Paradise River
Encyclopedia
The Paradise River is a small, short but swift river
in Pierce County
, Washington. It is the first major tributary of the Nisqually River
. Located entirely within the bounds of Mount Rainier National Park
, it is notable for its waterfalls, a total of eight.
. It drops over Paradise Falls and Sluiskin Falls as it drops swiftly downhill into Paradise Valley. Just before entering the valley it receives Edith Creek, which also has many waterfalls along its course. From there, the river flows generally southwest. After flowing out of Paradise Valley, the river drops over Ruby Falls and the Washington Cascades. Not long after that, the river widens out and drops over probably the most famous and well known waterfall in the Mount Rainier
area, Narada Falls
, and soon after is crossed by the Mount Rainier Highway
. Narada Falls is soon followed by the seldom-seen Sidewinder Cascades. A ways past Narada Falls, the river drops over Madcap Falls before it is joined soon after by Tatoosh Creek, which also has more than one major waterfall along its course. After that the river turns west, drops over Carter Falls soon after, and makes its final push toward its confluence with the Nisqually 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 Pierce County
Pierce County, Washington
right|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
, Washington. It is the first major tributary of the Nisqually River
Nisqually River
The Nisqually River is a river in west central Washington in the United States, approximately long. It drains part of the Cascade Range southwest of Tacoma, including the southern slope of Mount Rainier, and empties into the southern end of Puget Sound....
. Located entirely within the bounds of Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park is a United States National Park located in southeast Pierce County and northeast Lewis County in Washington state. It was one of the US's earliest National Parks, having been established on March 2, 1899 as the fifth national park in the United States. The park contains...
, it is notable for its waterfalls, a total of eight.
Course
The Paradise River originates at the toe of the Paradise GlacierParadise Glacier
The Paradise Glacier is a glacier on the southeast flank of Mount Rainier in Washington. It covers and contains 0.8 billion ft3 with Stevens Glacier included. The glacier is bounded to the west by the Muir Snowfield, Anvil Rock and McClure Rock. There is a single extant main lobe of the glacier,...
. It drops over Paradise Falls and Sluiskin Falls as it drops swiftly downhill into Paradise Valley. Just before entering the valley it receives Edith Creek, which also has many waterfalls along its course. From there, the river flows generally southwest. After flowing out of Paradise Valley, the river drops over Ruby Falls and the Washington Cascades. Not long after that, the river widens out and drops over probably the most famous and well known waterfall in the Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States. It is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of . Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most...
area, Narada Falls
Narada Falls
Narada Falls is a waterfall in Mount Rainier National Park, in the U.S. state of Washington. It is said to be the most popular, because the Mount Rainier Highway crosses the falls between its two tiers....
, and soon after is crossed by the Mount Rainier Highway
Washington State Route 706
State Route 706 is a state highway in Pierce County, in the U.S. state of Washington. It extends from SR 7 in the census-designated place of Elbe east to the Longmire gate of Mount Rainier National Park.The highway formerly was part of the Tacoma – Mount Rainier branch of Primary...
. Narada Falls is soon followed by the seldom-seen Sidewinder Cascades. A ways past Narada Falls, the river drops over Madcap Falls before it is joined soon after by Tatoosh Creek, which also has more than one major waterfall along its course. After that the river turns west, drops over Carter Falls soon after, and makes its final push toward its confluence with the Nisqually River.