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Willamette River and the St. Johns Bridge.
View from Cathedral Park.
Image taken November 28, 2011.
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On April 2, 1806, Captain Clark left camp near Washougal, Washington, and explored 6 miles up the Willamette River, camping the night just downstream of the St. Johns Bridge.
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Willamette River ...
Willamette River Basin ...
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The Willamette River Basin is the largest watershed in the state of Oregon, covering more than 11,500 square miles (12 percent of the state of Oregon), and lies between the Coast Range to the west and the Cascade Range to the east. The basin is about 180 miles long and 100 miles wide.
Thirteen major tributaries join the Willamette River (one being the Clackamas River) as it stretches nearly 300 miles from its headwaters at Waldo Lake in the Cascade Mountains (southeast of Eugene) to the confluence with the Columbia River at Kelley Point. Along the way it passes through forest, farmland, small towns, and large cities. The Willamette is the 13th largest river in the conterminous United States in terms of streamflow. The mainstem Willamette begins at the confluence of the Middle Fork Willamette River and the Coast Fork Willamette River, is 187 miles long, and has a drop of nearly 430 feet. Seventeen miles flows through Oregon's major city, Portland.
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Willamette River Valley ...
The northern two-thirds of the Willamette Valley is underlain by the Columbia River Basalt Group which flooded over southern Washington and northern Oregon around 15 million years ago.
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Willamette River Valley and the Missoula Floods ...
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Between 80,000 years ago and 10,000 years ago ice sheets covered much of North America, including Northern Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Towards the end of this glaciation a large ice dam blocked the Clark Fork River in the Idaho Panhandle, creating "Glacial Lake Missoula". This lake was a massive lake 2,000 feet deep filling the valleys of western Montana, stretching eastward more than 200 miles and, at its maximum height and extent, contained more than 500 cubic miles of water. Periodically the ice dam would fail, resulting in a large catastrophic flood of ice- and dirt-filled water which rushed across northern Idaho and eastern and central Washington, down the Columbia River, through the Columbia River Gorge, and finally poured into the Pacific Ocean at the mouth of the Columbia River.
The constriction at Kalama, Washington, and Prescott, Oregon, created a backwater lake, known as "Lake Allison". This lake filled the Willamette River Valley as far as Eugene, Oregon, over 100 miles away, with a measured height of 400 feet at Oregon City and an estimated height of 380 feet at Eugene. The area covered was approximately 3,000 square miles. The flood waters dumped thick layers of Palouse Silt, making the Willamette Valley one of the most fertile agricultural lands in the country.
[More]
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Willamette River at Oregon City, as seen from Interstate 205.
Heading south on Interstate 205, looking at the "Oregon City Gap", a constriction along the Missoula Floods path entering the Willamette Valley.
Image taken June 2, 2018.
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Glacial Erratic, Willamette River Valley near McMinnville, Oregon.
Image taken January 11, 2013
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Lewis and Clark and the Willamette River ...
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In 1805, Lewis and Clark were unaware of this river on their journey to the Pacific, although they suspected its existance. On their draft map [Moulton, v.1, map#88] they have the river drawn in with the label "Supposed River". On their return journey in 1806, Captain William Clark journeys up the Willamette as far as today's
Cathedral Park and the St. Johns Bridge. Lewis and Clark called the Willamette the "Multnomah River".
On April 2, 1806, Captain Clark wrote:
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"... about this time Several Canoes of the nativs arived at our Camp among others two from below with Eight men of the Shah-ha-la Nation those men informed us that they reside on the opposit Side of the Columbia near Some pine trees which they pointed to in the bottom South of the Dimond Island, they Singled out two young men whome they informed us lited at the Falls of a large river which discharges itself into the Columbia on it's South Side Some Miles below us. we readily provailed on them to give us a Sketch of this river which they drew on a Mat with a coal, it appeared that this river which they Call Mult-no'-mah discharged itself behind the Island we call the image Canoe island, and as we had left this Island to the South both in decending & assending the river we had never Seen it. they informed us that it was a large river and runs a Considerable distance to the South between the Mountains. I deturmined to take a Small party and return to this river and examine its Size and Collect as much information of the nativs on it or near its enterance into the Columbia of its extent, the Country which it waters and the nativs who inhabit its banks &c. I took with me Six Men. Thompson J. Potts, Peter Crusat, P. Wiser, T. P. Howard, Jos. Whitehouse & my man York in a large Canoe, with an Indian whome I hired for a Sun glass to accompany me as a pilot. ..."
[Captain Clark, April 2, 1806]
On April 3, 1806, Captain Clark wrote:
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"... The enterance of Multnomah river is 142 miles up the Columbia river from its enterance into the Pacific Ocean ... "
[Clark, April 3, 1806]
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Mouth of the Willamette River (entering from left behind pilings), as seen from Kelley Point Park.
Image taken September 13, 2003.
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Looking across the Columbia River towards the mouth of the Willamette River, Oregon, as seen from Blurock Landing, Washington.
Image taken July 2, 2003.
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Captain Clark's Journey up the Willamette ...
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On April 2, 1806, Captain Clark and seven men left the main camp near Washougal, Washington, and explored 6 miles up the Willamette River.
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"... The Current of the Multnomar is as jentle as that of the Columbia glides Smoothly with an eavin surface, and appears to be Sufficiently deep for the largest Ship. I attempted fathom it with a Cord of 5 fathom which was the only Cord I had, could not find bottom ? of the distance across. I proceeded up this river 10 miles from it's enterance into the Columbia to a large house on the N E. Side and Encamped near the house, the flees being So noumerous in the house that we could not Sleep in it. ..."
