Entiat River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Entiat River |
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Location of the mouth of the Entiat River in Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Chelan |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Cascade Range 48°9′1″N 120°47′58″W / 48.15028°N 120.79944°W |
| River mouth | Columbia River 47°39′40″N 120°13′28″W / 47.66111°N 120.22444°W |
| Length | 57 mi (92 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 466 sq mi (1,210 km2) |
The Entiat River is a beautiful river located in Washington state, in the United States. It flows into the mighty Columbia River near the small town of Entiat. More than 90% of the land around the Entiat River is publicly owned. Much of this land is part of the Wenatchee National Forest, which helps protect the river and its surroundings.
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What's in a Name? The Entiat River's Story
The name of the Entiat River comes from an old language called Columbia-Moses. In that language, the word /nt'yátkw/ means "place of grassy water." Another idea is that its older name, Enteatqua, meant "Rapid Water" or "Rushing Water." In 1958, the local power company, Chelan County Public Utility District, officially chose the spelling "Entiat" for the river.
Where is the Entiat River Located?
The Entiat River is found entirely within Chelan County, in Washington state. This means its entire journey, from where it starts to where it joins the Columbia River, happens within this one county.
The River's Journey: Where the Entiat River Flows
The Entiat River begins high up in the mountains, specifically in the Glacier Peak Wilderness area of the Wenatchee National Forest. Its main source comes from the slopes of huge mountains like Mount Maude and Seven Fingered Jack, and from the Entiat Glacier.
From these icy beginnings, the river flows east through peaceful Entiat Meadows. Then, it turns south and continues its journey. It travels between two mountain ranges: the Entiat Mountains on its west side and the Chelan Mountains on its east side.
As the river flows downstream, it meets the North Fork Entiat River. After this meeting, the Entiat River tumbles over Entiat Falls. Many smaller creeks also join the Entiat River along its path, including the Mad River.
In its final few miles, the Entiat River turns east. It then joins the Columbia River just south of the small city of Entiat. At this point, the Columbia River is actually a large lake called Lake Entiat. This lake was created by the Rocky Reach Dam.
Fern Lake is a beautiful lake located at the very beginning of the North Fork Entiat. The Entiat Glacier, which is a large ice mass on the eastern side of Mount Maude and Seven Fingered Jack, is where the Entiat River truly begins.
Fish and Wildlife in the Entiat River
The Entiat River is home to several types of fish. You can find Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, bull trout, and Lamprey living in its waters.
The number of young fish in the lower part of the Entiat River can be small because there aren't many good places for them to grow up. However, thanks to the Entiat National Fish Hatchery, there are many Summer Chinook salmon. This makes it a great place for fishing these salmon.
