page_title: Salmon River (Clackamas County, Oregon)
section_title: Course
hierarchical_section_title: Salmon River (Clackamas County, Oregon) / Course
caption_attribution_description: English: Wild and Scenic Salmon River in Clackamas County, Oregon, USA.
context_page_description: The Salmon River is a 33.5-mile river in the Cascade Range in the U.S. state of Oregon that drains part of southwestern Mount Hood. The entire length of the river is a protected National Wild and Scenic River. Several portions are in protected wilderness. It is affluent to the Sandy River, a tributary of the Columbia River.
context_section_description: The overall course is sickle-shaped with the point facing north at Mount Hood and the handle facing west.
  The headwaters are on the Mount Hood's south face at the foot of Palmer Glacier east of Silcox Hut.  
  The river, which crosses the Pacific Crest Trail at 5,980 feet (1,820 m), continues directly southward for a few miles and remains east of Timberline Road. As it descends below 4,500 feet (1,400 m), it turns southwest, and continues under Oregon Route 35, elevation 3,600 feet (1,100 m), just east of the junction with U.S. Route 26, and crosses under Route 26 as well.
  The West Fork Salmon River begins in the Timberline Lodge ski area under the Pucci chairlift. It flows south-southwest and is joined by natural cold springs at the 5,000-foot (1,500 m) level, continues south-southwest and crosses under Highway 26 just west of the Highway 35 junction.   Just after they cross Highway 26, the West Fork and Salmon River join, and a half mile (1 km) later, the Salmon is joined by the East Fork Salmon River which comes out of a steep valley just north of, and below, Barlow Pass.
  The combined river flows directly south through Red Top Meadow for about 3 miles (5 km) and begins meandering slightly through Salmon River Meadows, elevation 3,320 feet (1,010 m). At the south end, the river is joined by Ghost Creek, which enters from the left and turns west-southwest for about 4 miles (6 km) before receiving Mud Creek, which flows from Trillium Lake and enters from the right. About 1.5 miles (2.4 km) downstream from Mud Creek, it receives Fir Tree Creek from the right as it enters the eastern boundary of the Salmon–Huckleberry Wilderness.
  A steep east–west gorge captures the Salmon River and collects several creeks—Wolf from the right; Inch, Draw String, and Linney from the left. The river turns northwest and in the next 3 miles (5 km), flows over a series of six waterfalls ranging from 15 to 75 feet (4.6 to 22.9 m) high. These include Stein and Split (before Iron and Swift creeks enter from the left and Kinzel Creek from the right), then Little Niagara (before Goat Creek enters from the right), then Vanishing, Frustration, and Final Falls. Iron Creek, near its confluence with the Salmon River, flows over Hideaway Falls.
  A half mile below Final Falls, Copper Creek joins from the left and, a mile later, Bighorn Creek joins from the left and the river leaves the wilderness area. About 1.5 miles (2.4 km) later, the South Fork Salmon River—which drains about 25 square miles (65 km²) of rugged mountains northeast of Squaw Mountain—enters from the left about a mile above Green Canyon Campground. From here the river flows 11 miles (18 km) on a comparatively level grade, receiving Cheeney Creek from the left just above Welches.
  The river then flows roughly parallel to Route 26 past Wemme, then goes through Wildwood Recreation Site near Wildwood. Receiving Boulder Creek from the left, it crosses (again) under Route 26 and merges with the Sandy River near the community of Brightwood. This is 37.5 miles (60.4 km) upstream of the Sandy's confluence with the Columbia River.
caption: Salmon River in winter
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