Miller River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Miller River |
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Location of the mouth of the Miller River in Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Confluence of the East and West Forks North Cascades 47°40′31″N 121°23′15″W / 47.67528°N 121.38750°W |
| River mouth | Skykomish River Miller River (Community) 47°43′8″N 121°23′38″W / 47.71889°N 121.39389°W |
The Miller River is a river located in King County, Washington. It was named after John Miller, a prospector from the 1890s. This river flows into the Skykomish River. It joins the Skykomish River near a small community also called Miller River. This community was known as Berlin before World War I.
The Miller River is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long. Its journey starts where its two main branches, the East Fork and West Fork, meet. This meeting point is called a confluence. You can find the Miller River Campground just a short distance downstream from this confluence.
Contents
West Fork Miller River: Where Does It Start?
The West Fork Miller River begins high up on a ridge. This ridge separates it from another river, the Taylor River. From there, it flows northeast. It eventually meets the East Fork near the West Fork Campground.
What Streams Join the West Fork?
The West Fork has a few smaller streams that flow into it. These are called tributaries. The only officially named ones are Cleopatra Creek and Coney Creek.
- Cleopatra Creek drains an area just north of where the West Fork begins.
- Coney Creek flows from Coney Lake, which is a lake located at a high elevation.
Waterfalls on the West Fork
Just before the West Fork joins the main Miller River, its water drops over two small waterfalls. These waterfalls are named Borderline Falls and Immigration Falls.
Accessing the West Fork Area
As of 2015, the road that leads along the West Fork is closed. It is blocked by a gate, has parts that are washed out, and is overgrown with plants. There are no plans to fix or reopen this road. Also, using vehicles like cars, bicycles, or helicopters is not allowed further up the road. This is because the area is part of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, which has special rules to protect nature.
West Fork Tributaries
- Gouging Lake Outlet Stream
- Cleopatra Creek
- Coney Creek
- Francis Lake Outlet Stream
East Fork Miller River: Its Journey and Tributaries
The East Fork Miller River is about 7-mile (11 km) long. It starts at the outlet of Lake Dorothy. When the water leaves Lake Dorothy, it flows over a steep drop, called a headwall. It then makes its way down into Camp Robber Valley.
Waterfalls and Streams on the East Fork
Florence Falls is a waterfall located near the bottom of the headwall. Soon after these falls, Camp Robber Creek joins the East Fork from the south. Then, Smith Creek flows in from the west. As the East Fork continues to flow north, several unnamed streams also join it. Great Falls Creek, which comes from a tiny lake called Tumwater Lake, also flows into the East Fork from the west.
East Fork Tributaries
- Camp Robber Creek
- Smith Creek
- Hinter Lake Outlet Stream
- Purvis Lake Outlet Stream
- Great Falls Creek
Main Miller River: From Forks to Skykomish
The main Miller River begins where the East Fork and West Fork meet. From this point, it flows north. It continues its journey until it joins the Skykomish River near the community of Miller River.
Streams Joining the Main River
One important stream that flows into the main Miller River is Happy Thought Creek. This creek drains a small lake called Cleveland Lake. Another stream, Mohawk Creek, joins the main river upstream from Happy Thought Creek. It flows into the river about a quarter-mile downstream from where the West Fork joins.
Mainstream Tributaries
- Happy Thought Creek
- Mohawk Creek
