Klickitat River

The Klickitat River is a tributary of the Columbia River, nearly 96 miles (154 km) long, in south-central Washington in the United States. It drains a rugged plateau area on the eastern side of the Cascade Range northeast of Portland, Oregon. In 1986, 10 miles (16 km) of the river were designated Wild and Scenic from the confluence with Wheeler Creek, near the town of Pitt, to the confluence with the Columbia River.^[6]

Klickitat River
The Klickitat River outside Lyle, Washington
Mouth of the Klickitat River in Washington Show map of Washington (state) Klickitat River (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Klickitat County, Yakima County
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Cascade Range, Yakima County, Washington
• coordinates	46°29′13″N 121°25′16″W[1]
• elevation	6,440 ft (1,960 m)[2]
Mouth	Columbia River
• location	Lyle, Washington
• coordinates	45°41′47″N 121°17′29″W[1]
• elevation	80 ft (24 m)[3]
Length	95.8 mi (154.2 km)
Basin size	1,350 sq mi (3,500 km2)[4]
Discharge
• location	Lyle, at mouth[5]
• average	1,572 cu ft/s (44.5 m3/s)[5]
• minimum	412 cu ft/s (11.7 m3/s)
• maximum	51,000 cu ft/s (1,400 m3/s)
National Wild and Scenic River
Type	Recreational
Designated	November 17, 1986

Course

The Klickitat River rises in the high Cascades near Gilbert Peak, in northwestern Yakima County, in a remote corner of the Yakama Indian Reservation. It flows southeast, then generally south across the Lincoln Plateau. It enters northern Klickitat County, and meanders south through steep canyons. It enters the Columbia from the north at Lyle, approximately 10 miles (16 km) north-northwest of The Dalles, Oregon. State Route 142 follows the lower 15 miles (24 km) of the river. The river is bridged by State Route 14 at its mouth.

Recreation

The Klickitat Trail follows the river on an abandoned railroad grade from near Goldendale, Washington to the Columbia River just west of The Dalles, Oregon, nearly 30 miles (48 km).

See also

• List of Washington rivers
• Tributaries of the Columbia River
• List of National Wild and Scenic Rivers
• Outlet Falls

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Klickitat River
2. Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
3. Mouth elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS mouth coordinates.
4. Klickitat Subbasin Plan, Northwest Power and Conservation Council
5. Water Resources Data-Washington Water Year 2005, USGS
6. Wild and Scenic Klickitat River Archived 2010-06-10 at the Wayback Machine - National Wild and Scenic Rivers System

External links

• Wild and Scenic Klickitat River - National Wild and Scenic Rivers System