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
Klickitat River is located in Washington (state)
Klickitat River
Mouth of the Klickitat River in Washington
Klickitat River is located in the United States
Klickitat River
Klickitat River (the United States)
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyKlickitat County, Yakima County
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationCascade Range, Yakima County, Washington
 • coordinates46°29′13″N 121°25′16″W / 46.48694°N 121.42111°W / 46.48694; -121.42111[1]
 • elevation6,440 ft (1,960 m)[2]
MouthColumbia River
 • location
Lyle, Washington
 • coordinates
45°41′47″N 121°17′29″W / 45.69639°N 121.29139°W / 45.69639; -121.29139[1]
 • elevation
80 ft (24 m)[3]
Length95.8 mi (154.2 km)
Basin size1,350 sq mi (3,500 km2)[4]
Discharge 
 • locationLyle, at mouth[5]
 • average1,572 cu ft/s (44.5 m3/s)[5]
 • minimum412 cu ft/s (11.7 m3/s)
 • maximum51,000 cu ft/s (1,400 m3/s)
TypeRecreational
DesignatedNovember 17, 1986

Course

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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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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
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