.gif)
Sauk River (Washington)
Encyclopedia
The Sauk River is a tributary of the Skagit River
, approximately 45 miles (72.4 km) long, in northwestern Washington in the United States
. It drains an area of the high Cascade Range
in the watershed of Puget Sound
north of Seattle
. The river is a popular destination for fly fishing
. It is a National Wild and Scenic River.
Its two forks rise in the Cascades in eastern Snohomish County
, in the Glacier Peak Wilderness
and join to form the mainstem Sauk River at Bedal. From there the river flows northwest from there through a remote section of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
to Darrington
, then north to join the Skagit River from the south at Rockport
. The Sauk River receives the Suiattle River
from the east approximately 12 miles (19.3 km) south of Rockport and the White Chuck River
just above Darrington. Another important tributary is Clear Creek
, which joins the Sauk just above Darrington.
At Darrington the Sauk River comes so close to the head of the North Fork Stillaguamish River
that boats used to portage across the divide.
The name "Sauk" comes from the Sah-kee-ma-hu (Sauk-Suiattle
tribe), a group related to the Skagit tribes, not from the Sauk tribe of the Midwestern U.S.
. The river flows generally northwest through Seventysix Gulch to Monte Cristo
, where it is joined by Glacier Creek. The South Fork continues to flow northwest until it is joined by Weden Creek, where it turns north. It flows just east of Barlow Pass, after which it is paralleled by the Mountain Loop Highway. After several miles the river enters Monte Cristo Lake. A number of camping sites are located along the South Fork Sauk River north of Monte Cristo Lake. Near Bedal Campground the South Fork converges with the North Fork to form the mainstem Sauk River.
A remarkably short and low divide, Barlow Pass, separates the South Fork Sauk River from Palmer Creek, a headwater tributary of the South Fork Stillaguamish River
. The unusual geography, orientation, and size of these rivers and their valleys suggests that during the Pleistocene era the Sauk River flowed west through Barlow Pass into what it now the Stillaguamish valley.
According to Fred Beckey
the source of the North Fork could be equally considered to be its tributary Cadet Creek, which joins the North Fork via Sloan Creek
.
basin made discoveries leading to the mining boom at Monte Cristo
near the source of the North Fork Sauk River. The difficulty of access from the south led to the 1891 construction of a narrow wagon road along the Sauk River. The Sauk wagon road ran from Sauk City on the Skagit River
to the mines at Monte Cristo. A key stop on this road was the trading post at Orient, at the forks of the Sauk River. Today this area is known as Bedal. Today the Mountain Loop Highway
follows part of the Sauk River more or less along the route of the old wagon road.
Skagit River
The Skagit River is a river in southwestern British Columbia in Canada and northwestern Washington in the United States, approximately 150 mi long...
, approximately 45 miles (72.4 km) long, in northwestern Washington in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It drains an area of the high Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
in the watershed of 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...
north of Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. The river is a popular destination for fly fishing
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
. It is a National Wild and Scenic River.
Its two forks rise in the Cascades in eastern Snohomish County
Snohomish County, Washington
Snohomish County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Snohomish tribe. Since 2000, the county's population has grown from 606,024 to 713,335 residents , making it one of the fastest-growing in the state, ranking third in overall population after King and...
, in the Glacier Peak Wilderness
Glacier Peak Wilderness
The Glacier Peak Wilderness, created by the US Forest Service in 1960 by efforts of the , four years before the 1964 wilderness legislation of the Congress, is located within portions of Chelan County, Snohomish County, and Skagit Counties in the North Cascades of Washington...
and join to form the mainstem Sauk River at Bedal. From there the river flows northwest from there through a remote section of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington extends more than along the western slopes of the Cascade Range from the Canadian border to the northern boundary of Mount Rainier National Park. Forest headquarters are located in the city of Everett....
to Darrington
Darrington, Washington
Darrington is a town in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,347 at the 2010 census.-History:The upper Stillaguamish valley where Darrington is located was once settled by the local Sauk-Suiattle Tribes in the drainage of the Sauk, Suiattle and Whitechuck rivers...
, then north to join the Skagit River from the south at Rockport
Rockport, Washington
Rockport is a census-designated place in Skagit County, Washington, United States. The population was 109 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Mount Vernon–Anacortes, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. The Sauk River receives the Suiattle River
Suiattle River
The Suiattle River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington.-Course:The Suiattle River originates from the Suiattle Glacier on the slopes of Glacier Peak in the Cascade Range. It flows generally northwest to join the Sauk River north of Darrington. The Sauk River in turn joins the Skagit River,...
from the east approximately 12 miles (19.3 km) south of Rockport and the White Chuck River
White Chuck River
The White Chuck River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a tributary of the Sauk River.-Course:The White Chuck River originates on the slopes of Glacier Peak in the Cascade Range. It flows generally northwest to join the Sauk River south of Darrington. The Sauk River in turn join the...
just above Darrington. Another important tributary is Clear Creek
Clear Creek (Washington)
Clear Creek is a creek in Snohomish County, Washington. It is a tributary of the Sauk River and enters the river just above the community of Darrington.- Course :...
, which joins the Sauk just above Darrington.
At Darrington the Sauk River comes so close to the head of the North Fork Stillaguamish River
Stillaguamish River
The Stillaguamish River is a river in northwest Washington in the United States. It is mainly composed of two forks, the longer North Fork Stillaguamish and the South Fork Stillaguamish. The two forks join near Arlington. From there the Stillaguamish River proper flows for to Puget Sound...
that boats used to portage across the divide.
