List of rivers of Washington (state) facts for kids

Washington state is home to many beautiful and important rivers. These rivers flow across the land, collecting water from rain and melting snow, and eventually carry it to larger bodies of water like the Pacific Ocean or Puget Sound. Rivers are super important for nature, providing homes for fish and other wildlife, and they also help people by supplying drinking water, supporting farming, and even generating electricity.

This article lists some of the main rivers in Washington, grouped by where their waters end up. Think of it like a giant network of waterways, all connected!

River Basins: Where Water Flows

A drainage basin (or watershed) is like a big bowl in the land where all the rain and snowmelt collect and flow into one main river or lake. Imagine a bathtub: everything that falls into it goes down the drain. A river basin works the same way, but on a much bigger scale!

Rivers Flowing to the Fraser River (Canada)

Some rivers in northern Washington actually flow north into Canada, joining the Fraser River in British Columbia.

• Sumas River: This river starts in Washington and flows north into Canada.
  • Chilliwack River: A tributary of the Sumas, it's known for its clear waters.
• Nooksack River: This river flows from the Cascade Range and empties into Bellingham Bay. It's important for salmon.
  • South Fork Nooksack River
  • Middle Fork Nooksack River
  • North Fork Nooksack River
• Whatcom Creek: Flows through the city of Bellingham.
• Samish River: Another river that flows into Samish Bay.

Rivers Flowing to Puget Sound

Many rivers in Washington flow into Puget Sound, a large inlet of the Pacific Ocean. Puget Sound is divided into different areas.

Whidbey Basin Rivers

This area includes rivers that flow into the northern part of Puget Sound, near Whidbey Island.

• Skagit River: One of Washington's largest rivers, it's famous for its salmon runs and for providing hydroelectric power.
  • Baker River: A major tributary of the Skagit.
  • Sauk River: Joins the Skagit and is known for its wild beauty.
    • Suiattle River
    • White Chuck River
  • Cascade River: Another important tributary flowing from the Cascades.
• Stillaguamish River: This river flows into Port Susan.
  • North Fork Stillaguamish
  • South Fork Stillaguamish
• Snohomish River: A large river formed by the joining of the Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers.
  • Pilchuck River
  • Skykomish River: A popular river for rafting and fishing.
    • Sultan River: Known for its hydroelectric dams.
    • North Fork Skykomish River
    • South Fork Skykomish River
  • Snoqualmie River: Famous for Snoqualmie Falls.
    • Tolt River
    • Raging River
    • South Fork Snoqualmie River
    • North Fork Snoqualmie River
    • Middle Fork Snoqualmie River

Central Puget Sound Rivers

These rivers flow into the central part of Puget Sound, including the areas around Seattle.

• Lake Washington Ship Canal/Lake Washington: This system connects Lake Washington to Puget Sound. Many creeks flow into Lake Washington.
  • Thornton Creek
  • McAleer Creek
  • Sammamish River: Connects Lake Sammamish to Lake Washington.
    • Swamp Creek
    • North Creek
    • Bear Creek
    • Issaquah Creek: Flows into Lake Sammamish.
  • Cedar River: A very important river that provides much of Seattle's drinking water.
• Duwamish River: This river flows through Seattle and is formed by the Green River.
  • Green River: A long river that starts in the Cascades.
    • White River (historical): Its course was changed, and it now flows into the Puyallup River.
• Puyallup River: Flows from Mount Rainier and empties into Commencement Bay in Tacoma.
  • Stuck River: Connects the White River to the Puyallup.
    • White River: A major river that starts on Mount Rainier.
  • Carbon River: Another river flowing from Mount Rainier.
  • Mowich River: Also flows from Mount Rainier.

South Puget Sound Rivers

These rivers flow into the southern end of Puget Sound, near Olympia.

• Chambers Creek: Flows into Chambers Bay.
  • Clover Creek
• Nisqually River: This river starts on Mount Rainier and flows into Nisqually Reach. It's known for its delta, which is a wildlife refuge.
  • Mashel River
  • Ohop Creek
• Deschutes River: Flows through Olympia and into Budd Inlet.

Hood Canal and Admiralty Inlet Rivers

These rivers flow into the narrow, fjord-like Hood Canal and Admiralty Inlet.

