Ohanapecosh River
Encyclopedia
The Ohanapecosh River is a 16 miles (25.7 km) river
in the U.S. state
of Washington.
It is the main headwater tributary of the Cowlitz River
, which begins at the confluence of the Ohanapecosh River and the Clear Fork Cowlitz River. The Ohanapecosh originates near Ohanapecosh Glacier
on the southeast side of Mount Rainier
. Most of the river is within Mount Rainier National Park
. Its final reach is in Gifford Pinchot National Forest
.
Mount Rainier is the source of nine major rivers and their tributaries: the Nisqually
, Puyallup
, Mowich
, Carbon
, West Fork White, Huckleberry, White
, Ohanapecosh, and Muddy Fork rivers. Of these only the Ohanapecosh and Huckleberry are non-glacial. All of these rivers empty into Puget Sound
near Tacoma, Washington, except the Muddy Fork and Ohanapecosh, which flow into the Cowlitz River, a tributary of the Columbia River
.
The Ohanapecosh River is named for a Taidnapam (Upper Cowlitz
) Indian habitation site along the river, /áw-xanapaykaš/, meaning "standing at the edge". The Washington Place Names database says the name means "clear stream...deep blue...or deep blue holes". The database also relates a story from the June 6, 1953 Centralia Chronicle which claimed the name "may also be a corruption of the English words Oh, my gosh."
on the southeastern slopes of Mount Rainier. It flows southeast through Indian Bar, a broad, flat area of rocky debris. At approximately Ohanapecosh river mile
15 the Ohanapecosh plunges over Waukaukaup Falls. The Wonderland Trail
crosses the river near the falls. North of the river there is an alpine cirque known as Ohanapecosh Park. A similar cirque to the south is called Cowlitz Park. Below Waukaukaup Falls the Ohanapecosh then flows more generally east over more waterfalls. The tributary Boulder Creek joins from the north.
Below Boulder Creek the Ohanapecosh flows southeast. At approximately river mile 10.5 the Eastside Trail crosses the river near a waterfall. Then the river is joined by Chinook Creek from the north. The Ohanapecosh turns south and flows through a broad glacial U-shaped valley, which it shares with Washington State Route 123
, east of the river, and the Eastside Trail on the west side of the river. Many tributary streams joins the river, including Panther Creek from the east and Olallie Creek from the west. Shortly below Panther Creek the Ohanapecosh exits Pierce County
and enters Lewis County
. Below Olallie Creek the Ohanapecosh River flows through a broad flat bottomland called Cedar Flats. The river splits into two channels which join at the south end of Cedar Flats. The Grove of the Patriarchs trail crosses the river and loops through the island created by the Ohanapecosh's channels.
Just downstream from the rejoining of the two channels the Ohanapecosh flows by the east end of Stevens Canyon Road, which joins State Route 123 near the river. The high ridge west of the Ohanapecosh River north of the Stevens Canyon entrance road is called the Cowlitz Divide. South of the Stevens Canyon entrance the ridge is called Backbone Ridge. Both form a continuous ridgeline separating the watershed
of the Ohanapecosh from the Muddy Fork Cowlitz River.
The river plunges over Silver Falls near river mile 6, between Stevens Canyon Road and Laughingwater Creek.
Just below that the river is joined by Laughingwater Creek from the east. At approximately river mile 5, less than a mile below Laughingwater Creek, the Ohanapecosh flows by Ohanapecosh Hot Springs and the Ohanapecosh Campground, Visitor Center, and Ranger Station. This southeastern part of Mount Rainier National Park is known as the Ohanapecosh area. After flowing through it the river exits the national park and enters Gifford Pinchot National Forest
.
Continuing south the Ohanapecosh is joined by Carlton Creek and Summit Creek from the east. Near La Wis Wis Campground the Ohanapecosh River joins the Clear Fork Cowlitz River. Below the confluence the stream is called the Cowlitz River. State Route 123 ends near La Wis Wis, joining U.S. Route 12
. Route 12 continues to follow the Cowlitz River downstream.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Washington.