The name "Sauk" comes from the Sah-kee-ma-hu (Sauk-Suiattle
Sauk-Suiattle
Sauk-Suiattle, or Sah-Ku-Me-Hu, is a Native American tribe in western Washington state in the United States. The tribe originally lived along the banks of the Sauk, Suiattle, Cascade, Stillaguamish, and Skagit Rivers. The Sauk-Suiattle Indian Reservation is in this area, centered near Darrington,...
tribe), a group related to the Skagit tribes, not from the Sauk tribe of the Midwestern U.S.
South Fork
The South Fork Sauk River's headwaters flow from a glacier on the northwest side of Columbia PeakColumbia Peak
Columbia Peak is a mountain peak in the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness in the U.S. state of Washington. Columbia Peak rises to . Together with Monte Cristo Peak and Kyes Peak it forms a basin that contains Columbia Glacier and Blanca Lake....
. The river flows generally northwest through Seventysix Gulch to Monte Cristo
Monte Cristo, Washington
Monte Cristo is a ghost town northwest of Monte Cristo Peak, in eastern Snohomish County in western Washington.Prospecting in the region began in the Skykomish River drainage with the Old Cady Trail used for access. In 1882 Elisha Hubbard improved the trail up the North Fork Skykomish, from Index...
, where it is joined by Glacier Creek. The South Fork continues to flow northwest until it is joined by Weden Creek, where it turns north. It flows just east of Barlow Pass, after which it is paralleled by the Mountain Loop Highway. After several miles the river enters Monte Cristo Lake. A number of camping sites are located along the South Fork Sauk River north of Monte Cristo Lake. Near Bedal Campground the South Fork converges with the North Fork to form the mainstem Sauk River.
A remarkably short and low divide, Barlow Pass, separates the South Fork Sauk River from Palmer Creek, a headwater tributary of the South Fork Stillaguamish River
Stillaguamish River
The Stillaguamish River is a river in northwest Washington in the United States. It is mainly composed of two forks, the longer North Fork Stillaguamish and the South Fork Stillaguamish. The two forks join near Arlington. From there the Stillaguamish River proper flows for to Puget Sound...
. The unusual geography, orientation, and size of these rivers and their valleys suggests that during the Pleistocene era the Sauk River flowed west through Barlow Pass into what it now the Stillaguamish valley.
Tributaries
- Glacier Creek: Joins the South Fork at Monte Cristo.
- Weden Creek: Joins about 2.3 miles (3.7 km) downstream from Monte Cristo.
- Elliot Creek: Joins just downstream from the outlet of Monte Cristo Lake.
North Fork
The North Fork, the larger of the two forks, starts at the outlet of a small, unnamed lake opposite to Blue Lake near Johnson Mountain. It flows generally northwest for most of its length. Near its confluence with the South Fork it then turns west and rushes through a gorge in which it drops over the North Fork Falls, a powerful plunge at least 58 feet (17.7 m) high. Shortly below it also drops over smaller Lower North Fork Falls. The North Fork converges with the South Fork near Bedal Campground, forming the mainstem Sauk River.According to Fred Beckey
Fred Beckey
Fred Beckey is an American mountaineer and author, who has made hundreds of first ascents, more than any other North American climber.-Early years:...
the source of the North Fork could be equally considered to be its tributary Cadet Creek, which joins the North Fork via Sloan Creek
Sloan Creek
Sloan Creek is the largest tributary of the North Fork Sauk River, entering the river about above the mouth of Lost Creek. Its only major tributary is Cadet Creek, which enters the creek about above its mouth...
.
Tributaries
- Sloan CreekSloan CreekSloan Creek is the largest tributary of the North Fork Sauk River, entering the river about above the mouth of Lost Creek. Its only major tributary is Cadet Creek, which enters the creek about above its mouth...
: Joins the North Fork about 2.1 miles (3.4 km) above Lost Creek.- Cadet Creek: Flows from the northeast side of Monte Cristo PeakMonte Cristo PeakMonte Cristo Peak is a mountain peak in the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness in Washington state. Together with Columbia Peak and Kyes Peak it forms a basin that contains Columbia Glacier and Blanca Lake...
.
- Cadet Creek: Flows from the northeast side of Monte Cristo Peak
- Cougar Creek: Flows from Cougar Lake on the east side of Bedal Peak.
- Lost Creek: Joins about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) above the North Fork's mouth.
History
In 1890 prospectors exploring north from the Skykomish RiverSkykomish River
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...
basin made discoveries leading to the mining boom at Monte Cristo
Monte Cristo, Washington
Monte Cristo is a ghost town northwest of Monte Cristo Peak, in eastern Snohomish County in western Washington.Prospecting in the region began in the Skykomish River drainage with the Old Cady Trail used for access. In 1882 Elisha Hubbard improved the trail up the North Fork Skykomish, from Index...
near the source of the North Fork Sauk River. The difficulty of access from the south led to the 1891 construction of a narrow wagon road along the Sauk River. The Sauk wagon road ran from Sauk City on the Skagit River
Skagit River
The Skagit River is a river in southwestern British Columbia in Canada and northwestern Washington in the United States, approximately 150 mi long...
to the mines at Monte Cristo. A key stop on this road was the trading post at Orient, at the forks of the Sauk River. Today this area is known as Bedal. Today the Mountain Loop Highway
Mountain Loop Highway
The Mountain Loop Highway is a highway in the U.S. state of Washington. It traverses the western section of the Cascade Range within Snohomish County. The name suggests it forms a full loop, but it only is a small portion of a loop, which is completed using State Routes 92, 9, and 530...
follows part of the Sauk River more or less along the route of the old wagon road.