Puneet Varma (Editor)

Quinault River

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- location
  
Taholah

Basin area
  
486.9 km²

Source
  
Olympic Mountains

Country
  
United States of America

Length
  
111 km

Basin area
  
486.9 km²

Mouth
  
Pacific Ocean

Bridges
  
Chow Chow Bridge

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The Quinault River (/kwˈnɒlt/ or /kwˈnɔːlt/) is a 69-mile (111 km) long river located on the Olympic Peninsula in the U.S. state of Washington. It originates deep in the Olympic Mountains in the Olympic National Park. It flows southwest through the "Enchanted Valley". Several miles above Lake Quinault the river is joined by its main tributary, the North Fork Quinault River. The main stem Quinault River above this confluence is sometimes called the East Fork Quinault River. Below the confluence the river marks the boundary of Olympic National Park for several miles before emptying into Lake Quinault. After the lake, the Quinault River flows southwest, reaching the Pacific at Taholah. From Lake Quinault to the ocean, the river is contained within the Quinault Indian Reservation.

Contents

Map of Quinault River, Washington, USA

The Quinault River's drainage basin is 188 square miles (487 km2) in area. Its main tributaries include the North Fork Quinault River, Graves Creek, Fox Creek, and Cook Creek.

A well maintained trail follows the East Fork of the Quinault from Graves Creek to the Enchanted Valley Ranger Station through old growth rain forest. In early summer snow melt creates many waterfalls in the valley, giving it the name "Valley of a Thousand Waterfalls".

The Quinault River has been reaching new recorded lows in recent years, as it was fed by the Anderson Glacier which had melted away by 2011.

References

Quinault River Wikipedia