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Coordinates: 37°17′22″N 110°52′20″W / 37.28944°N 110.87222°W / 37.28944; -110.87222
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{{Short description|River in Garfield and Kane counties in Utah, United States}}
[[Image:Escalante_river_2003.jpg|thumb|Escalante River canyon (cuts horizontally across photo) from [[State Route 12 (Utah)|Utah's SR 12]]]]
{{for|the river in Venezuela|Escalante River (Venezuela)}}
{{coord|37|17|22|N|110|52|20|W|type:river_region:US-UT_scale:50000|display=title}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Escalante River
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<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image = Crop of ISS067-E-175591 showing part of the Escalante River in Utah.jpg
| image_caption = View of part of the Escalante River, taken on July 4, 2022 from the International Space Station
| image_size = 250
| map = File:Escalanteriver.png
| map_size = 250
| map_caption = Location of the Escalante River within Utah
| map_alt =
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
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| subdivision_name2 = [[Utah]]
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<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
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The '''Escalante River''' is a [[tributary]] of the [[Colorado River]]. It is formed by the [[confluence]] of [[Upper Valley and Birch Creeks]] near the town of [[Escalante, Utah|Escalante]] in south-central [[Utah]], and from there flows southeast for approximately {{cvt|90|mi|km}} before joining [[Lake Powell]]. Its watershed includes the high forested slopes of the [[Aquarius Plateau]], the east slope of the [[Kaiparowits Plateau]], and the high desert north of Lake Powell. It was the last river of its size to be discovered in the [[Contiguous United States|48 contiguous U.S. states]].<ref name="BLM">{{cite web | last = Heath | first = Steven H. | title = A Historical Sketch of the Scientific Exploration of the Region Containing the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument | publisher = Bureau of Land Management Science Symposium | year = 1997 | url = http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ut/grand_staircase-escalante/science___research/1997_symposium.Par.22079.File.dat/general01.htm | access-date = 2009-07-05 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121006155725/http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ut/grand_staircase-escalante/science___research/1997_symposium.Par.22079.File.dat/general01.htm | archive-date = 2012-10-06 }}</ref>
The '''Escalante River''' is a tributary of the [[Colorado River (U.S.)|Colorado River]], approximately 90 miles (145 km) long, in southern [[Utah]]. Its headwaters are on the high forested slopes of the [[Aquarius Plateau]]. It drains a remote area north and west of the Colorado, flowing through rugged canyons for much of its route.
The average discharge is approximately 146 cfs (4.1 m³/s).


The river was first mapped and named by Almon Thompson, a member of the 1872 Colorado River expedition led by [[John Wesley Powell]].<ref name="BLM"/> It was named after [[Silvestre Vélez de Escalante]], a [[Franciscan]] [[missionary]] and the first known European explorer of the region. In 1776, Escalante and his Spanish superior [[Francisco Atanasio Domínguez]] left from [[Santa Fe, New Mexico]] in an attempt to reach [[Monterey, California]].<ref>Katieri Treimer, ''Site research report, site no. 916, Southwest Colorado'', Earth Metrics Inc. and SRI International for Contel Systems and the U.S. Air Force 1989</ref> During this journey, usually referred to as the ''[[Domínguez–Escalante expedition]]'', Escalante and his companions passed by the [[Grand Canyon]] and were the first white men to enter [[Utah]].
It rises in several creeks along Hell's Backbone in western [[Garfield County, Utah|Garfield County]], approximately 20 miles (32 km) west and north of the town of [[Escalante, Utah|Escalante]] in the [[Dixie National Forest]]. It flows east from Escalante, entering [[Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument]], then south, creating a sinuous gorge cut 500 feet (150 meters) into the sandstone. The Canyons of the Escalante are a series of spectacular slot canyons that drain from both sides into the lower gorge, as it enters [[Glen Canyon National Recreation Area]] and flows into the Colorado River from the northwest as an arm of [[Lake Powell]], approximately 20 miles (32 km) north of the [[Arizona]] state line.


Much of the Escalante River's course is through sinuous sandstone gorges. The river and the rugged canyons which drain into it form a key section of [[Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument]]. This spectacular region is a popular destination for [[hiking]] and [[Backpacking (wilderness)|backpacking]].

For most of the year, the Escalante River is a small stream, easily stepped across or waded. During spring runoff and the summer monsoon, however, the river can become a raging, muddy torrent ten to one hundred times bigger. In some years, the river can be run using [[kayak]]s or [[canoe]]s ([[raft]]s are too large), but this requires both good timings — water which is too high or too low can make travel impossible, stranding boaters — and the willingness to portage boats several hundred vertical feet at the end of the trip.

==Gallery==
{{gallery|mode=packed|align=center|width=135|height=135
|File:R27182818 escalante 5290183.jpg|Hiker crossing the Escalante during spring floods in 2005.
|File:R27182818 escalante 0172.jpg|Escalante River gorge upstream from its confluence with Boulder Creek. The [[Aquarius Plateau]] is visible on the skyline.
|File:Escalanteriver.jpg|The Escalante River near [[Escalante, Utah]]
}}
==See also==
==See also==
*[[List of Utah rivers]]
* [[Canyons of the Escalante]]
*[[Escalante]]
* [[Coyote Gulch]]
* [[List of Utah rivers]]
* [[List of tributaries of the Colorado River]]


==External links==
== Notes ==
{{reflist}}
*[http://www.ut.blm.gov/monument/Visitor_Information/Hiking/escalante_gorge.html BLM:Escalante River Gorge]
*[http://www.utahrivers.org/wild_scenic/utah_map/escalante/ UtahRivers.org Escalante River]


