# Cispus River > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cispus_River > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cispus_River.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cispus_River > Source revision: 1320239563 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|River in Lewis and Skamania counties, Washington state}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox river | name = Cispus River | native_name = | native_name_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology = | image = VIEW OF UPSTREAM ELEVATION OF BRIDGE, LOOKING SOUTHWEST BY 245 DEGREES - Cispus Valley Bridge, Spanning Cispus River at Forest Service Road 2306, Randle, Lewis County, WA HAER WASH,21-RAND,2-2.tif | image_caption = Bridge at Forest Service Road 2306 | image_size = 300 | map = | map_size = 300 | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Washington#USA | pushpin_map_size = 300 | pushpin_map_caption= Location of the mouth of the Cispus River in Washington | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = United States | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = [Washington](/source/Washington_(state)) | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = County | subdivision_name4 = [Lewis](/source/Lewis_County%2C_Washington), [Skamania](/source/Skamania_County%2C_Washington) | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = | length = {{convert|54|mi|km|abbr=on}}{{cite web|author=United States Geological Survey|title=United States Topographic Map|publisher=TopoQuest|url= http://www.topoquest.com/map.php?lat=46.494722&lon=-121.429167&datum=nad83&zoom=4|accessdate=January 27, 2013}} [River mile](/source/River_mile)s are marked and numbered on the relevant map quadrangles. | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= [river mile](/source/river_mile) 17.4 near [Randle](/source/Randle%2C_Washington){{cite web |title= Water Resources Data-Washington Water Year 2005; Cowlitz River Basin; 14231900 Cispus River above Yellowjacket Creek, near Randle, WA| publisher = United States Geological Survey |url= https://pubs.usgs.gov/wdr/2005/wdr-wa-05-1/pdf/wa00103ADR2005_Figure70.pdf |accessdate = 2009-06-01}} | discharge1_min = {{convert|165|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}} | discharge1_avg = {{convert|1001|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}{{cite web |title= Water Resources Data-Washington Water Year 2005; Cowlitz River Basin; 14231900 Cispus River above Yellowjacket Creek, near Randle, WA| publisher = United States Geological Survey |url= https://pubs.usgs.gov/wdr/2005/wdr-wa-05-1/pdf/wa00103ADR2005_Figure70.pdf |accessdate = 2009-06-01}} | discharge1_max = {{convert|9800|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}} | source1 = [Goat Rocks Wilderness](/source/Goat_Rocks_Wilderness) | source1_location = [Cascade Range](/source/Cascade_Range) | source1_coordinates= {{coord|46|29|41|N|121|25|45|W|display=inline}}{{GNIS|1517793|Cispus River}} | source1_elevation = | mouth = [Cowlitz River](/source/Cowlitz_River) | mouth_location = [Lake Scanewa](/source/Lake_Scanewa) | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|46|28|35|N|122|5|39|W|display=inline,title}}{{GNIS|1517792|Cispus River}} | mouth_elevation = {{convert|833|ft|abbr=on}} | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }} The '''Cispus River''' is about {{convert|54|mi|km}} long and flows into the [Cowlitz River](/source/Cowlitz_River) at [Lake Scanewa](/source/Lake_Scanewa) in the [Cascade Range](/source/Cascade_Range) of [Washington](/source/Washington_(state)).{{cite web|title=Cowlitz Falls Project|url=http://www.lcpud.org/cowlitzfallsproject.html|publisher=Lewis County Public Utility District|accessdate=January 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929135743/http://lcpud.org/cowlitzfallsproject.html|archive-date=September 29, 2013|url-status=dead}} Its tributaries drain most of south-central and southeastern [Lewis County](/source/Lewis_County%2C_Washington), extreme northeast [Skamania County](/source/Skamania_County%2C_Washington), and some of western [Yakima County](/source/Yakima_County%2C_Washington). ==History== Indigenous residents on the Cispus River were known as the cispaclama.{{cite news |last1=Rochon Wilson |first1=Roy I. |title=Where and How the Cowlitz Lived |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/roy-i-rochon-wilson-commentary-where-and-how-the-cowlitz-lived,128619? |access-date=July 3, 2025 |work=The Chronicle |date=August 31, 2012}} The river was the location of a site known to the [Upper Cowlitz](/source/Cowlitz_people) tribe as "Yuyutla". Translated as "person who shouts", the location was used by various other Native American groups in the region for thousands of years. Archeological studies started in the late 20th century provided evidence of tool building and hunting at the site which is thought to be located near Randle on a trail leading from a nearby campground. Research also included the find of a long-serving communal shelter and work site at [Layser Cave](/source/Layser_Cave).{{cite news |last1=Emerson |first1=Amy |title=Digging up the past: East Lewis County man preserves ancient heritage of Gifford Pinchot National Forest |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/digging-up-the-past-east-lewis-county-man-preserves-ancient-heritage-of-gifford-pinchot-national,252254? |access-date=July 8, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=May 3, 2003}}{{cite news |last1=Rose |first1=Buddy |title=Barrier-free trail |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/barrier-free-trail,231901? |access-date=July 8, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=April 15, 2005}} German settlers in the mid-1800s founded the homestead community of Rhine, named after the [river in Germany](/source/Rhine), which was located on the river near Cowlitz Falls. The community, which became a [ghost town](/source/ghost_town), renamed itself to Cispus.