The Cascade River is a river

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...

 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 is a tributary of the Skagit River

Skagit River

The Skagit River is a river in southwestern British Columbia in Canada and northwestern Washington in the United States, approximately 150 mi long...

 which it joins at the city of Marblemount. It is a National Wild and Scenic River.

South Fork

The South Fork originates from South Cascade Lake

South Cascade Lake

South Cascade Lake is a glacial lake in Washington. It is the source of the South Fork Cascade River. It is fed directly by the meltwater of the South Cascade Glacier....

 and flows west briefly before turning north quickly and flowing in that direction until it converges with the Middle Fork to form the Cascade River Proper. About halfway between its source and its mouth the river flows through a gorge called Box Canyon.

Middle Fork

The Middle Fork begins at the toe of the Middle Cascade Glacier. It flows briefly north, then west to join the South Fork, forming the Cascade River Proper. The river drops over Gemini Falls just above its mouth.

North Fork

The North Fork originates at Cascade Pass

Cascade Pass

Cascade Pass is a mountain pass over the northern Cascade Range, east of Marblemount, Washington, U.S....

, flows north briefly and then does a wide 180 degree turn until it reaches the Cascade River proper. It picks up several large glacier fed streams shortly below its source.

Cascade River Proper

Beginning at the confluence of the South and Middle Forks, the Cascade River flows north before turning west just before the North Fork enters then turning northwest. At the mouth of Marble Creek, the river turns west again until its confluence with the Skagit.

Tributaries

South Fork

• Salix Creek
• High Log Creek
• Drop Creek
• Milt Creek
• Pincer Creek

Middle Fork

• Cleve Creek

North Fork

• Soldier Boy Creek
• Midas Creek
• Morning Star Creek
• Boston Creek
• Gilbert Creek
• Eldorado Creek
• Roush Creek
• Hidden Lake Creek

Mainstream

• Barrett Creek
• Sonny Boy Creek
• Swamp Creek
• Kindy Creek
• Hard Creek
• Found Creek
• Sibley Creek
• Marble Creek
• Lookout Creek
• Irene Creek
• Day Creek
• Boulder Creek
• Clark Creek
• Jordan Creek