Fish the Skykomish River in Washington
for huge Salmon and Steelhead. Salmon:
The Skykomish River is a Washington river which
drains the west side of the Cascade Mountains in the southeast
section of Snohomish County and the northeast corner of King
County. The river starts with the confluence of the North Fork
of the Skykomish River and the South Fork of the Skykomish River
approximately one mile east of Index, Washington, then flowing
northwesterly towards Puget Sound. It is joined by the Sultan
River at Sultan, Washington. And then meets the Snoqualmie River
to form the Snohomish River at Monroe, Washington. The Snohomish
River continues along the river valley eventually dumping into
Port Gardner Bay on Possession Sound (part of Puget Sound).
United States Highway 2 and the BNSF Railway are routed to
follow the Skykomish River to Stevens Pass (which is located at
the headwaters of the Tye River, a tributary of the South Fork
of the Skykomish River) and the Cascade Tunnel (also along the
Tye River).
North Fork of the Skykomish River and the Skykomish South Fork.
North Fork Skykomish River
The headwaters of the North Fork Skykomish River
are located in the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness near Dishpan Gap
along the Pacific Crest Trail. It flows as a small stream off
the north slope of Skykomish Peak. The Wild Sky Wilderness
protects tributaries and forests adjacent to the North Fork
Skykomish, although not the river itself. The river flows
generally in a southwestern direction from its source to its
mouth. Just before picking up Goblin Creek, the river flows
through a short but impressive canyon and within that canyon the
river drops over Deer Falls. A short ways down from that, the
river flows through an even shorter but very twisted and
interestingly shaped canyon at Bear Creek Falls.
Tributaries of the North Fork
Pass Creek: Leads to Cady Pass.
Quartz Creek: Flows from Monte Cristo Peak, leads to Curry Gap.
Goblin Creek: Flows from Monte Cristo Peak.
West Cady Creek
Troublesome Creek: Flows from Monte Cristo Peak, through Blanca
Lake, to join the North Fork just below Bear Creek Falls.
Silver Creek: Rises near Silvertip Mountain and Poodle Dog Pass,
flows by Mineral City, joins North Fork just above Galena.
Salmon Creek: Joins North Fork just below Galena.
Common types of salmon are Chinook, king, sockeye, red,
Coho, silver, chum, dog, pink, humpy, upriver brights
and fall Chinook.
South Fork
Skykomish River
The South Fork
Skykomish River begins at the confluence of the Tye
River and the Foss River, to the east of Skykomish. From
the confluence the South Fork flows northwest. Near the
eastern boundary of the city of Skykomish, the Beckler
River joins it. To the west of the city of Skykomish,
the Miller River joins it. Shortly before converging
with the North Fork the river drops over Eagle Falls,
followed by Canyon Falls and then, finally, Sunset Falls
before its confluence with the North Fork.
Tributaries of
the South Fork
Beckler River:
Joins just below the river's source. Rapid River
Miller River: Joins at Miller River.
Money Creek: Joins the South Fork near Grotto.
Index Creek: Joins South Fork near Baring.
Barclay Creek
