douglas W. Moore (2003).
575:The South Fork Sol Duc River originates at
528:The North Fork Sol Duc River originates at
1221:Sol Duc Watershed Analysis, Water Quality
1155:Washington River Maps & Fishing Guide
1126:Fire Ecology of Pacific Northwest Forests
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1157:. Frank Amato Publications. p. 11.
296:Vertical panoramic view of Sol Duc Falls
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875:"Status Review of West Coast Steelhead"
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282:19,200 cu ft/s (540 m/s)
1184:. Stackpole Books. pp. 169, 268.
1098:Kirk, Ruth; Carmela Alexander (1990).
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615:a wide region between the Sol Duc and
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262:1,270 cu ft/s (36 m/s)
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1247:Rivers of Clallam County, Washington
272:214 cu ft/s (6.1 m/s)
1061:Geographic Names Information System
1252:Landforms of Olympic National Park
829:. Washington Department of Ecology
16:River in Washington, United States
14:
668:also spawn in the Sol Duc River.
227:219 sq mi (570 km)
701:North Fork Sol Duc River (right)
693:South Fork Sol Duc River (left)
438:is part of the High Divide. The
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1181:Olympic: A Visitor's Companion
946:. Stackpole Books. p. 9.
943:Olympic: A Visitor's Companion
405:, meaning "sparkling waters".
178: • coordinates
123: • coordinates
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103:Physical characteristics
1242:Rivers of Washington (state)
1211:, U.S. National Park Service
1129:. Island Press. p. 41.
853:. Caxton Press. p. 78.
340:the Sol Duc River joins the
1209:Visiting the Sol Duc Valley
245: • location
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847:Brokenshire, Doug (1993).
514:Washington State Route 110
278: • maximum
268: • minimum
258: • average
750:List of Washington rivers
364:—drain the largest
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571:South Fork Sol Duc River
524:North Fork Sol Duc River
219:78 mi (126 km)
1123:Agee, James K. (1996).
739:Sanderson Creek (right)
666:Coastal cutthroat trout
559:, on the west slope of
475:Olympic National Forest
334:Olympic National Forest
684:Blackwood Creek (left)
594:47.95139°N 123.96972°W
547:47.94778°N 123.75056°W
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200:47.91389°N 124.54194°W
145:47.92500°N 123.69972°W
493:and the community of
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330:Olympic National Park
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725:Shuwah Creek (left)
719:Bockman Creek (left)
716:Beaver Creek (right)
704:Goodman Creek (left)
599:47.95139; -123.96972
552:47.94778; -123.75056
205:47.91389; -124.54194
150:47.92500; -123.69972
1153:Rose, Doug (2006).
736:Tassel Creek (left)
687:Munden Creek (left)
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468:Sol Duc Hot Springs
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722:Lake Creek (right)
713:Bear Creek (right)
710:Kugel Creek (left)
690:Alkee Creek (left)
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1191:978-0-8117-2869-0
1136:978-1-55963-230-0
953:978-0-8117-2869-0
919:978-0-8061-3598-4
860:978-0-87004-356-7
707:Camp Creek (left)
649:Pacific Northwest
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883:the original
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805:. Retrieved
801:the original
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675:Tributaries
597: /
585:123°58′11″W
550: /
324:, from the
203: /
191:124°32′31″W
148: /
136:123°41′59″W
1236:Categories
889:2009-07-16
833:2009-07-16
807:2009-07-16
756:References
538:123°45′2″W
535:47°56′52″N
419:streamflow
409:Streamflow
318:Washington
314:U.S. state
250:river mile
224:Basin size
188:47°54′50″N
133:47°55′30″N
87:Washington
645:steelhead
624:wildfires
617:Hoh River
582:47°57′5″N
432:Hoh River
415:discharge
366:watershed
236:Discharge
1063:website.
925:11 April
906:(2004).
744:See also
565:Fairholm
399:Quileute
306:Soleduck
68:Location
662:sockeye
653:chinook
647:in the
610:History
518:La Push
358:Calawah
354:La Push
312:in the
308:) is a
97:Clallam
73:Country
1188:
1161:
1133:
1106:
950:
916:
857:
731:(left)
622:Large
499:Shuwah
495:Beaver
487:Sappho
426:Course
401:name,
360:, and
239:
216:Length
112:Source
93:County
510:Forks
417:, or
382:Forks
310:river
166:Mouth
83:State
1186:ISBN
1159:ISBN
1131:ISBN
1104:ISBN
948:ISBN
927:2011
914:ISBN
879:NOAA
855:ISBN
797:NOAA
657:coho
655:and
413:The
392:Name
332:and
300:The
252:13.8
352:at
328:of
316:of
1238::
1145:^
1090:^
1050:^
877:.
816:^
795:.
780:^
764:^
520:.
512:.
501:.
388:.
1194:.
1167:.
1139:.
1112:.
956:.
929:.
892:.
863:.
836:.
810:.
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