Jarbidge River
Encyclopedia
The Jarbidge River is a 51.8 miles (83.4 km), high altitude river
in northern Nevada
and southwest Idaho
in the United States. The Jarbidge originates as two main forks in the Jarbidge Mountains
of northeastern Nevada
and then flows through basalt
and rhyolite
canyon
s on the high plateau
of the Owyhee Desert
before joining the Bruneau River
.
is located on the main stream, the source of which is Jarbridge Lake (41.7742°N 115.3724 °W). The town of Murphy Hot Springs, Idaho is located on the river's main tributary
, the East Fork Jarbidge River, about two miles above the confluence of the streams (42.05°N 115.39 °W); this is the last road access to the river canyon until the Bruneau River. For approximately 28 miles (45.1 km) this narrow river twists and turns northwest through a remarkable canyon, deep and rugged, but often dotted with groves of juniper
trees along the banks. The Jarbidge Canyon is about 650 feet (198.1 m) deep at the confluence of the forks, and about 1000 feet (304.8 m) deep at the confluence with the Bruneau. Once joining the Bruneau, the waters flow on to the Snake River
and ultimately the Columbia River
; therefore, it is one of very few rivers in northern Nevada that eventually empties into the Pacific Ocean
. Tributaries include Buck Creek, Dave Creek, Columbet Creek, Dorsey Creek, Cougar Creek, and Poison Creek.
. Flow rates vary wildly. Kayak
ing is possible in certain sections in early summer; class IV
. The river can also be run by experienced rafter
s. For rafters, the run can be arduous, with log jams inevitably requiring portage
s, lining rafts down rapids, or simply heaving rafts up and over the blockage. For the well-seasoned and adventurous, however, this river provides a spectacular journey filled with class III and IV rapids before the Jarbidge runs into the Bruneau River. Rafters and kayakers should be aware that towards the end of this run (approximately 25 miles below Murphy Hot Springs), looms Jarbidge Falls. Jarbidge Falls is a class V+ run and should only be run by expert kayakers. A huge, row home-sized boulder blocking half the river signals the beginning of this rapid.
, managed by the Humboldt National Forest. The Jarbidge River below the confluence with the East Fork is protected in the new Bruneau - Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness, which was created by the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 and signed into law on March 30, 2009.
The Jarbidge River is home to a small population of threatened bull trout
(Salvelinus confluentus). Bull trout inhabit both forks of the Jarbidge River, as well as several tributaries. This small population is on the southern edge of the species' range, and is isolated from other populations of bull trout in southern Idaho, increasing their sensitivity to changes in habitat. Population densities were estimated at 10–20 fish per km in 1996. Redband trout
also inhabit the 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 northern Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
and southwest 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....
in the United States. The Jarbidge originates as two main forks in the Jarbidge Mountains
Jarbidge Mountains
The Jarbidge Mountains are a range of high peaks in northern Elko County, in northeastern Nevada in the western United States. The range extends southward approximately 25 miles from a point near the small community of Jarbidge. To the east is the East Fork of the Jarbidge River, O'Neil...
of northeastern Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
and then flows through basalt
Basalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
and rhyolite
Rhyolite
This page is about a volcanic rock. For the ghost town see Rhyolite, Nevada, and for the satellite system, see Rhyolite/Aquacade.Rhyolite is an igneous, volcanic rock, of felsic composition . It may have any texture from glassy to aphanitic to porphyritic...
canyon
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
s on the high plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
of the Owyhee Desert
Owyhee Desert
The Owyhee Desert ecoregion, within the Deserts and xeric shrublands Biome, is in the Northwestern United States. The Owyhee Uplands Bypass passes through the desert.-Geography:...
before joining the Bruneau River
Bruneau River
The Bruneau River is a tributary of the Snake River, in the U.S. states of Idaho and Nevada. It runs through a narrow canyon cut into ancient lava flows in southwestern Idaho...
.
