Wind River (Wyoming) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wind River
Wind River Canyon downstream from Boysen Dam
The Wind-Bighorn rivers
Other name(s)	Wild River, Bighorn River
Country	United States
State	Wyoming
Cities	Dubois, Crowheart, Johnstown, Riverton
Physical characteristics
Main source	Two Ocean Mountain Wind River Range, Teton County 9,760 ft (2,970 m) 43°44′50″N 110°04′27″W / 43.74722°N 110.07417°W / 43.74722; -110.07417
River mouth	Bighorn River Wedding of the Waters, Hot Springs County 4,472 ft (1,363 m) 43°34′52″N 108°12′44″W / 43.58111°N 108.21222°W / 43.58111; -108.21222
Length	185 mi (298 km)
Basin features
Basin size	7,730 sq mi (20,000 km2)
Tributaries	Left: East Fork Wind River Right: Dinwoody Creek, Bull Lake Creek, Little Wind River

The Wind River is the name applied to the upper reaches of the Bighorn River in Wyoming in the United States. The Wind River is 185 miles (298 km) long. The two rivers are sometimes referred to as the Wind/Bighorn.

Course

Wind River as part of the Boysen Reservoir near Thermopolis, Wyoming

Its headwaters are at Wind River Lake in the Rocky Mountains, near the summit of Togwotee Pass (pronounced toe-go-tee) and gathers water from several forks along the northeast side of the Wind River Range in west central Wyoming. It flows southeastward, across the Wind River Basin and the Wind River Indian Reservation and joins the Little Wind River near Riverton. Up stream from this confluence, it is known locally as the Big Wind River. It flows northward, through a gap in the Owl Creek Mountains, where the name of the river becomes the Bighorn River. In the Owl Creek Mountains, it is dammed to form Boysen Reservoir. The Wind River officially becomes the Bighorn River at the Wedding of the Waters, on the north side of the Wind River Canyon.