• Union River
• Skokomish River: A major river on the Olympic Peninsula.
  • North Fork Skokomish River
  • South Fork Skokomish River
• Hamma Hamma River
• Dosewallips River
• Big Quilcene River
• Little Quilcene River

Rivers Flowing to the Strait of Juan de Fuca

The Strait of Juan de Fuca is a large body of water that separates Washington state from Vancouver Island, Canada.

• Dungeness River: Flows from the Olympic Mountains into the Strait.
• Elwha River: Famous for the removal of its dams, which helped salmon return to their natural spawning grounds.
• Hoko River
• Sekiu River

Rivers Flowing to the Pacific Coast

These rivers flow directly into the Pacific Ocean on Washington's west coast.

• Ozette River: Flows from Lake Ozette.
• Quillayute River: A short but wide river formed by several other rivers.
  • Dickey River
  • Sol Duc River: Known for its hot springs.
  • Bogachiel River
    • Calawah River
• Hoh River: Flows through the Hoh Rain Forest, one of the wettest places in the U.S.
• Queets River: Another river flowing through a rainforest.
  • Clearwater River
• Quinault River: Flows from Lake Quinault in the Olympic Mountains.

Grays Harbor Rivers

Grays Harbor is a large bay on the Pacific Coast.

• Humptulips River
• Hoquiam River
• Chehalis River: One of the longest rivers in Washington, flowing into Grays Harbor.
  • Wishkah River
  • Wynoochee River
  • Satsop River
  • Black River
  • Skookumchuck River
  • Newaukum River

Willapa Bay Rivers

Willapa Bay is another large bay on the Pacific Coast, known for its oyster farms.

• Cedar River
• North River
• Willapa River: The main river flowing into Willapa Bay.
• Naselle River

Columbia River Basin

The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest and forms much of Washington's southern border with Oregon. Many of Washington's rivers are tributaries of the Columbia.

Columbia River Basin, showing major dams and tributaries

Lower Columbia Basin Rivers

These rivers join the Columbia River in its lower sections, closer to the Pacific Ocean.

• Cowlitz River: A major tributary of the Columbia, known for its salmon and steelhead fishing.
  • Toutle River: Heavily impacted by the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.
    • Green River
  • Cispus River: Flows from the Cascade Range.
• Kalama River
• Lewis River: Another important tributary with several dams.
• Washougal River
• Wind River
• Little White Salmon River
• White Salmon River: Popular for whitewater rafting.
• Klickitat River: Known for its salmon runs and cultural importance to Native American tribes.

Walla Walla and Snake River Basins

These rivers are in southeastern Washington.

• Walla Walla River: Flows into the Columbia River.
  • Touchet River
• Snake River: A huge river that joins the Columbia. It's the largest tributary of the Columbia River.
  • Palouse River: Famous for Palouse Falls.
  • Tucannon River
  • Asotin Creek
  • Grande Ronde River: Joins the Snake River near the border with Oregon.

Central Columbia Basin Rivers

These rivers join the Columbia in the central part of the state, often flowing through drier regions.

Yakima River Basin

• Yakima River: A very important river for agriculture in central Washington.
  • Naches River: A major tributary of the Yakima.
    • Tieton River
    • Bumping River
    • American River
  • Teanaway River
  • Cle Elum River
• Crab Creek: An unusual river that sometimes disappears underground.
• Wenatchee River: Flows from the Cascades into the Columbia.
  • Icicle Creek
  • Chiwawa River
  • Nason Creek
  • Lake Wenatchee: A beautiful lake that feeds the Wenatchee River.
    • Little Wenatchee River
    • White River
• Entiat River

Lake Chelan to Coulee Dam Rivers

This section covers rivers that flow into the Columbia between Lake Chelan and the Grand Coulee Dam.

• Chelan River: A short river that flows from Lake Chelan into the Columbia.
  • Stehekin River: A long river that feeds Lake Chelan.
• Methow River: Flows from the North Cascades.
  • Twisp River
  • Chewuch River
• Okanogan River: A large river that flows south from Canada into the Columbia.
  • Similkameen River: A major tributary that also flows from Canada.

Upper Columbia Basin Rivers

These rivers join the Columbia in the northeastern part of Washington.

• Sanpoil River
• Spokane River: Flows from Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho through Spokane and into the Columbia.
  • Little Spokane River
  • Latah Creek (Hangman Creek)
• Colville River
• Kettle River: Another river that flows from Canada into Washington and then back into Canada before joining the Columbia.
• Pend Oreille River: A large river that flows from Idaho into Washington and then into Canada before joining the Columbia.