Salmon River (Clackamas County, Oregon)
| Salmon River | |
 At Wildwood Recreation Site, less than 2 miles (3 km) from the river mouth
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| Name origin: Fish (salmon) that frequent the river | |
| Country | United States |
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| State | Oregon |
| County | Clackamas County |
| Source | Mount Hood National Forest |
| - location | Mount Hood |
| - elevation | 6,124 ft (1,867 m) |
| - coordinates | 45°20′09″N 121°42′24″W / 45.33583°N 121.70667°W |
| Mouth | Sandy River |
| - location | Brightwood |
| - elevation | 1,017 ft (310 m) |
| - coordinates | 45°22′36″N 122°01′49″W / 45.37667°N 122.03028°WCoordinates: 45°22′36″N 122°01′49″W / 45.37667°N 122.03028°W |
| Length | 33.5 mi (53.9 km) |
| Basin | 115 sq mi (298 km2) |
| Discharge | |
| - average | 527 cu ft/s (15 m3/s) |
 Mount Hood and vicinity showing the Salmon River (near the bottom center)
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The Salmon River is a 33.5-mile (53.9 km) river in the Cascade Range in the U.S. state of Oregon that drains part of southwestern Mount Hood. The entire length of the river is a protected National Wild and Scenic River. Several portions are in protected wilderness. It is affluent to the Sandy River, a tributary of the Columbia River.
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 river, which crosses the Pacific Crest Trail at 5,980 feet (1,820 m), 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, elevation 3,600 feet (1,100 m), just east of the junction with U.S. Route 26, and crosses under Route 26 as well.
The West Fork Salmon River begins in the Timberline Lodge ski area under the Pucci chairlift. It flows south-southwest and is joined by natural cold springs at the 5,000-foot (1,500 m) level, continues south-southwest and crosses under Highway 26 just west of the Highway 35 junction. Just after they cross Highway 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.
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Wikipedia