It is the main headwater tributary of the Cowlitz River
Cowlitz River
The Cowlitz River is a river in the state of Washington in the United States, a tributary of the Columbia River. Its tributaries drain a large region including the slopes of Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, and Mount St. Helens....
, which begins at the confluence of the Ohanapecosh River and the Clear Fork Cowlitz River. The Ohanapecosh originates near Ohanapecosh Glacier
Ohanapecosh Glacier
The Ohanapecosh Glacier is small glacier located on Mount Rainier's southeastern flanks in Washington. It covers and contains 1.3 billion ft3 of ice. The glacier consists of several lobes of ice interconnected by thin snowfields. Most of the glacier lies at an elevation of to , near the Whitman...
on the southeast side of Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States. It is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of . Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most...
. Most of the river is within Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park is a United States National Park located in southeast Pierce County and northeast Lewis County in Washington state. It was one of the US's earliest National Parks, having been established on March 2, 1899 as the fifth national park in the United States. The park contains...
. Its final reach is in Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Gifford Pinchot National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in southern Washington, USA. With an area of 1.37 million acres , it extends 116 km along the western slopes of Cascade Range from Mount Rainier National Park to the Columbia River. It includes the 110,000 acre Mount St....
.
Mount Rainier is the source of nine major rivers and their tributaries: the Nisqually
Nisqually River
The Nisqually River is a river in west central Washington in the United States, approximately long. It drains part of the Cascade Range southwest of Tacoma, including the southern slope of Mount Rainier, and empties into the southern end of Puget Sound....
, Puyallup
Puyallup River
The Puyallup River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. About long, it is formed by glaciers on the west side of Mount Rainier. It flows generally northwest, emptying into Commencement Bay, part of Puget Sound...
, Mowich
Mowich River
The Mowich River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. Its watershed drains a portion of the western side of Mount Rainier, part of the Cascade Range. The river has two main headwater branches, the South Mowich River and the North Mowich River. The South Mowich is significantly larger and...
, Carbon
Carbon River
The Carbon River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. It flows about 30 miles from its source, the Carbon Glacier on Mount Rainier, to join the Puyallup River at Orting....
, West Fork White, Huckleberry, White
White River (Washington)
The White River is a white, glacial river in the U.S. state of Washington. It flows about 75 miles from its source, the Emmons Glacier on Mount Rainier, to join the Puyallup River at Sumner...
, Ohanapecosh, and Muddy Fork rivers. Of these only the Ohanapecosh and Huckleberry are non-glacial. All of these rivers empty into Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
near Tacoma, Washington, except the Muddy Fork and Ohanapecosh, which flow into the Cowlitz River, a tributary of the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
.
The Ohanapecosh River is named for a Taidnapam (Upper Cowlitz
Cowlitz (tribe)
The Cowlitz are a group of Native American peoples from what is now western Washington state in the United States. The Cowlitz tribe actually consists of two distinct groups: the Upper Cowlitz, or Taidnapam, and the Lower Cowlitz, or Kawlic....
) Indian habitation site along the river, /áw-xanapaykaš/, meaning "standing at the edge". The Washington Place Names database says the name means "clear stream...deep blue...or deep blue holes". The database also relates a story from the June 6, 1953 Centralia Chronicle which claimed the name "may also be a corruption of the English words Oh, my gosh."
Course
The Ohanapecosh River originates from meltwaters of the lower part of Ohanapecosh GlacierOhanapecosh Glacier
The Ohanapecosh Glacier is small glacier located on Mount Rainier's southeastern flanks in Washington. It covers and contains 1.3 billion ft3 of ice. The glacier consists of several lobes of ice interconnected by thin snowfields. Most of the glacier lies at an elevation of to , near the Whitman...
on the southeastern slopes of Mount Rainier. It flows southeast through Indian Bar, a broad, flat area of rocky debris. At approximately Ohanapecosh river mile
River mile
In the United States, a River mile is a measure of distance in miles along a river from its mouth. River mile numbers begin at zero and increase further upstream. The corresponding metric unit using kilometers is the River kilometer...
