Quillayute River
Encyclopedia
The Quillayute River is a river
situated on the Olympic Peninsula
in Washington. It empties to the Pacific Ocean
at La Push, Washington
. The Quillayute River is formed by the confluence of the Bogachiel River
and the Sol Duc River
. The Dickey River
joins the Quillayute just above the river's mouth on the Pacific Ocean.
Although the Quillayute is one of the main rivers on the Olympic Peninsula and has a large drainage area, due to an unusual naming arrangement it is officially very short, being only about 4 miles (6.4 km) long. At the confluence of the Sol Duc and Bogachiel rivers the use of the Quillayute name ends, although the river continues far into the interior.
The Quillayute River is the current, traditional and ancestral center of the territory of the Quileute Native Tribe, which before European settlement occupied the entire drainage basin (plus that of the Hoh River
). Presently the Natives live at the town of La Push
on their small treat reservation which adjoins the south shore of the river at the mouth.
The final 2 or 3 miles at the mouth of the Quillayute pass through the narrow coastal strip of the Olympic National Park
. Park roads lead to the Mora and Rialto Beach recreation area on the north side of the Quillayute. There are camping and picnicing facilities, public parking, and trailhead access to the coastal wilderness strip north of the river.
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...
situated on the Olympic Peninsula
Olympic Peninsula
The Olympic Peninsula is the large arm of land in western Washington state of the USA, that lies across Puget Sound from Seattle. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the north by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the east by Puget Sound. Cape Alava, the westernmost point in the contiguous...
in Washington. It empties to the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
at La Push, Washington
La Push, Washington
La Push is a small unincorporated community in Clallam County, Washington, United States. It is home to the Quileute tribe and is located along the Quileute River. La Push is known for its whale-watching and natural beauty.- Geography :...
. The Quillayute River is formed by the confluence of the Bogachiel River
Bogachiel River
The Bogachiel River is a river of the Olympic Peninsula in the U.S. state of Washington. It originates near Bogachiel Peak, flows west through the mountains of Olympic National Park...
and the Sol Duc River
Sol Duc River
The Sol Duc River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. About long, it flows west through the northwest part of the Olympic Peninsula, from the Olympic Mountains of Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest, then through the broad Sol Duc Valley...
. The Dickey River
Dickey River
The Dickey River is a stream on the Olympic Peninsula in the U.S. state of Washington. It has three main forks, the East Fork, West Fork, and Middle Fork Dickey Rivers. The main stem is formed by the confluence of the East and West Forks...
joins the Quillayute just above the river's mouth on the Pacific Ocean.
Although the Quillayute is one of the main rivers on the Olympic Peninsula and has a large drainage area, due to an unusual naming arrangement it is officially very short, being only about 4 miles (6.4 km) long. At the confluence of the Sol Duc and Bogachiel rivers the use of the Quillayute name ends, although the river continues far into the interior.
The Quillayute River is the current, traditional and ancestral center of the territory of the Quileute Native Tribe, which before European settlement occupied the entire drainage basin (plus that of the Hoh River
Hoh River
The Hoh River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington, located on the Olympic Peninsula. About long, the Hoh River originates at the Hoh Glacier on Mount Olympus and flows west through the Olympic Mountains of Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest, then through the foothills in a...
). Presently the Natives live at the town of La Push
La Push, Washington
La Push is a small unincorporated community in Clallam County, Washington, United States. It is home to the Quileute tribe and is located along the Quileute River. La Push is known for its whale-watching and natural beauty.- Geography :...
on their small treat reservation which adjoins the south shore of the river at the mouth.
The final 2 or 3 miles at the mouth of the Quillayute pass through the narrow coastal strip of the Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is located in the U.S. state of Washington, in the Olympic Peninsula. The park can be divided into four basic regions: the Pacific coastline, alpine areas, the west side temperate rainforest and the forests of the drier east side. U.S...
. Park roads lead to the Mora and Rialto Beach recreation area on the north side of the Quillayute. There are camping and picnicing facilities, public parking, and trailhead access to the coastal wilderness strip north of the river.