Methow River

Methow River (Buttlemuleemauch)
River
The Methow River at Mazama
Country	United States
State	Washington
Region	Okanogan Country
Tributaries
- left	Lost River, Chewuch River
- right	Early Winters Creek, Twisp River
Cities	Winthrop, Twisp, Pateros
Source	Cascade Range
- location	Methow Pass
- elevation	5,677 ft (1,730 m)
- coordinates	48°35′9″N 120°44′44″W / 48.58583°N 120.74556°W / 48.58583; -120.74556
Mouth	Columbia River
- location	Pateros
- elevation	784 ft (239 m)
- coordinates	48°3′2″N 119°53′43″W / 48.05056°N 119.89528°W / 48.05056; -119.89528Coordinates: 48°3′2″N 119°53′43″W / 48.05056°N 119.89528°W / 48.05056; -119.89528
Length	80 mi (129 km)
Basin	1,825 sq mi (4,727 km2)
Discharge	mouth
- average	1,522 cu ft/s (43.10 m3/s)
- max	27,200 cu ft/s (770.22 m3/s)
- min	150 cu ft/s (4.25 m3/s)

The Methow River (/ˈmɛt.haʊ/ MET-how) is a tributary of the Columbia River in northern Washington in the United States. The river's 1,890-square-mile (4,900 km²) watershed drains the eastern North Cascades, with a population of about 5,000 people. The Methow's watershed is characterized by relatively pristine habitats, as much of the river basin is located in national forests and wildernesses. Many tributaries drain the large Pasayten Wilderness. An earlier economy based on agriculture is giving way to one based on recreation and tourism.

The river was named after the Methow Native Americans (today part of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation). The name "Methow" comes from the Okanagan placename /mətxʷú/, meaning "sunflower (seeds)". The Native American name for the river was Buttlemuleemauch, meaning "salmon falls river". In 1841 the Wilkes Expedition named the river "Barrier River". Alexander Ross said the native name was Buttle-mule-emauch. In 1811 David Thompson met the tribe living along the river and wrote their name as Smeetheowe. In 1853 George Gibbs called the river Methow or Barrier.