Mowich River
| Mowich River | |
| South Mowich River | |
| River | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Washington |
| County | Pierce |
| Tributaries | |
| - left | Rushingwater Creek |
| - right | North Mowich River |
| Source | Mount Rainier |
| - location | South Mowich Glacier |
| - elevation | 7,000 ft (2,134 m) |
| - coordinates | 46°52′19″N 121°49′34″W / 46.87194°N 121.82611°W |
| Mouth | Puyallup River |
| - elevation | 1,680 ft (512 m) |
| - coordinates | 46°54′2″N 122°1′49″W / 46.90056°N 122.03028°WCoordinates: 46°54′2″N 122°1′49″W / 46.90056°N 122.03028°W |
| Length | 30 mi (48 km) |
 The Mowich River is shown highlighted on a map of the Puyallup RIver watershed
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The Mowich River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. Its watershed drains a portion of the western side of Mount Rainier, part of the Cascade Range. The river has two main headwater branches, the South Mowich River and the North Mowich River. The South Mowich is significantly larger and sometimes considered the main river. The Mowich and its tributaries drain several of Mount Rainier's glaciers. The upper portion of its watershed is contained within Mount Rainier National Park. The river flows into the Puyallup River in the foothills west of Mount Rainier.
The name "Mowich" come from the Chinook Jargon word for "deer". Originally used for Mowich Lake, the name was later applied to the river and the glacier.
Meltwater from Mount Rainier's Edmunds Glacier, South Mowich Glacier, and North Mowich Glacier feed the north and south branches of the Mowich River. Other rivers originate in glaciers just south and north of the Mowich River's glaciers. To the south, the Puyallup Glacier gives rise to the Puyallup River, while to the north the Carbon Glacier creates the Carbon River.
The South Mowich River's headwater tributaries flow around a highland called Jeanette Heights. The river, having been formed by meltwater from the South Mowich and Edmunds Glacier, flows northwest for several miles. Several (all unnamed) glacier-fed streams gather into the South Mowich River on its way to its confluence with the North Mowich. The two join just inside the western boundary of Mount Rainier National Park.
Another highland, the plateau-like Sunset Park lies just southwest of the South Mowich River. The Wonderland Trail passes through Sunset Park and descends into the valley of the South Mowich River, crossing it just above the confluence of the south and north branches. The Wonderland Trail then crosses the North Mowich River and climbs to Mowich Lake and another highland area called Spray Park.
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Wikipedia