Deschutes River (Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Deschutes River |
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Tumwater Falls of the Deschutes River, in the city of Tumwater
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Location of the mouth of the Deschutes River in Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Thurston, Lewis |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Cascade Range 46°41′0″N 122°26′17″W / 46.68333°N 122.43806°W |
| River mouth | Puget Sound 47°1′6″N 122°54′13″W / 47.01833°N 122.90361°W |
| Length | 50 mi (80 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 162 sq mi (420 km2) |
The Deschutes River is a 50-mile-long (80 km) river in the U.S. state of Washington. Its source is in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Lewis County, and it empties into Budd Inlet of Puget Sound at Olympia in Thurston County. It was given its name by French fur traders, who called it Rivière des Chutes, or "River of the Falls", a translation of the First Nations name for the site. (The city of Tumwater, founded in the same location, takes its name from the Chinook Jargon translation for "waterfall".)
Tributaries of the river include Spurgeon Creek, Thurston Creek and Lake Lawrence. There are numerous parks along its course, including Pioneer Park and Tumwater Falls Park. A popular tubing stretch runs from Pioneer Park to Tumwater Falls.
