Zigzag River
Encyclopedia
The Zigzag River is a tributary, about 12 miles (19.3 km) long, of the Sandy River
in the U.S. state
of Oregon
. The Zigzag and one of its major tributaries, the Little Zigzag River
, drain the Zigzag Glacier
on Mount Hood
, a high volcanic peak in the Cascade Range
. Their waters flow westward to meet the Sandy River near the community of Zigzag
. The river's flow ranges from 200 cuft/s.
The dramatic topography of the Mississippi Head escarpment dominates the upper Zigzag River, where the 41 miles (66 km) Timberline Trail
crosses the Zigzag River and the Paradise Park Loop Trail crosses a tributary. Avalanches have necessitated rebuilding of the Timberline Trail switchbacks on the southeast side of the river; the Pacific Crest Trail
also follows this route.
Seventy-five-foot (23 m) Little Zigzag Falls on the Little Zigzag River is one of the three most popular off-road locations in the Zigzag basin, along with Mirror Lake on the Camp Creek tributary and the area just west of Timberline Lodge under three ski lifts which drains into the largest tributary, Still Creek.
Other than 11,239-foot (3426 m) Mount Hood, the highest point in the Zigzag watershed is 5045 feet (1,537.7 m) Devils Peak which has a fire tower now used by overnight hikers. This area is under consideration in the 2007 Oregon Wilderness Area bill before congress for addition to the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness
. The northern part of the watershed and the uppermost Zigzag River are in the Mount Hood Wilderness
.
Falling 5738 feet (1,748.9 m) between source and mouth, the stream's average loss of elevation is about 475 ft/mi. According to American Whitewater, the last 3.2 miles (5.1 km) of the Zigzag River, from Tollgate to the Sandy River, has been rated Class III (difficult) to IV (very difficult) on the International Scale of River Difficulty
for whitewater
boating. The average gradient in this stretch is 108 ft/mi.
Although the Zigzag River is closed to salmon
and steelhead
fishing, it offers catch-and-release
fishing for cutthroat trout
.
Sandy River (Oregon)
The Sandy River is a tributary of the Columbia River in northwestern Oregon in the United States. Measured by a United States Geological Survey gauge downstream of the Sandy's confluence with the Bull Run River, from the mouth, the river's average discharge is . The maximum daily recorded flow...
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 Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. The Zigzag and one of its major tributaries, the Little Zigzag River
Little Zigzag River
The Little Zigzag River is a tributary, about long, of the Zigzag River in the U.S. state of Oregon. The Zigzag and Little Zigzag drain the Zigzag Glacier on Mount Hood, a high volcanic peak in the Cascade Range. Their combined waters flow westward to meet the Sandy River near the community of...
, drain the Zigzag Glacier
Zigzag Glacier
The Zigzag Glacier is an alpine glacier located on the upper southwest slopes of Mount Hood in the U.S. state of Oregon.It ranges in elevation from 7,200 to 10,200 ft with fingers in canyons extending to about 6,400 ft , and lies almost entirely within Mount Hood Wilderness. The upper...
on Mount Hood
Mount Hood
Mount Hood, called Wy'east by the Multnomah tribe, is a stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc of northern Oregon. It was formed by a subduction zone and rests in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States...
, a high volcanic peak in the Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
. Their waters flow westward to meet the Sandy River near the community of Zigzag
Zigzag, Oregon
Zigzag is an unincorporated community in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It is located within the Mount Hood Corridor, between Rhododendron and Welches on U.S. Route 26...
. The river's flow ranges from 200 cuft/s.
The dramatic topography of the Mississippi Head escarpment dominates the upper Zigzag River, where the 41 miles (66 km) Timberline Trail
Timberline Trail
Timberline Trail is a hiking trail around Mount Hood in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is in mostly wilderness but also goes near Timberline Lodge and Mount Hood Meadows ski area.- History :...
crosses the Zigzag River and the Paradise Park Loop Trail crosses a tributary. Avalanches have necessitated rebuilding of the Timberline Trail switchbacks on the southeast side of the river; the Pacific Crest Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
also follows this route.
Seventy-five-foot (23 m) Little Zigzag Falls on the Little Zigzag River is one of the three most popular off-road locations in the Zigzag basin, along with Mirror Lake on the Camp Creek tributary and the area just west of Timberline Lodge under three ski lifts which drains into the largest tributary, Still Creek.
Other than 11,239-foot (3426 m) Mount Hood, the highest point in the Zigzag watershed is 5045 feet (1,537.7 m) Devils Peak which has a fire tower now used by overnight hikers. This area is under consideration in the 2007 Oregon Wilderness Area bill before congress for addition to the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness
Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness
The Salmon–Huckleberry Wilderness is a wilderness area located on the southern side of Mount Hood in the northwestern Cascades of Oregon, United States. It lies within the Mount Hood National Forest and comprises of land...
. The northern part of the watershed and the uppermost Zigzag River are in the Mount Hood Wilderness
Mount Hood Wilderness
The Mount Hood Wilderness is a protected wilderness area inside the Mount Hood National Forest which is located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The area, covering , includes the peak of Mount Hood and its upper slopes, and ranges from temperate rain forests at the lower elevations, to glaciers and...
.
Falling 5738 feet (1,748.9 m) between source and mouth, the stream's average loss of elevation is about 475 ft/mi. According to American Whitewater, the last 3.2 miles (5.1 km) of the Zigzag River, from Tollgate to the Sandy River, has been rated Class III (difficult) to IV (very difficult) on the International Scale of River Difficulty
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...
for whitewater
Whitewater
Whitewater is formed in a rapid, when a river's gradient increases enough to disturb its laminar flow and create turbulence, i.e. form a bubbly, or aerated and unstable current; the frothy water appears white...
boating. The average gradient in this stretch is 108 ft/mi.
Although the Zigzag River is closed to salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
and steelhead
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....
fishing, it offers catch-and-release
Catch and release
Catch and release is a practice within recreational fishing intended as a technique of conservation. After capture, the fish are unhooked and returned to the water before experiencing serious exhaustion or injury...
fishing for cutthroat trout
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...
.