The Salmon River is a 33.9 mile (55 km) river in Oregon's Cascade Range and drains a portion of southwestern Mount Hood. The entire length of the river is protected National Wild and Scenic River, the only such river in the contiguous 48 states.[1] Several portions are in protected Wilderness. It is affluent to the Sandy River.
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The overall course is sickle-shaped with the point facing north at Mount Hood and the handle facing west. The headwaters are on the Mount Hood's south face at the foot of Palmer Glacier east of Silcox Hut. The canyon is visible most of the year—when not snowfilled—where it crosses the Pacific Crest Trail at 5,980 ft (1,820 m) The River continues directly southward for a few miles and remains east of Timberline Road. As it descends below 4,500 feet (1,400 m), it turns southwest, and continues under Oregon Route 35 (elev. 3,600 ft (1,100 m)) just east of the junction with U.S. Route 26, and crosses under Route 26 as well.
The West Fork begins in the Timberline Lodge ski area under the Pucci chairlift. It flows SSW and is joined by natural cold springs at the 5000 foot (1525 m) level, continues SSW and crosses under Hwy 26 just west of the Hwy 35 junction. Just after they cross Hwy 26, the West Fork and Salmon River join, and a half mile (1 km) later, the Salmon is joined by the East Fork Salmon River which comes out of a steep valley just north of, and below, Barlow Pass.
The combined river flows directly south through Red Top Meadow for about three miles (5 km) and begins meandering slightly through Salmon River Meadows, elev 3320 ft (1010 m). At the south end, the river is joined by Ghost Creek and turns WSW for about four miles (6 km) before meeting Mud Creek, which flows from Trillium Lake. About 1.5 miles (2.4 km) downstream from Mud Creek, it enters the eastern boundary of Salmon–Huckleberry Wilderness[2]
A steep east-west gorge captures the Salmon River and collects several creeks—Inch, Draw String, Linney—which join it from the south. It turns NW, flows over a series of waterfalls ranging from 15 to 80 feet (4.6 to 24 m) high[3]: Stein Falls and Split Falls, and turns directly north to go 90 degrees counter clockwise around a volcanic prominence. South of the Salmon River, Iron Creek merges with Tumbling Creek and flows over Hideaway Falls a quarter mile south of the junction between Tumbling, Swift, and Kinzel Creeks and the Salmon River, at elevation 2200.
Just after joining with Goat Creek it turns NW and flows over three closely spaced falls: Vanishing Falls, Frustration (60 ft[4] ), and Final Falls which are at the foot of cliffs to the south—Salmon River Canyon. A half mile later, Copper Creek joins from the south and, a mile later, Bighorn Creek joins from the south and the river leaves the wilderness area. About 1.5 miles (2.4 km) later, the South Fork Salmon River—which drains about twenty-five square miles of rugged mountains northeast of Squaw Mountain—joins a mile above Green Canyon Campground, and enters the last eleven miles (18 km) on a comparatively level grade with occasional short rapids.
It meanders through several areas with houses near Welches and Wemme, then goes through Wildwood Recreation Site which provides educational and recreational experiences. It crosses (again) under U.S. Route 26 and merges with the Sandy River near the community of Brightwood.
The lower canyons have Black Bear, mule deer, cougar, badger, fisher, and marten. Dense Western Hemlock, Douglas-fir are mixed with Western Red Cedar, Red Alder, and Vine Maple. The rare Alaska Cedar is found in patches around the Salmon River Meadows.[5]
The river is likely named for its abundant anadromous fish: Steelhead, Cutthroat trout, Chinook salmon, and Coho salmon.
Oregonkayaking.net says
| “ | The Salmon River Canyon may just be the Mount Everest of Oregon Kayaking. Huge, marginally portageable waterfalls combined with crumbly, near-vertical canyon walls and questionable rescue possibilities make this a very serious venture indeed.[6] | ” |