Salt River (Wyoming)
Encyclopedia
The Salt River is an 84 miles (135.2 km) river draining a valley in Lincoln County in western Wyoming
. It is named for several exposed beds of salt and briny salt springs of up 60% pure salt in Idaho
that drains into the Salt River via Stump Creek. The Salt River valley was a popular destination for Indians and later pioneers seeking salt and game. The headwaters of the river are below 10472 feet (3,191.9 m) Mount Wagner in the Salt River Range
. The river flows west out of the mountains and then northward along the border of Wyoming and Idaho
. It passes 6600 feet (2,011.7 m) Smoot, Wyoming
and then meanders through the mostly agricultural Star Valley
, being joined by numerous creeks along the way, to its confluence with the Snake River
near the town of Alpine
(elevation 5600 feet (1,706.9 m)).
The Salt River watershed drains about 890 mi2 of the western part of the Salt River Range in Wyoming and the eastern part of the Caribou Range
of Idaho. The Greys River
, draining part of the eastern side of the Salt River Range, joins the Snake River just a few miles east of the mouth of the Salt River.
About halfway along its course, the Salt River passes through a section known as the "Narrows", where it cuts between two ridges that divide Star Valley into an upper and lower valleys. The river's mouth is now inundated by the reservoir of the Palisades Dam
in Idaho during high water. Paralleling the Salt River is Wyoming Highway 89
leading north to Teton
and Yellowstone National Park
.
The river is an excellent source for fly fishing for Brook
, Rainbow
, Cutthroat
and Brown trout
. The state ranks the Salt River Class 2 (red) – Very good trout waters – fisheries of statewide importance.
of the Oregon
and California Trail
paralleled much of the river from above Smoot
to Auburn, Wyoming
. Starting in 1866 to about 1880 an extensive salt works called the Oneida Salt Works dried the salt from some of these salt springs and sold it to miners, ranchers etc. in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. They closed down operations in the winter. Before about 1879 when settlers first started wintering over in the high upland valley later called Star Valley
people left for warmer places to spend the winter.
Some of the river's tributaries include Cottonwood, Stump, Willow, Strawberry, Cedar, Jackknife, and Dry creeks. Towns near the river progressing north include Smoot
, Fairview
, Afton
, Grover
, Auburn
, Turnerville
, Bedford
, Thayne
, Star Valley Ranch
, Freedom, Etna
, and Alpine
.
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
. It is named for several exposed beds of salt and briny salt springs of up 60% pure salt in Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
that drains into the Salt River via Stump Creek. The Salt River valley was a popular destination for Indians and later pioneers seeking salt and game. The headwaters of the river are below 10472 feet (3,191.9 m) Mount Wagner in the Salt River Range
Salt River Range
The Salt River Range is a mountain range in western Wyoming. The 56 mile long range forms the eastern boundary of Star Valley as well as the western boundary of the Greys River valley.The highest point is Mount Fitzpatrick at ....
. The river flows west out of the mountains and then northward along the border of Wyoming and Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. It passes 6600 feet (2,011.7 m) Smoot, Wyoming
Smoot, Wyoming
Smoot is a census-designated place in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 182 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Smoot is located at...
and then meanders through the mostly agricultural Star Valley
Star Valley
Star Valley is located in the United States between the Salt River Range in western Wyoming and the Webster Range of eastern Idaho. The altitude of the valley ranges from to . Three major Wyoming rivers, the Salt River, the Greys River and the Snake River meet near Alpine Junction at Palisades...
, being joined by numerous creeks along the way, to its confluence with the Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
near the town of Alpine
Alpine, Wyoming
Alpine is a town in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 550 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Alpine is located at the southern end of the Snake River Canyon where the Snake River enters Palisades Reservoir. The town is also known as Alpine Junction since it marks the point...
(elevation 5600 feet (1,706.9 m)).
The Salt River watershed drains about 890 mi2 of the western part of the Salt River Range in Wyoming and the eastern part of the Caribou Range
Caribou Mountains (Idaho)
Caribou Mountains are a mountain range in the Rocky Mountains in Idaho, United States.The mountains are in the Caribou National Forest in Bonneville and Caribou counties, near the Wyoming border....
of Idaho. The Greys River
Greys River
The Greys River is a tributary of the Snake River, flowing through western Wyoming in the United States. The river is about long, starting high up in the Wyoming Range, south of the town of Alpine in Lincoln County. The river eventually flows into the Snake River in the Snake River Canyon,...
, draining part of the eastern side of the Salt River Range, joins the Snake River just a few miles east of the mouth of the Salt River.
