Bogachiel River
Encyclopedia
The Bogachiel River is a river
of the Olympic Peninsula
in the U.S. state
of Washington. It originates near Bogachiel Peak
, flows west through the mountains of Olympic National Park
. After emerging from the park it joins the Sol Duc River
, forming the Quillayute River
, which empties into the Pacific Ocean
near La Push, Washington
.
The Quillayute River system, with its main tributaries of the Bogachiel, Sol Duc, Calawah, and Dickey River
s, drains the largest watershed
on the north Olympic Peninsula.
The name "Bogachiel" is a corruption of the Quileute
words bo qwa tcheel el, or /boqʷač'íʔl/, from /bó:q'ʷa/, "muddy", and /číʔlowa/, "water", meaning "gets riley [turbid] after a rain", "muddy waters", or, less likely, "big river".
of Olympic National Park, in the northwest part of the Olympic Peninsula. Flowing west through a deep valley just north of the Hoh River
valley, it gathers various mountain streams, including one of its main tributaries, the North Fork Bogachiel River.
Below the North Fork confluence, the Bogachiel River flows along the boundary between Clallam County and Jefferson County
, crossing and recrossing the line many times. After gathering many more tributary streams, such as Tunwata Creek and Hades Creek, it leaves Olympic National Park. Skirting the edge of the Olympic National Forest
, the river turns northwest, passing through Bogachiel State Park
. U.S. Highway 101
follows the river for several miles. Just west of the city of Forks
the Calawah River joins the Bogachiel. Forks is situated between the two rivers and takes its name from the forking streams.
Below the Calawah confluence the Bogachiel River widens considerably and takes a meandering course westward through a broad valley. The Sol Duc River enters this valley from the north, and the two streams meander alongside one another for several miles before joining. The Quillayute River, formed by the confluence, flows west for only about six miles more before reaching the Pacific Ocean at La Push. In its lower reach the Quillayute River enters the coastal wilderness of Olympic National Park. The mouth of the Quillayute is contained within the Quileute Indian Reservation.
s, similar to the Hoh Rain Forest of the Hoh River valley.
The Bogachiel River, along with the Quillayute's other tributaries, are popular for fishing. The rivers host the healthiest stocks of wild winter steelhead trout
(the anadromous form of rainbow trout) in the Pacific Northwest
, with as many as 19,000 fish returning in some years. The rivers also support large runs of Chinook
and Coho salmon
.
Unlike many other large rivers of the Olympic Peninsula, the headwaters of the Bogachiel and the other Quillayute tributaries are not glacier-fed. As a result they do not experience the kind of spring and summer flood pulse with heavy sediment loads. This gives the Bogachiel River a longer fishing season.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
of the Olympic Peninsula
Olympic Peninsula
The Olympic Peninsula is the large arm of land in western Washington state of the USA, that lies across Puget Sound from Seattle. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the north by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the east by Puget Sound. Cape Alava, the westernmost point in the contiguous...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Washington. It originates near Bogachiel Peak
Bogachiel Peak
Bogachiel Peak is a peak in the Olympic Mountains of Washington, USA. It is located in Olympic National Park....
, flows west through the mountains of Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is located in the U.S. state of Washington, in the Olympic Peninsula. The park can be divided into four basic regions: the Pacific coastline, alpine areas, the west side temperate rainforest and the forests of the drier east side. U.S...
. After emerging from the park it joins the Sol Duc River
Sol Duc River
The Sol Duc River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. About long, it flows west through the northwest part of the Olympic Peninsula, from the Olympic Mountains of Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest, then through the broad Sol Duc Valley...
, forming the Quillayute River
Quillayute River
The Quillayute River is a river situated on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. It empties to the Pacific Ocean at La Push, Washington. The Quillayute River is formed by the confluence of the Bogachiel River and the Sol Duc River...
, which empties into the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
near La Push, Washington
La Push, Washington
La Push is a small unincorporated community in Clallam County, Washington, United States. It is home to the Quileute tribe and is located along the Quileute River. La Push is known for its whale-watching and natural beauty.- Geography :...
.
The Quillayute River system, with its main tributaries of the Bogachiel, Sol Duc, Calawah, and Dickey River
Dickey River
The Dickey River is a stream on the Olympic Peninsula in the U.S. state of Washington. It has three main forks, the East Fork, West Fork, and Middle Fork Dickey Rivers. The main stem is formed by the confluence of the East and West Forks...
s, drains the largest watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
on the north Olympic Peninsula.
