Sloan Creek (Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sloan Creek |
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Location of the mouth of Sloan Creek in Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Snohomish |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Blue Lake North Cascades, Washington 5,629 ft (1,716 m) 47°59′19″N 121°10′19″W / 47.98861°N 121.17194°W |
| River mouth | North Fork Sauk River 2.1 miles above the mouth of Lost Creek, Washington 2,044 ft (623 m) 48°3′29″N 121°17′26″W / 48.05806°N 121.29056°W |
Sloan Creek is an important stream in Washington. It is the largest tributary (a smaller stream that flows into a larger one) of the North Fork Sauk River. Sloan Creek joins the Sauk River about 2.1 miles (3.4 km) upstream from where Lost Creek enters.
One of its main branches is Cadet Creek. Cadet Creek flows into Sloan Creek about 1.8 miles (2.9 km) before Sloan Creek meets the Sauk River. Some experts, like Fred Beckey, even think Cadet Creek is bigger than Sloan Creek. They believe it could be considered the true start of the Sauk River system.
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The Journey of Sloan Creek
Sloan Creek begins its journey at the end of Blue Lake. This lake is located in the beautiful North Cascades mountains. Blue Lake is only a short distance, about 0.4 miles (0.6 km), west of another lake. That unnamed lake is where the North Fork Sauk River starts.
From Blue Lake to Little Blue Lake
After leaving Blue Lake, Sloan Creek quickly flows into Little Blue Lake. This smaller lake sits high up in the mountains, at an elevation of about 5,185 feet (1,580 meters).
Flowing Northwest
From Little Blue Lake, the creek travels mostly northwest. It flows for about 5.9 miles (9.5 km) through the landscape. Along the way, it picks up water from other small streams.
Meeting Other Creeks
Sloan Creek then turns north when it meets Cadet Creek. Before this, it also collects water from Bowser Creek. Bowser Creek joins Sloan Creek about 2.3 miles (3.7 km) before Cadet Creek does.
Final Stretch to the Sauk River
After joining with Cadet Creek, Sloan Creek continues flowing north. It travels for about 1.9 miles (3.1 km) more. Finally, it reaches its mouth, where it empties into the North Fork Sauk River. Sloan Creek is named after a nearby mountain, Sloan Peak, which is located to its west.