About halfway along its course, the Salt River passes through a section known as the "Narrows", where it cuts between two ridges that divide Star Valley into an upper and lower valleys. The river's mouth is now inundated by the reservoir of the Palisades Dam
Palisades Dam
thumb|300px|Palisades Reservoir in winterPalisades Dam is an earth-fill dam on the Snake River in Bonneville County in the U.S. state of Idaho. The dam was completed in 1957 and provides irrigation water, flood control, and recreation; it features a four-turbine hydroelectric power plant. The dam...
in Idaho during high water. Paralleling the Salt River is Wyoming Highway 89
Wyoming Highway 89
Wyoming Highway 89 is a north-south state road that jumps in and out of Wyoming three times, and runs through the western edges of and Uinta County, Wyoming and Lincoln County, Wyoming.-Southern Segment:...
leading north to Teton
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is a United States National Park located in northwestern Wyoming, U.S. The Park consists of approximately and includes the major peaks of the long Teton Range as well as most of the northern sections of the valley known as Jackson Hole. Only south of Yellowstone...
and Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
.
The river is an excellent source for fly fishing for Brook
Brook trout
The brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, is a species of fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. In many parts of its range, it is known as the speckled trout or squaretail. A potamodromous population in Lake Superior are known as coaster trout or, simply, as coasters...
, Rainbow
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....
, Cutthroat
Cutthroat trout
The cutthroat trout is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. It is one of the many fish species colloquially known as trout...
and Brown trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
. The state ranks the Salt River Class 2 (red) – Very good trout waters – fisheries of statewide importance.
History
Prior to about 1890, during the summer the Salt River valley was often visited by several different Indian tribes who valued its bountiful game, fish and salt. Starting from about 1810 to 1840 it and its many tributaries was trapped in the spring and fall by numerous trappers seeking its often plentiful beaver, muskrats and other fur and game. From about 1858 to 1910 the Lander RoadEmigrant Trail in Wyoming
The path followed by the Oregon Trail, California Trail and Mormon Trail spans through the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trail enters from Nebraska on the eastern border of the state near the present day town of Torrington and exited on the western border near the towns of Cokeville and Afton...
of the Oregon
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
and California Trail
California Trail
The California Trail was an emigrant trail of about across the western half of the North American continent from Missouri River towns to what is now the state of California...
paralleled much of the river from above Smoot
Smoot, Wyoming
Smoot is a census-designated place in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 182 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Smoot is located at...
to Auburn, Wyoming
Auburn, Wyoming
Auburn is a census-designated place in Lincoln County, Wyoming, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 276.-Geography:Auburn is located at...
. Starting in 1866 to about 1880 an extensive salt works called the Oneida Salt Works dried the salt from some of these salt springs and sold it to miners, ranchers etc. in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. They closed down operations in the winter. Before about 1879 when settlers first started wintering over in the high upland valley later called Star Valley
Star Valley
Star Valley is located in the United States between the Salt River Range in western Wyoming and the Webster Range of eastern Idaho. The altitude of the valley ranges from to . Three major Wyoming rivers, the Salt River, the Greys River and the Snake River meet near Alpine Junction at Palisades...
people left for warmer places to spend the winter.
Some of the river's tributaries include Cottonwood, Stump, Willow, Strawberry, Cedar, Jackknife, and Dry creeks. Towns near the river progressing north include Smoot
Smoot, Wyoming
Smoot is a census-designated place in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 182 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Smoot is located at...
, Fairview
Fairview, Wyoming
Fairview is a census-designated place in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 277 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fairview is located at ....
, Afton
Afton, Wyoming
Afton is a town in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 1,818 at the 2000 census.Afton is home to the world's largest elk horn arch...
, Grover
Grover, Wyoming
Grover is a census-designated place in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 137 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Grover is located at...
, Auburn
Auburn, Wyoming
Auburn is a census-designated place in Lincoln County, Wyoming, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 276.-Geography:Auburn is located at...
, Turnerville
Turnerville, Wyoming
Turnerville is a census-designated place in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 155 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Turnerville is located at .....
, Bedford
Bedford, Wyoming
Bedford is a census-designated place in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 169 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bedford is located at...
, Thayne
Thayne, Wyoming
Thayne is a town in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 341 at the 2000 census.Randall Luthi, a former Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives, practices law in Thayne and is managing partner of a nearby ranch.-Geography:...
, Star Valley Ranch
Star Valley Ranch, Wyoming
Star Valley Ranch is a town in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 776 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated on November 8, 2005; at the 2000 census, it was only a census-designated place .-Geography:...
, Freedom, Etna
Etna, Wyoming
Etna is a census-designated place in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 123 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Etna is located at...
, and Alpine
Alpine, Wyoming
Alpine is a town in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 550 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Alpine is located at the southern end of the Snake River Canyon where the Snake River enters Palisades Reservoir. The town is also known as Alpine Junction since it marks the point...
.