Winchuck River
title: "Winchuck River" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["rivers-of-curry-county,-oregon", "rivers-of-oregon", "oregon-placenames-of-native-american-origin"] topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchuck_River" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox river"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Winchuck River |
| name_etymology | Uncertain. Possibly the Chinook Jargon term for windy water. Possibly the local native name for woman. |
| image | Winchuck River.jpg |
| image_size | 300 |
| image_caption | The Winchuck River |
| map_size | 300 |
| pushpin_map | USA Oregon |
| pushpin_map_size | 300 |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location of the mouth of the Winchuck River in Oregon |
| subdivision_type1 | Country |
| subdivision_name1 | United States |
| subdivision_type2 | State |
| subdivision_name2 | Oregon |
| subdivision_type4 | County |
| subdivision_name4 | Curry County, Oregon |
| and Del Norte County, California | |
| length | 10 mi |
| discharge1_avg | 494 cuft/s |
| source1 | confluence of Bear and Salmon creeks |
| source1_location | Curry County, Siskiyou National Forest, Oregon |
| source1_coordinates | |
| source1_elevation | 164 ft |
| mouth | Pacific Ocean |
| mouth_location | Crissey Field State Recreation Site, Curry County, Oregon |
| mouth_coordinates | |
| mouth_elevation | 7 ft |
| basin_size | 71.3 sqmi |
| :: |
| name = Winchuck River | name_native = | name_native_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology = Uncertain. Possibly the Chinook Jargon term for windy water. Possibly the local native name for woman. | image = Winchuck River.jpg | image_size = 300 | image_caption = The Winchuck River | map = | map_size = 300 | map_caption = | pushpin_map = USA Oregon | pushpin_map_size = 300 | pushpin_map_caption= Location of the mouth of the Winchuck River in Oregon | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = United States | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = Oregon | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = County | subdivision_name4 = Curry County, Oregon and Del Norte County, California | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = | length = 10 mi | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = 494 cuft/s | discharge1_max = | source1 = confluence of Bear and Salmon creeks | source1_location = Curry County, Siskiyou National Forest, Oregon | source1_coordinates= | source1_elevation = 164 ft | mouth = Pacific Ocean | mouth_location = Crissey Field State Recreation Site, Curry County, Oregon | mouth_coordinates = | mouth_elevation = 7 ft | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = 71.3 sqmi | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = The Winchuck River (Tolowa: duu-sr-xuu-shi taa-ghin-li~'{{Cite web | title = Siletz Talking Dictionary | accessdate = June 4, 2012 | date = 2007 | publisher = Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages | url = http://siletz.swarthmore.edu/?entry=8829
Formed by the confluence of Fourth of July Creek and Bear Creek in southern Curry County, the river flows generally west. Just below the source, Salmon Creek enters from the left, then Elk Creek and Deer Creek enter from the right. Further downstream, the Winchuck receives Moser Creek and the South Fork Winchuck River, both from the left. The river then leaves Oregon, flowing in Del Norte County, California, for a short distance before re-entering Oregon. The Winchuck passes under U.S. Route 101 in Oregon just before reaching the ocean. Winchuck River Road runs along or near the north side of the river for much of its course.
The main stem and tributaries support chinook and coho salmon, steelhead, and sea-run coastal cutthroat trout. Access for fishing is limited, especially along the lower stretches of the river. Fishing from boats is not allowed, but Winchuck River Road provides public access in places.
Flora in the watershed's forests include Douglas-fir, bigleaf maple, and madrone, typical of the Southern Oregon Coast Range, the coastal Siskiyou Mountains, and the Redwoods Zone. Most of Oregon's remaining coast redwood forest lies within the Winchuck drainage. Sensitive fauna in the watershed include the spotted owl and marbled murrelet.
References
Works cited
- McGuire, Mike (June 2001). "Winchuck River Watershed Assessment" (PDF). Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
References
- McArthur, pp. 1049–50
- Palmer, Tim. (2014). "Field Guide to Oregon Rivers". Oregon State University Press.
- Source elevation derived from [[Google Earth]] search using GNIS source coordinates.
- (November 28, 1980). "Winchuck River". Geographic Names Information System.
- "Winchuck River". United States Forest Service.
- "Oregon Atlas and Gazetteer". DeLorme Mapping.
- McGuire, p. 1
- United States Geological Survey. "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map". TopoQuest.
- Sheehan, p. 114
- McGuire, pp. 13–20
- "East Fork Winchuck River, Curry County". Western Rivers Conservancy.
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