Skipanon River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Skipanon River |
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 Location of the mouth of Skipanon River in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Clatsop County |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | N. Oregon coastal foothills & Cullaby Lake Clatsop County, Oregon 50 ft (15 m) 46°05′39″N 123°54′32″W / 46.09417°N 123.90889°W |
| River mouth | Columbia River Warrenton, Clatsop County, Oregon .5 ft (0.15 m) 46°10′9″N 123°55′37″W / 46.16917°N 123.92694°W |
| Length | 7 mi (11 km) |
The Skipanon River is a small river in Oregon, United States. It flows into the mighty Columbia River. This river is about 7 miles (11 km) long. It's the very last river that joins the Columbia on the Oregon side.
The Skipanon River helps drain a flat, low area near the coast. This area is surrounded by sand dunes. The river flows into the Columbia River's mouth, which is the wide opening where it meets the Pacific Ocean. This spot is west of the city of Astoria.
Discover the Skipanon River
The Skipanon River is an important part of the natural landscape in northwest Oregon. It's a great example of how smaller rivers connect to much larger ones. Understanding rivers like the Skipanon helps us learn about water systems.
Where Does the Skipanon River Flow?
The Skipanon River starts from Cullaby Lake. This lake is in western Clatsop County. It's located northeast of Seaside. The lake is also less than 3 miles (5 km) from the ocean.
From Cullaby Lake, the river flows north. It runs parallel to the coast. It stays east of U.S. Route 101, a major highway. The Skipanon River then enters the northwest part of Youngs Bay. Youngs Bay is near where the Columbia River meets the ocean. This meeting point is about 1 mile (1.6 km) northeast of Warrenton. The river's mouth is about 10.7 miles (17.2 km) upstream from the Columbia River's own mouth.
What's in a Name?
The name "Skipanon" comes from the Clatsop language. The Clatsop people are a Native American tribe. Originally, the name referred to a specific point at the river's mouth. It did not refer to the whole river itself.
When the Lewis and Clark Expedition explored this area, they made maps. Their maps showed the stream as "Skipanarwin Creek." Another way the name was spelled was "Skeppernawin." This spelling was often seen on maps even into the 1900s.