== References ==
{{Colorado_River_system}}
* Peter Gurche (2011) [http://www.grandcanyontrust.org/research/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Gurche_GSENMBeaver_2011.pdf ''In Search of Desert Beaver: An Assessment of Castor canadensis in the Lower Escalante River Watershed''], Whitman College ; Summer-Fall 2011
* Irvine, J. R., & West, N. E. (1979). Riparian tree species distribution and succession along the lower Escalante River, Utah. The Southwestern Naturalist, 331-346 ([https://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/3670931?uid=3738016&uid=2&uid=4&sid=21103462022863 abstract])
* Webb, R. H. (1985). http://arizona.openrepository.com/arizona/handle/10150/191094 Late Holocene flooding on the Escalante River], south-central Utah.
* WEBB, R. H., & BAKER, V. R. (1987). ''Changes hydrologic conditions related to large floods on the Escalante River, south-central Utah''. In International symposium on flood frequency and risk analyses (pp.&nbsp;309–323).
* Withers, K., & Mead, J. I. (1993). ''Late Quaternary vegetation and climate in the Escalante River basin on the central Colorado Plateau.'' Western North American Naturalist, 53(2), 145-161.


== External links ==
{{Utah-geo-stub}}
{{commons category|Escalante River}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070323225305/http://www.ut.blm.gov/monument/recreation-activities-hiking-backpacking-escalante-river-town-bridge.php BLM:Escalante River Gorge]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040708093443/http://www.utahrivers.org/wild_scenic/utah_map/escalante/ UtahRivers.org Escalante River]
{{Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument}}
{{Colorado River system}}


{{authority control}}


[[Category:Tributaries of the Colorado River]]
[[Category:Rivers of Utah]]
[[Category:Rivers of Utah]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the Colorado River in Utah]]
[[Category:Rivers of Garfield County, Utah]]
[[Category:Rivers of Kane County, Utah]]
[[Category:Colorado Plateau]]
[[Category:Colorado Plateau]]
[[Category:Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument]]

[[Category:Glen Canyon National Recreation Area]]
[[de:Escalante River]]
[[ja:エスカランテ川]]

Latest revision as of 23:35, 22 September 2024

For the river in Venezuela, see Escalante River (Venezuela).

37°17′22″N 110°52′20″W / 37.28944°N 110.87222°W / 37.28944; -110.87222

Escalante River
View of part of the Escalante River, taken on July 4, 2022 from the International Space Station
Location of the Escalante River within Utah
Location
CountryUnited States
StateUtah

The Escalante River is a tributary of the Colorado River. It is formed by the confluence of Upper Valley and Birch Creeks near the town of Escalante in south-central Utah, and from there flows southeast for approximately 90 mi (140 km) before joining Lake Powell. Its watershed includes the high forested slopes of the Aquarius Plateau, the east slope of the Kaiparowits Plateau, and the high desert north of Lake Powell. It was the last river of its size to be discovered in the 48 contiguous U.S. states.[1] The average discharge is approximately 146 cfs (4.1 m³/s).

The river was first mapped and named by Almon Thompson, a member of the 1872 Colorado River expedition led by John Wesley Powell.[1] It was named after Silvestre Vélez de Escalante, a Franciscan missionary and the first known European explorer of the region. In 1776, Escalante and his Spanish superior Francisco Atanasio Domínguez left from Santa Fe, New Mexico in an attempt to reach Monterey, California.[2] During this journey, usually referred to as the Domínguez–Escalante expedition, Escalante and his companions passed by the Grand Canyon and were the first white men to enter Utah.

Much of the Escalante River's course is through sinuous sandstone gorges. The river and the rugged canyons which drain into it form a key section of Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument. This spectacular region is a popular destination for hiking and backpacking.

For most of the year, the Escalante River is a small stream, easily stepped across or waded. During spring runoff and the summer monsoon, however, the river can become a raging, muddy torrent ten to one hundred times bigger. In some years, the river can be run using kayaks or canoes (rafts are too large), but this requires both good timings — water which is too high or too low can make travel impossible, stranding boaters — and the willingness to portage boats several hundred vertical feet at the end of the trip.

[edit]
  • Hiker crossing the Escalante during spring floods in 2005.
    Hiker crossing the Escalante during spring floods in 2005.
  • Escalante River gorge upstream from its confluence with Boulder Creek. The Aquarius Plateau is visible on the skyline.
    Escalante River gorge upstream from its confluence with Boulder Creek. The Aquarius Plateau is visible on the skyline.
  • The Escalante River near Escalante, Utah
    The Escalante River near Escalante, Utah

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Heath, Steven H. (1997). "A Historical Sketch of the Scientific Exploration of the Region Containing the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument". Bureau of Land Management Science Symposium. Archived from the original on 2012-10-06. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  2. ^ Katieri Treimer, Site research report, site no. 916, Southwest Colorado, Earth Metrics Inc. and SRI International for Contel Systems and the U.S. Air Force 1989

References

[edit]
  • Peter Gurche (2011) In Search of Desert Beaver: An Assessment of Castor canadensis in the Lower Escalante River Watershed, Whitman College ; Summer-Fall 2011
  • Irvine, J. R., & West, N. E. (1979). Riparian tree species distribution and succession along the lower Escalante River, Utah. The Southwestern Naturalist, 331-346 (abstract)
  • Webb, R. H. (1985). http://arizona.openrepository.com/arizona/handle/10150/191094 Late Holocene flooding on the Escalante River], south-central Utah.
  • WEBB, R. H., & BAKER, V. R. (1987). Changes hydrologic conditions related to large floods on the Escalante River, south-central Utah. In International symposium on flood frequency and risk analyses (pp. 309–323).
  • Withers, K., & Mead, J. I. (1993). Late Quaternary vegetation and climate in the Escalante River basin on the central Colorado Plateau. Western North American Naturalist, 53(2), 145-161.
[edit]
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