Skykomish River

For the city of the same name, see Skykomish, Washington. For the similarly named river also in Washington State, see Skokomish River.
Skykomish River
Skykomish River at Monroe, near flood stage
Map of the Skykomish River highlighted in the Snohomish River watershed
Skykomish River is located in Washington (state)
Skykomish River
Mouth of the Skykomish River in Washington
Skykomish River is located in the United States
Skykomish River
Skykomish River (the United States)
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountySnohomish County, King County
Physical characteristics
SourceConfluence of the North and South Forks
 • coordinates47°48′47″N 121°34′41″W / 47.81306°N 121.57806°W / 47.81306; -121.57806[1]
MouthSnohomish River
 • location
Monroe
 • coordinates
47°49′49″N 122°2′48″W / 47.83028°N 122.04667°W / 47.83028; -122.04667[1]
Length29 mi (47 km)[2]
Basin size834 sq mi (2,160 km2)[3]
Discharge 
 • locationGold Bar
 • average3,973 cu ft/s (112.5 m3/s)
 • minimum298 cu ft/s (8.4 m3/s)
 • maximum129,000 cu ft/s (3,700 m3/s)
Skykomish River

The Skykomish River is a 29-mile (47 km) long river in the U.S. state of Washington which drains the west side of the Cascade Mountains in the southeast section of Snohomish County and the northeast corner of King County. The river starts with the confluence of the North Fork Skykomish River and South Fork Skykomish River approximately one mile west of Index, then flowing northwesterly towards Puget Sound. It is joined by the Sultan River and the Wallace River at Sultan. It then meets the Snoqualmie River to form the Snohomish River at Monroe. The Snohomish River continues along the river valley eventually dumping into Port Gardner Bay on Possession Sound (part of Puget Sound).

The name "Skykomish" comes from the Lushootseed name of the Skykomish people, sq̓ixʷəbš, meaning "upriver people." It is sometimes referred to by the nickname "Sky River" or "The Sky".[4]

  1. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Skykomish River
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference NHD was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference WBD was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Bright, William (2004). Native American placenames of the United States. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 453. ISBN 978-0-8061-3598-4. Retrieved 11 April 2011.