White River (Utah)
Encyclopedia
The White River is a tributary of the Green River
, approximately 195 miles (313.8 km) long, in the U.S. state
s of Colorado
and Utah
. Flows vary from 450 ft³/s (13 m³/s) late summers in dry years to well over 12,000 ft³/s (340 m³/s) in spring.
It rises in two forks in northwestern Colorado in northeastern Garfield County
in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area
in the White River National Forest
. The North Fork rises in Trappers Lake
, and flows northwest, then southwest. The South Fork rises ten miles south of the north, flows southwest, then northwest, past Spring Cave
. The two forks join near Buford in eastern Rio Blanco County
, forming the White. It flows west, then northwest, past Meeker
(site of the White River Museum), and across the broad valley between the Danforth Hills on the north and the Roan Plateau
on the south. Downstream from Meeker, it is joined by Piceance Creek
and Yellow Creek
. In western Rio Blanco County, it turns southwest, flows past Rangely
, where it is joined by Douglas Creek, and into Uintah County, Utah
, where it joins the Green two miles south of Ouray.
The White River is navigable by small boats throughout most of its length. But in low water years the water level may be too low for navigation for a period of several months.
Green River (Utah)
The Green River, located in the western United States, is the chief tributary of the Colorado River. The watershed of the river, known as the Green River Basin, covers parts of Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. The Green River is long, beginning in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming and flowing...
, approximately 195 miles (313.8 km) long, 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...
s of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. Flows vary from 450 ft³/s (13 m³/s) late summers in dry years to well over 12,000 ft³/s (340 m³/s) in spring.
It rises in two forks in northwestern Colorado in northeastern Garfield County
Garfield County, Colorado
Garfield County is the eighth most extensive and the twelfth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 43,791 at U.S. Census 2000. The county is named in honor of United States President James A. Garfield...
in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area
Flat Tops Wilderness Area
The Flat Tops Wilderness Area is the second largest U.S. Wilderness Area in Colorado. It is , with in Routt National Forest and in White River National Forest. It was designated a wilderness area in 1975. Trappers Lake, located in the north of the area, was the lake that inspired Arthur Carhart,...
in the White River National Forest
White River National Forest
White River National Forest is a National Forest in northwest Colorado. It is named after the White River that passes through it. It also contains the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, largely considered the birthplace of the U.S...
. The North Fork rises in Trappers Lake
Trappers Lake
Trappers Lake is a lake in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, which is in the White River National Forest in Colorado, USA. The lake, at an elevation of approximately 9600 ft , is the source of the North Fork of the White River. It is located in Garfield County east of the town of Meeker and west of...
, and flows northwest, then southwest. The South Fork rises ten miles south of the north, flows southwest, then northwest, past Spring Cave
Spring Cave
Located in Colorado in the White River National Forest, in the South Fork Valley of the White River, Spring Cave is a large, not completely explored cave that has been largely cut out by an underground river running through it. It contains a lake several hundred meters inside as well as several...
. The two forks join near Buford in eastern Rio Blanco County
Rio Blanco County, Colorado
Rio Blanco County is the sixth most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 5,986 at U.S. Census 2000. The name of the county is the Spanish language name for the White River which runs through it...
, forming the White. It flows west, then northwest, past Meeker
Meeker, Colorado
The Town of Meeker is a Statutory Town that is the county seat and the most populous town of Rio Blanco County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 2,242 at the U.S. Census 2000. The town is largely an agricultural community, located in the wide fertile valley of the White River in...
(site of the White River Museum), and across the broad valley between the Danforth Hills on the north and the Roan Plateau
Roan Plateau
The Roan Plateau, located in western Colorado, USA, near Rifle, contains a variety of natural resources and scenic terrain: high ridges, deep valleys, desert lands, waterfalls, cutthroat trout, mountain lions, bears, rare plants, and oil and natural gas...
on the south. Downstream from Meeker, it is joined by Piceance Creek
Piceance Creek
Piceance Creek is a tributary of the White River in Garfield County, Colorado....
and Yellow Creek
Yellow Creek (Colorado)
Yellow Creek is a tributary of the White River in Rio Blanco County, Colorado....
. In western Rio Blanco County, it turns southwest, flows past Rangely
Rangely, Colorado
Rangely is a Statutory Town in Rio Blanco County, Colorado, United States. The population was 2,096 at the 2000 census. The town is home to one of two campuses of the Colorado Northwestern Community College.-Geography:...
, where it is joined by Douglas Creek, and into Uintah County, Utah
Uintah County, Utah
This page deals with the Utah County. For the Wyoming County, see Uinta County, Wyoming.Uintah County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2000 the population was 25,224 and by 2009 was estimated at 31,536. It was named for the Ute Indians, the tribe that lives in the basin. Its...
, where it joins the Green two miles south of Ouray.
The White River is navigable by small boats throughout most of its length. But in low water years the water level may be too low for navigation for a period of several months.
See also
- List of rivers of Colorado
- List of rivers of Utah
- List of tributaries of the Colorado River
- Whiterocks, UtahWhiterocks, UtahWhiterocks is a census-designated place in Uintah County, Utah, United States. The population was 341 at the 2000 census, a slight increase over the 1990 population of 312.-Geography:Whiterocks is located at ....