New Fork River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Fork River |
|
|---|---|
New Fork River and New Fork Lakes at the base of the Wind River Range
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Wyoming |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Wind River Range Lozier Lake, Bridger National Forest 9,850 ft (3,000 m) 43°11′03″N 109°48′21″W / 43.18417°N 109.80583°W |
| River mouth | Green River About 5.5 mi (8.9 km) east of Big Piney 6,788 ft (2,069 m) 42°33′06″N 109°58′15″W / 42.55167°N 109.97083°W |
| Length | 70 mi (110 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 1,230 sq mi (3,200 km2) |
| Tributaries |
|
The New Fork River is the uppermost major tributary of the Green River in Wyoming, flowing about 70 miles (110 km) entirely within Sublette County. It drains an arid farming region of southwestern Wyoming south of the Wind River Range.
Course
It rises at Lozier Lake in the Wind River Range, nearly 10,000 feet (3,000 m) above sea level, in the Bridger National Forest. Flowing southwest through a steep and narrow glacial canyon, it comes out of the mountains about 10 miles (16 km) north of Cora, briefly widening into the New Fork Lakes. From there it swings south then southeast, past Cora and on to Pinedale, receiving Willow, Pine and Pole Creeks from the left. At Boulder it receives Boulder Creek and turns south again. The East Fork River joins a few miles south of there. From the confluence, the New Fork meanders generally southwest between low bluffs, and joins the Green River about 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Big Piney.
Recreation
The New Fork is considered an excellent river for inner-tube floating and canoeing because of its width and strong but not dangerous current. The river and many of its tributaries also have good fishing especially in the upper reaches. However, most of the river course is isolated and aside from the three small towns along its course (Cora, Pinedale and Boulder) there are few significant settlements of any size nearby.
