Beckler River
Encyclopedia
The Beckler River is a tributary
of the South Fork Skykomish River in the U.S. state
of Washington in the United States
.
The Beckler River originates near Jack Pass and flows southeast about 5 miles (8 km) where it is joined by the Rapid River
, its principal tributary. The Beckler then flows generally south for about 8 miles (12.9 km) to empty into the South Fork Skykomish River.
The upper portion of the Beckler River flows through a narrow, steep, and densely forested valley with slopes rising 4000 feet (1,219.2 m) and higher over the valley floor. Over its lower course the river valley widens slightly. In its last half-mile the valley opens out into the South Fork Skykomish valley. The only community in the region is Skykomish
.
Nearly all the Beckler River's tributaries, with the notable exception of Rapid River, exhibit steep mountain character with numerous cascades and rapids in narrow channels and rocky, bouldery river bottoms. The Rapid River is similar in its upper portion, but moderates in its final 3 to 4 mi (4.8 to 6.4 km). Much of the Rapid River's drainage basin
has been logged.
Much of the Beckler River's drainage basin
is within the Wild Sky Wilderness
, although the main river itself is not. The Rapid River's basin is within the Wild Sky Wilderness and the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness
. Parts of the main Rapid River itself are in both wildernesses. Both wildernesses are part of Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
. Forest Service Road 65, the Beckler River Road, runs north from U.S. Route 2
following the river to Jack Pass and connecting to Forest Service Road 63, the North Fork Skykomish Road.
, in the central North Cascades
. It flows generally south, picking up the tributary Evergreen Creek from the east and passing San Juan Hill on the west. Boulder Creek, flowing from Boulder Lake, joins from the west. Bullbucker Creek joins from the east. A longer tributary, Fourth of July Creek, joins from the west, having comes many miles from Fourth of July Lake near Townsend Mountain and Burley Mountain. Shortly downstream from the Fourth of July confluence the Beckler is joined from the east by its main tributary, the Rapid River. Below that the Beckler River is joined by Johnson Creek then Harlan Creek from the east. The river passes by Eagle Rock to the west and Beckler Peak to the east. Eagle Creek joins from the west. Eagle Creek flows for many miles from its source near Eagle Lake, just upstream from Paradise Meadow. Eagle Lake and Paradise Meadow are separated by a fairly low but rough pass from Barclay Lake, a popular hiking destination near Mount Baring
. Below Eagle Creek the Beckler River valley broadens. Beckler River Campground is on the banks of the lower river. Shortly below that the Beckler River empties into the South Fork Skykomish River near the town of Skykomish.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries USGS undertook a massive mapping project in the Cascade Mountains north of Snoqualmie Pass
. The Beckler River area was surveyed for this project in 1902 by W.C. Guerin. Prospectors had already thoroughly explored the region by the 1890s. Mineral discoveries prompted booms in the late 19th century, especially at Monte Cristo
. The main route to Monte Cristo, before alternate routes were found, was north from Index
via the North Fork Skykomish River. The Beckler River offered another route, over Jack Pass to the North Fork Skykomish River. Prospectors explored the Beckler River region during the early 1890s.
and coho
salmon. Chinook spawning takes places mainly in the Beckler and lower Rapid River. Coho use shallower side channels of the Beckler River and a few small tributaries. Adult salmon benefit from a trap-and-haul operation that transports them over a barrier on the lower South Fork Skykomish River.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the South Fork Skykomish River 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 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The Beckler River originates near Jack Pass and flows southeast about 5 miles (8 km) where it is joined by the Rapid River
Rapid River (Washington)
The Rapid River is a tributary of the Beckler River in the U.S. state of Washington in the United States. It is long, with a drainage basin of ....
, its principal tributary. The Beckler then flows generally south for about 8 miles (12.9 km) to empty into the South Fork Skykomish River.
The upper portion of the Beckler River flows through a narrow, steep, and densely forested valley with slopes rising 4000 feet (1,219.2 m) and higher over the valley floor. Over its lower course the river valley widens slightly. In its last half-mile the valley opens out into the South Fork Skykomish valley. The only community in the region is Skykomish
Skykomish, Washington
As of the census of 2000, there were 214 people, 104 households, and 58 families residing in the town. The population density was 623.2 people per square mile . There were 162 housing units at an average density of 471.8 per square mile...
.
Nearly all the Beckler River's tributaries, with the notable exception of Rapid River, exhibit steep mountain character with numerous cascades and rapids in narrow channels and rocky, bouldery river bottoms. The Rapid River is similar in its upper portion, but moderates in its final 3 to 4 mi (4.8 to 6.4 km). Much of the Rapid River's drainage basin
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...
has been logged.
Much of the Beckler River's drainage basin
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...
is within the Wild Sky Wilderness
Wild Sky Wilderness
The Wild Sky Wilderness is a wilderness area in the western Cascade Range of Washington state. The wilderness is within the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest north of the U.S. Highway 2 towns of Index and Skykomish. The wilderness flanks, but does not include, the North Fork Skykomish River...
