Gilbert River (Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gilbert River |
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 Location of the mouth of the Gilbert River in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Multnomah, Columbia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Sauvie Island near south end east of Burlington, Multnomah County 19 ft (5.8 m) 45°38′58″N 122°48′13″W / 45.64944°N 122.80361°W |
| River mouth | Multnomah Channel near north end east of Scappoose, Columbia County 10 ft (3.0 m) 45°47′21″N 122°47′59″W / 45.78917°N 122.79972°W |
The Gilbert River is a cool waterway in Oregon, USA. It's about 14 miles (23 kilometers) long. This river flows on Sauvie Island. It's a branch of the Multnomah Channel. The Multnomah Channel is a part of the Willamette River.
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What is the Gilbert River?
The Gilbert River is a tributary. This means it's a smaller stream that flows into a larger body of water. The Gilbert River flows into the Multnomah Channel. The channel itself is a distributary of the Willamette River. A distributary is like a river branch that flows away from the main river.
Where the River Starts and Ends
The Gilbert River begins near the south end of Sauvie Island. This is in Multnomah County, Oregon. It starts at an elevation of about 19 feet (5.8 meters) above sea level.
The river then flows into Sturgeon Lake. From there, it continues north out of the lake. It finally joins the Multnomah Channel. The mouth of the river is near Scappoose, Oregon. This area is in Columbia County, Oregon. The river's mouth is about 10 feet (3 meters) above sea level.
How the River Flows
The Gilbert River doesn't drop much in height. It only loses about 9 feet (2.7 meters) in elevation from its start to its end. This makes it a fairly calm river.
The river connects to the Multnomah Channel. This connection is about 6 miles (9.7 kilometers) from where the channel meets the Columbia River.
River Branches and Lakes
The Gilbert River has three smaller streams that flow into it. These are called sloughs. They are Ash Slough, Jack Slough, and Mud Slough.
The river also connects to many lakes across Sauvie Island. These include Steelman, Round, Gay, Racetrack, Malarky, and McNary lakes. Of course, it also connects to Sturgeon Lake.
Boating on the River
The Gilbert River is a great place for small boats. You can use canoes and other shallow-draft boats. This means boats that don't need much water depth. You can navigate the river between Sturgeon Lake and its mouth.
There's even a special floating dock near the mouth of the river. It's about a quarter-mile (0.4 kilometers) from where the river ends. This dock is just for mooring boats. It doesn't have a way to get to the shore.
How the River Got its Name
The Gilbert River was named a long time ago. It's named after a man named Gilbert. He was a French Canadian employee of the Hudson's Bay Company. This company was very important in the North American fur trade.
Gilbert was a trapper during that time. Sadly, it is said that he drowned in the river. That's how the river got its name.
