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Grays River, Washington, looking upstream from near mouth.
Image taken April 9, 2004.
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Grays River ...
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Grays River originates in southeast Pacific County, Washington, and flows southwest through Wahkiakum County to its confluence with the Columbia River at River Mile (RM) 21. It enters Grays Bay north of the main channel shipping.
Deep River lies downstream of Grays River, and also enters Grays Bay. Miller Point divides the two.
Upstream of Grays River is Harrington Point and Pigeon Bluff. Downstream is Portuguese Point and Grays Point.
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Grays River, Washington, looking downstream from near mouth.
Image taken April 9, 2004.
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Early Grays River ...
Grays River Drainage ...
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The lower six miles of Grays River are a slough subject to tidal influence. Dikes have been constructed in this area to protect the low-lying land. The next six miles flow through a wide, flat valley before entering the steep foothills. Most of the upper watershed flows through steep narrow canyons in the rugged Willapa Hills. The entire basin encompasses 124 square miles.
A number of natural and man-made barriers to fish migration were removed in the early 1950s under the Columbia River Fisheries Development Program. Prior to 1952 an 8-foot cascade in a narrow canyon at Grays River Mile (RM) 13 was a barrier to most salmon. Steps were blasted in the falls in 1951 effectively opening the upper watershed to salmon. Falls were also modified on the East Fork Grays River, Mitchell and Hull creeks. Other projects included the removal of log jams and abandoned splash dams and construction of a salmon hatchery on the West Fork of the Grays River in 1960.
The geology in the Grays River subbasin is a mix of sedimentary and volcanics
in the western watersheds
(Information courtesy of Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority Website, 2004)
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Grays River, Washington, from near Rosburg, Washington.
Image taken April 9, 2004.
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Grays River Covered Bridge ...
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The Grays River Covered Bridge crossed the Grays River between Altoona and Rosburg. It was built in 1905 and covered in 1908. It is 148 feet long (other sources say 156 feet and 158 feet) and 14 feet wide, with two 9-foot "porches" on the ends. Construction is "Howe Truss framing". The bridge was restored in 1988-1989.
The Wahkiakum County Historical Society states that this is the last covered bridge in the State of Washington which is still used by a public highway.
The Grays River Covered Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 (Structure #71000880).
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Click image to enlarge
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Grays River Covered Bridge.
Image taken April 9, 2004.
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Click image to enlarge
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Grays River Covered Bridge.
Image taken April 9, 2004.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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Clark, November 8, 1805 ...
A Cloudy morning Some rain, we did not Set out untill 9 oClock [from their campsite near Pillar Rock], haveing Changed our Clothing- proceeded on Close under the Stard. Side, the hills high with Steep assent, Shore boald and rockey Several low Islands [islands of the Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge] in a Deep bend or Bay to the Lard Side [Cathlamet Bay], river about 5 or 7 miles wide. three Indians in a Canoe overtook us, with Salmon to Sell, passed 2 old villages on the Stard. Side [passing Altoona] and at 3 miles entered a nitch [Grays Bay. Harrington Point and Pigeon Bluff are the eastern end of Grays Bay where the explorers would first spot the Bay.] of about 6 miles wide and 5 miles deep with Several Creeks [Grays River, Deep River] makeing into the Stard Hills, this nitch [Grays Bay] we found verry Shallow water and Call it the Shallow <nitch> [Grays Bay] we came too at the remains of an old village at the bottom of this nitch and dined [Miller Point], here we Saw great numbers of fowl, Sent out 2 men and they killed a Goose and two Canves back Ducks here we found great numbers of flees which we treated with the greatest caution and distance; after Diner the Indians left us and we took the advantage of a returning tide and proceeded on to the Second point [Portuguese Point, just east of Grays Point, the first point being Rocky Point] on the Std. here we found the Swells or waves So high that we thought it imprudent to proceed; we landed unloaded and drew up our Canoes. Some rain all day at intervales; we are all wet and disagreeable, as we have been for Several days past, and our present Situation a verry disagreeable one in as much; as we have not leavel land Sufficient for an encampment and for our baggage to lie Cleare of the tide, the High hills jutting in So Close and Steep that we cannot retreat back, and the water of the river too Salt to be used, added to this the waves are increasing to Such a hight that we cannot move from this place, in this Situation we are compelled to form our Camp between the hite of the Ebb and flood tides, and rase our baggage on logs- We are not certain as yet if the whites people who trade with those people or from whome they precure ther goods are Stationary at the mouth, or visit this quarter at Stated times for the purpose of trafick &c. I believe the latter to be the most probable conjucture- The Seas roled and tossed the Canoes in Such a manner this evening that Several of our party were Sea Sick.
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