, although the main river itself is not. The Rapid River's basin is within the Wild Sky Wilderness and the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness
Henry M. Jackson Wilderness
The Henry M. Jackson Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area in the state of Washington, United States.-History:The Henry M. Jackson Wilderness was created by the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act and named after former US Senator Henry M. Jackson of Washington...
. Parts of the main Rapid River itself are in both wildernesses. Both wildernesses are part of Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington extends more than along the western slopes of the Cascade Range from the Canadian border to the northern boundary of Mount Rainier National Park. Forest headquarters are located in the city of Everett....
. Forest Service Road 65, the Beckler River Road, runs north from U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 2 is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada...
following the river to Jack Pass and connecting to Forest Service Road 63, the North Fork Skykomish Road.
Course
The Beckler River originates south of Jack Pass, west of Frog Mountain and east of Bear MountainBear Mountain (Washington)
According to the , the state of Washington in the United States has 9 peaks named Bear Mountain:...
, in the central North Cascades
North Cascades
The North Cascades are a section of the Cascade Range of western North America. They span the border between the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington and are officially named in Canada as the Cascade Mountains...
. It flows generally south, picking up the tributary Evergreen Creek from the east and passing San Juan Hill on the west. Boulder Creek, flowing from Boulder Lake, joins from the west. Bullbucker Creek joins from the east. A longer tributary, Fourth of July Creek, joins from the west, having comes many miles from Fourth of July Lake near Townsend Mountain and Burley Mountain. Shortly downstream from the Fourth of July confluence the Beckler is joined from the east by its main tributary, the Rapid River. Below that the Beckler River is joined by Johnson Creek then Harlan Creek from the east. The river passes by Eagle Rock to the west and Beckler Peak to the east. Eagle Creek joins from the west. Eagle Creek flows for many miles from its source near Eagle Lake, just upstream from Paradise Meadow. Eagle Lake and Paradise Meadow are separated by a fairly low but rough pass from Barclay Lake, a popular hiking destination near Mount Baring
Mount Baring
Baring Mountain, or Mount Baring, is a peak in the central part of the Cascade Range of Washington, United States. It lies about 2 miles northeast of the Skykomish River and US Highway 2, at the western edge of the Cascades in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest...
. Below Eagle Creek the Beckler River valley broadens. Beckler River Campground is on the banks of the lower river. Shortly below that the Beckler River empties into the South Fork Skykomish River near the town of Skykomish.
History
The Beckler River is named for Elbridge H. Beckler, who was the chief engineer of the Pacific extension of the Great Northern Railway from 1889 to 1893. Nearby Beckler Peak is also named for him.In the late 19th and early 20th centuries USGS undertook a massive mapping project in the Cascade Mountains north of Snoqualmie Pass
Snoqualmie Pass
Snoqualmie Pass is a mountain pass that carries Interstate 90 through the Cascade Range in the U.S. State of Washington. The elevation of the pass summit is , and is on the county line between Kittitas County and King County...
. The Beckler River area was surveyed for this project in 1902 by W.C. Guerin. Prospectors had already thoroughly explored the region by the 1890s. Mineral discoveries prompted booms in the late 19th century, especially at Monte Cristo
Monte Cristo, Washington
Monte Cristo is a ghost town northwest of Monte Cristo Peak, in eastern Snohomish County in western Washington.Prospecting in the region began in the Skykomish River drainage with the Old Cady Trail used for access. In 1882 Elisha Hubbard improved the trail up the North Fork Skykomish, from Index...
. The main route to Monte Cristo, before alternate routes were found, was north from Index
Index, Washington
Index is a town in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 178 at the 2010 census.-History:Prior to settlement by westerners, the Skykomish Indians lived in the area between Sultan and Index...
via the North Fork Skykomish River. The Beckler River offered another route, over Jack Pass to the North Fork Skykomish River. Prospectors explored the Beckler River region during the early 1890s.
Natural history
The Beckler River supports chinookChinook 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
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:...
salmon. Chinook spawning takes places mainly in the Beckler and lower Rapid River. Coho use shallower side channels of the Beckler River and a few small tributaries. Adult salmon benefit from a trap-and-haul operation that transports them over a barrier on the lower South Fork Skykomish River.
Tributaries
From down to upstream, hierarchically listed, not exhaustive:- Bolt Creek
- Eagle Creek
- Eagle Lake
- Johnson Creek
- Bertha Lake
- Rapid RiverRapid River (Washington)The Rapid River is a tributary of the Beckler River in the U.S. state of Washington in the United States. It is long, with a drainage basin of ....
- Meadow Creek
- North Fork Rapid River
- Fourth of July Creek
- Bullbucker Creek
- Boulder Creek
- Boulder Lake
- Evergreen Creek