15 the Ohanapecosh plunges over Waukaukaup Falls. The Wonderland Trail
Wonderland Trail
The Wonderland Trail is an approximately 93 mile hiking trail that circumnavigates Mount Rainier in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, United States. The trail goes over many ridges of Mount Rainier for a cumulative of elevation gain. The trail was built in 1915...
crosses the river near the falls. North of the river there is an alpine cirque known as Ohanapecosh Park. A similar cirque to the south is called Cowlitz Park. Below Waukaukaup Falls the Ohanapecosh then flows more generally east over more waterfalls. The tributary Boulder Creek joins from the north.
Below Boulder Creek the Ohanapecosh flows southeast. At approximately river mile 10.5 the Eastside Trail crosses the river near a waterfall. Then the river is joined by Chinook Creek from the north. The Ohanapecosh turns south and flows through a broad glacial U-shaped valley, which it shares with Washington State Route 123
Washington State Route 123
State Route 123 is a state highway in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Mount Rainier National Park east of Mount Rainier in the U.S. state of Washington. Located in the counties of Lewis and Pierce, the long roadway extends through a heavily forested canyon from to...
, east of the river, and the Eastside Trail on the west side of the river. Many tributary streams joins the river, including Panther Creek from the east and Olallie Creek from the west. Shortly below Panther Creek the Ohanapecosh exits Pierce County
Pierce County, Washington
right|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
and enters Lewis County
Lewis County, Washington
Lewis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of 2010, the population was 75,455. The county seat is at Chehalis, and its largest city is Centralia....
. Below Olallie Creek the Ohanapecosh River flows through a broad flat bottomland called Cedar Flats. The river splits into two channels which join at the south end of Cedar Flats. The Grove of the Patriarchs trail crosses the river and loops through the island created by the Ohanapecosh's channels.
Just downstream from the rejoining of the two channels the Ohanapecosh flows by the east end of Stevens Canyon Road, which joins State Route 123 near the river. The high ridge west of the Ohanapecosh River north of the Stevens Canyon entrance road is called the Cowlitz Divide. South of the Stevens Canyon entrance the ridge is called Backbone Ridge. Both form a continuous ridgeline separating the watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of the Ohanapecosh from the Muddy Fork Cowlitz River.
The river plunges over Silver Falls near river mile 6, between Stevens Canyon Road and Laughingwater Creek.
Just below that the river is joined by Laughingwater Creek from the east. At approximately river mile 5, less than a mile below Laughingwater Creek, the Ohanapecosh flows by Ohanapecosh Hot Springs and the Ohanapecosh Campground, Visitor Center, and Ranger Station. This southeastern part of Mount Rainier National Park is known as the Ohanapecosh area. After flowing through it the river exits the national park and enters Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Gifford Pinchot National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in southern Washington, USA. With an area of 1.37 million acres , it extends 116 km along the western slopes of Cascade Range from Mount Rainier National Park to the Columbia River. It includes the 110,000 acre Mount St....
.
Continuing south the Ohanapecosh is joined by Carlton Creek and Summit Creek from the east. Near La Wis Wis Campground the Ohanapecosh River joins the Clear Fork Cowlitz River. Below the confluence the stream is called the Cowlitz River. State Route 123 ends near La Wis Wis, joining U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 12 in Washington
U.S. Route 12 is a major east-west U.S. Highway, running from Aberdeen, Washington, to Detroit, Michigan. It spans across the state of Washington, and is the only numbered highway to span the entire state from west to east, starting near the Pacific Ocean, and crossing the Idaho state line near...
. Route 12 continues to follow the Cowlitz River downstream.