Jarbidge River | |
View down the Jarbidge River near its confluence with the East Fork Jarbidge River
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Country | United States |
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States | Idaho, Nevada |
Counties | Owyhee County, Idaho, Elko County, Nevada |
Source | Jarbidge Lake |
- location | Jarbidge Mountains, Elko County, Nevada |
- elevation | 9,357 ft (2,852 m) |
- coordinates | 41°46′27″N 115°22′21″W / 41.77417°N 115.37250°W |
Mouth | Bruneau River |
- location | Bruneau – Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness, Owyhee County, Idaho |
- elevation | 3,707 ft (1,130 m) |
- coordinates | 42°19′45″N 115°39′09″W / 42.32917°N 115.65250°WCoordinates: 42°19′45″N 115°39′09″W / 42.32917°N 115.65250°W |
Length | 52 mi (84 km) |
Basin | 660 sq mi (1,709 km2) |
The Jarbidge River is a 51.8-mile-long (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 canyons on the high plateau of the Owyhee Desert before joining the Bruneau River.
The small town of Jarbidge, Nevada is located on the main stream, the source of which is Jarbidge Lake (41°46′27″N 115°22′21″W / 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°03′N 115°23′W / 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 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 (200 m) deep at the confluence of the forks, and about 1,000 feet (300 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.