{{cite news |title=Rhine After German River |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1953/06-06/page-91 |access-date=August 2, 2024 |date=June 6, 1953 |page=3D}} The name is from a mythical Upper Cowlitz warrior.{{cite news |last1=Rochon Wilson |first1=Roy I. |title=History of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/roy-i-rochon-wilson-history-of-the-cowlitz-indian-tribe,133536? |access-date=March 31, 2025 |work=The Chronicle |date=July 13, 2012}} ==Course== The [main stem](/source/main_stem) begins in Lewis County in a high, glacial valley to the north of [Snowgrass Flats](/source/Snowgrass_Flats) in the [Goat Rocks Wilderness](/source/Goat_Rocks_Wilderness), located on the [Gifford Pinchot National Forest](/source/Gifford_Pinchot_National_Forest). From here the river flows in a looped, southwesterly direction into [Skamania County](/source/Skamania_County%2C_Washington) and takes on the waters of several important headwater tributaries such as Walupt Creek.{{cite book |last1=Hitchman |first1=Robert |title=Place Names Of Washington |date=1985 |publisher=[Washington State Historical Society](/source/Washington_State_Historical_Society) |isbn=0917048571 |page=49 |url=https://archive.org/details/placenamesofwash0000hitc/page/48 |access-date=June 4, 2025}}{{Citation needed|reason=Further sources needed to verify details such as Snowgrass Flats and Waulpt Creek|date=June 2025}} About {{convert|40|mi|km}} from its [mouth](/source/river_mouth), the Cispus River receives Muddy Fork from the [left](/source/%3Awikt%3Aleft_bank). Muddy Fork starts {{convert|7|mi|km}} from this junction, at [Mount Adams](/source/Mount_Adams_(Washington))' Lava Glacier and is named for the glacial debris and silt in the water which give the river a muddy appearance. The Cispus River flows through a heavily forested valley, much of the forest regrown after the [Cispus Burn](/source/Cispus_Burn), which occurred the first decade of the 20th century and consumed most of the lower drainage.{{Citation needed|reason=Sourcing outside of map reference needed|date=June 2025}} The rushing Canyon Creek enters the river originating high on the slopes of [Mount Adams](/source/Mount_Adams_(Washington)). A few miles down the North Fork Cispus enters the main branch about {{convert|20|mi|km}} from its start. From here on, the Cispus River flows westerly, passing campgrounds and trails in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Two tributaries, Yellowjacket and McCoy Creeks, flow into the river from the south about midway though its course. Beyond here, the river passes beneath Tower Rock, a prominent quartz diorite monolith on the south side of the river. Soon after this the river leaves the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and enters the [Weyerhaeuser](/source/Weyerhaeuser) Cowlitz Tree Farm. The Cispus River ends its course entering the Cowlitz River at [Lake Scanewa](/source/Cowlitz_Falls_Dam), just upstream from Cowlitz Falls and [Riffe Lake](/source/Riffe_Lake) near the flooded town of [Kosmos](/source/Kosmos%2C_Washington).{{Citation needed|reason=Further sources needed to provide verification for details in most of paragraph|date=June 2025}} ==Ecology and environment== The watershed is populated by hundreds of trees known as "[basket trees](/source/Basket)", where the bark was used by indigenous people to create a variety of containers. Near Randle, the Cispus watershed contains [old-growth](/source/old-growth) Douglas fir forests, hosting trees up to 600-years old. Other timber species include alder, cedar, hemlock, and maple. There is a stream flow monitoring station on the river which sends its data live to the [United States Geological Survey](/source/United_States_Geological_Survey) (USGS). ==Parks and recreation== The Cispus is host to the Cowlitz Falls Park, a day use area situated near its junction with Lake Scanewa.{{cite news |last1=Rose |first1=Buddy |title=Coho bring anglers to Lake Scanewa |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/coho-bring-anglers-to-lake-scanewa,236526? |access-date=February 7, 2024 |work=[The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington)](/source/The_Chronicle_(Centralia%2C_Washington)) |date=October 29, 2004}} [Whitewater rafting](/source/Rafting) also takes place on the Cispus River. ==See also== * [List of geographic features in Lewis County, Washington](/source/List_of_geographic_features_in_Lewis_County%2C_Washington) * [List of Washington rivers](/source/List_of_Washington_rivers) * [List of tributaries of the Columbia River](/source/List_of_tributaries_of_the_Columbia_River) ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [https://wa.water.usgs.gov/realtime/htmls/cowlitz.html USGS map showing Cispus River] * [https://waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/uv?station=14231900 Water flow on the Cispus River] * {{GNIS|1523758|North Fork Cispus River}} {{authority control}} Category:Rivers of Washington (state) Category:Rivers of Lewis County, Washington Category:Rivers of Skamania County, Washington Category:Rivers of Yakima County, Washington Category:Mount Adams (Washington) Category:Gifford Pinchot National Forest Category:Midway High Lakes Area Category:Geography of Skamania County, Washington Category:Goat Rocks --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cispus River](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cispus_River) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cispus_River?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.