The name "Bogachiel" is a corruption of the Quileute
Quileute language
Quileute , also known as Quillayute , is the only surviving Chimakuan language, spoken by a few Quileute and Makah elders on the western coast of the Olympic peninsula south of Cape Flattery at La Push and the lower Hoh River in Washington state, USA...
words bo qwa tcheel el, or /boqʷač'íʔl/, from /bó:q'ʷa/, "muddy", and /číʔlowa/, "water", meaning "gets riley [turbid] after a rain", "muddy waters", or, less likely, "big river".
Course
The Bogachiel River begins in several headwater streams near Bogachiel Peak in the Olympic WildernessOlympic Wilderness
Olympic Wilderness is a protected area comprising over 95% of Olympic National Park in Washington State. It includes of Pacific Ocean coastline. It is the largest wilderness area in Washington.- External links :* * *...
of Olympic National Park, in the northwest part of the Olympic Peninsula. Flowing west through a deep valley just north of the Hoh River
Hoh River
The Hoh River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington, located on the Olympic Peninsula. About long, the Hoh River originates at the Hoh Glacier on Mount Olympus and flows west through the Olympic Mountains of Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest, then through the foothills in a...
valley, it gathers various mountain streams, including one of its main tributaries, the North Fork Bogachiel River.
Below the North Fork confluence, the Bogachiel River flows along the boundary between Clallam County and Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Washington
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington, named after Thomas Jefferson. As of 2010, the population was 29,872. The county seat is at Port Townsend, which is also the county's only incorporated city....
, crossing and recrossing the line many times. After gathering many more tributary streams, such as Tunwata Creek and Hades Creek, it leaves Olympic National Park. Skirting the edge of the Olympic National Forest
Olympic National Forest
Olympic National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in Washington, USA. With an area of 633,677 acres , it nearly surrounds Olympic National Park and the Olympic Mountain range. Olympic National Forest contains parts of Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, and Mason counties...
, the river turns northwest, passing through Bogachiel State Park
Bogachiel State Park
Bogachiel State Park in Clallam County, Washington, United States is a State Park. It is located approximately six miles south of the city of Forks on Highway 101. Bogachiel was established in 1931 and the state began staffing it in 1961....
. U.S. Highway 101
U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101, is an important north–south U.S. highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States...
follows the river for several miles. Just west of the city of Forks
Forks, Washington
-Government:The City is organized under Washington State law as a Non-charter Code City. Its structure is that of an elected Mayor and a five member elected City Council...
the Calawah River joins the Bogachiel. Forks is situated between the two rivers and takes its name from the forking streams.
Below the Calawah confluence the Bogachiel River widens considerably and takes a meandering course westward through a broad valley. The Sol Duc River enters this valley from the north, and the two streams meander alongside one another for several miles before joining. The Quillayute River, formed by the confluence, flows west for only about six miles more before reaching the Pacific Ocean at La Push. In its lower reach the Quillayute River enters the coastal wilderness of Olympic National Park. The mouth of the Quillayute is contained within the Quileute Indian Reservation.
Natural history
The upper Bogachiel River valley contains temperate rain forestTemperate rain forest
Temperate rainforests are coniferous or broadleaf forests that occur in the temperate zone and receive high rainfall.-Definition:For temperate rain forests of North America, Alaback's definition is widely recognized:-Global distribution:...
s, similar to the Hoh Rain Forest of the Hoh River valley.
Recreation
A large portion of the Bogachiel River is in the wilderness of Olympic National Park. The Bogachiel Trail, beginning a few miles outside the park, follows the Bogachiel River to the North Fork Bogachiel, then follows that river valley up into the high mountains, connecting to other trails thet lead north to the Sol Duc River valley and south to the Hoh River valley.The Bogachiel River, along with the Quillayute's other tributaries, are popular for fishing. The rivers host the healthiest stocks of wild winter steelhead trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
(the anadromous form of rainbow trout) in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
, with as many as 19,000 fish returning in some years. The rivers also support large runs of Chinook
Chinook salmon
The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...
and Coho salmon
Coho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
.
Unlike many other large rivers of the Olympic Peninsula, the headwaters of the Bogachiel and the other Quillayute tributaries are not glacier-fed. As a result they do not experience the kind of spring and summer flood pulse with heavy sediment loads. This gives the Bogachiel River a longer fishing season.
External links
- Bogachiel River Trail, National Park Service
- Bogachiel State Park, Washington State Parks