Geography
The small town of Jarbidge, NevadaJarbidge, Nevada
Jarbidge is an unincorporated community in Elko County, Nevada, United States. It lies on the edge of the Jarbidge Wilderness, several miles south of the Idaho/Nevada border. Noted locally for its remoteness, the community is usually accessed by road from Rogerson in Twin Falls County, Idaho...
is located on the main stream, the source of which is Jarbridge Lake (41.7742°N 115.3724 °W). The town of Murphy Hot Springs, Idaho is located on the river's main tributary
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...
, the East Fork Jarbidge River, about two miles above the confluence of the streams (42.05°N 115.39 °W); this is the last road access to the river canyon until the Bruneau River. For approximately 28 miles (45.1 km) this narrow river twists and turns northwest through a remarkable canyon, deep and rugged, but often dotted with groves of juniper
Juniper
Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
trees along the banks. The Jarbidge Canyon is about 650 feet (198.1 m) deep at the confluence of the forks, and about 1000 feet (304.8 m) deep at the confluence with the Bruneau. Once joining the Bruneau, the waters flow on to 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...
and ultimately the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
; therefore, it is one of very few rivers in northern Nevada that eventually empties into the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. Tributaries include Buck Creek, Dave Creek, Columbet Creek, Dorsey Creek, Cougar Creek, and Poison Creek.
Whitewater boating
The river is quite cold; though swimming is possible, there is a danger of hypothermiaHypothermia
Hypothermia is a condition in which core temperature drops below the required temperature for normal metabolism and body functions which is defined as . Body temperature is usually maintained near a constant level of through biologic homeostasis or thermoregulation...
. Flow rates vary wildly. Kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
ing is possible in certain sections in early summer; class IV
International Scale of River Difficulty
The International Scale of River Difficulty is a standardized scale used to rate the safety of a stretch of river, or a single rapid. The grade reflects the technical difficulty and skill level required associated with the section of river...
. The river can also be run by experienced rafter
Rafting
Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging recreational outdoor activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this...
s. For rafters, the run can be arduous, with log jams inevitably requiring portage
Portage
Portage or portaging refers to the practice of carrying watercraft or cargo over land to avoid river obstacles, or between two bodies of water. A place where this carrying occurs is also called a portage; a person doing the carrying is called a porter.The English word portage is derived from the...
s, lining rafts down rapids, or simply heaving rafts up and over the blockage. For the well-seasoned and adventurous, however, this river provides a spectacular journey filled with class III and IV rapids before the Jarbidge runs into the Bruneau River. Rafters and kayakers should be aware that towards the end of this run (approximately 25 miles below Murphy Hot Springs), looms Jarbidge Falls. Jarbidge Falls is a class V+ run and should only be run by expert kayakers. A huge, row home-sized boulder blocking half the river signals the beginning of this rapid.
Access
Access to the river is preferably via 4 wheel drive or ATV. The Big Bend (National Forest Service) campground is located nearby (8 miles) and is suitable for day-tripping to the river. Access is near impossible from other locations in Nevada until about June/July due to snowdrifts across the mountainous access roads; otherwise access is from Idaho.Conservation
The headwaters of the Jarbidge River are protected as the Jarbidge WildernessJarbidge Wilderness
The Jarbidge Wilderness is located in the upper elevations of the Jarbidge Mountains in northern Elko County, in northeastern Nevada in the western United States. Established in 1964, it was the first wilderness area in the state...
, managed by the Humboldt National Forest. The Jarbidge River below the confluence with the East Fork is protected in the new Bruneau - Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness, which was created by the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 and signed into law on March 30, 2009.
The Jarbidge River is home to a small population of threatened bull trout
Bull trout
The bull trout, Salvelinus confluentus, is a char of the family Salmonidae native to northwestern North America. Historically, S. confluentus has been known as the "Dolly Varden" , but was re-classified as a separate species in 1980. Bull trout are listed as a threatened species under the U.S....
(Salvelinus confluentus). Bull trout inhabit both forks of the Jarbidge River, as well as several tributaries. This small population is on the southern edge of the species' range, and is isolated from other populations of bull trout in southern Idaho, increasing their sensitivity to changes in habitat. Population densities were estimated at 10–20 fish per km in 1996. Redband trout
Redband trout
Redband trout is a fish name that may be a synonym for the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, but is also used more narrowly for inland subspecies with well-defined geographical distributions in the United States...
also inhabit the river.