[Clark, April 2, 1806]
They spent the night downstream of today's
Cathedral Park and St. Johns Bridge, near the Port of Portland's Terminal 4. The next day they explored another two miles upstream before turning around and heading back to camp.
[More]
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Cathedral Park and St. Johns Bridge, on the Willamette River.
Image taken November 20, 2005.
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Boat ramp, Willamette River at Cathedral Park, St. Johns, Oregon.
Image taken November 28, 2011.
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Five Volcanoes ...
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On April 2, 1806, as Captain Clark began his journey up the Willamette River, he wrote:
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"... from the enterance of this river, I can plainly See Mt. Jefferson which is high and Covered with snow S.E. Mt. Hood East, Mt St. Helians a high humped Mountain to the East of Mt St. Helians. I also Saw the Mt. Raneer Nearly North ..."
[Clark, April 2, 1806]
The "high humped Mountain to the East of Mt St. Helians" is Mount Adams.
Today, the five Cascade Range volcanoes can be seen throughout this stretch of the river, including
Kelley Point Park (south side of the mouth of the Willamette River), Sauvie Island (north side of the mouth of the Willamette), and Blurock Landing (Washington side of the Columbia, directly across from the mouth of the Willamette).
[More]
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Mount Hood, Oregon, from Kelley Point, Oregon, at the mouth of the Willamette River.
Image taken September 13, 2003.
"... Mt. Hood East ..."
[Clark, November 2, 1806]
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Early Willamette River ...
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In 1792,
Lieutenant Broughton on his exploration of the Columbia River called the Willamette River the "River Munnings".
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"... they passed ... a small river leading to the southwestward; and half a mile further on the same shore came to a larger one that took a more southerly course. The entrance of the latter, about a quarter of a mile in width, are two small woody islets; the ajacent country extending from its banks presented a most beautiful appearance. This river Mr. Broughton distinguished by the name of River Munnings. Its southern point of entrance, situated in latitude 45o 39', longitude 237o 21', commanded a most delightful prospect of the surrounding region, and obtained the name of Belle Vue Point ..."
[Broughton/Vancouver, October 29, 1792]
In 1806 Lewis and Clark called the Willamette the "Multnomah River", a name which was to appear on many early maps.
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"... The Current of the Multnomar is as jentle as that of the Columbia glides Smoothly with an eavin surface, and appears to be Sufficiently deep for the largest Ship. I attempted fathom it with a Cord of 5 fathom which was the only Cord I had, could not find bottom ? of the distance across. I proceeded up this river 10 miles from it's enterance into the Columbia to a large house on the N E. Side and Encamped near the house, the flees being So noumerous in the house that we could not Sleep in it. ..."
[Clark, April 2, 1806]
The meaning of the word "Willamette" is not known, but according to Oregon Geographic Names (McArthur and McArthur, 2003) one historian stated the name means "spill water" and was applied to the river above Willamette Falls.
In 1811 explorer David Thompson used "Wilarmet" for the river. Later, explorer Ross Cox used "Wallamet" and "Wallamut", while Alexander Ross used "Wallamitte". Various other spellings were also used in the early years.
The 1825 map of the Hudson's Bay Company called "Columbia River, Surveyed 1825" (printed 1826), called today's Multnomah Channel "Willamitte Riv.". "Chenow's Village" is shown located on it's western bank where the the Multnomah Channel merges with the Columbia. Today this area is a part of the community of St. Helens. The upper mouth of the river (today called the Willamette River) is depicted as two small channels with presumably an island between them. The eastern/southern point of the furthest east channel is labeled "Belle Vue Pt.".
In 1838 the "Map of the United States Territory of Oregon West of the Rocky Mountains,
Exhibiting the various Trading Depots or Forts occupied by the British
Hudson Bay Company, connected with the Western and northwestern Fur
Trade. Compiled in the Bureau of Topographical Engineers, from the
latest authorities, under the direction of Col. J.J. Abert, by Wash: Hood."
had the river labeled "Multnomah or Willamet R."
with the upper Willamette River labeled "Walla Matte R.".
In 1841 Charles Wilkes of the U.S. Exploring Expedition uses the name "Willamette". He notes the islands at the mouth of the Willamette River.
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"... The scenery before reaching the lower mouth of the Willamette, is diversified with high and low land, which, together with three lofty snowy peaks, afford many fine views. The country begins to open here, and is much better adapted to agriculture than that lower down. ..."
[Wilkes, May 1841]
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"...
the upper mouth of the Willamette, which flows into the Columbia, between Billy Bruce and Johnson's Islands. From this point, the river takes a bend to the southeast
..."
[Wilkes, Chapter XVII]
An 1854 cadastral survey (tax survey) for T2N R1W showed two islands at the mouth of the Willamette River. The island on the north side of the mouth of the Willamette would eventually merge with Sauvie Island and would become today's Belle Vue Point. The island on the south side of the mouth of the Willamette when merged with mainland Oregon would become
Kelley Point. The map also shows a small island off of the Kelley Point island which also would become part of Kelley Point, and a second small island in the slough separating the Kelley Point island from mainland Oregon, which would become part of mainland Oregon.
An 1888 U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Chart "Columbia River Sheet No.6, Fales Landing to Portland" has the same four islands, with sand bars in the sloughs separating the islands from land. The mouth of the Willamette River runs between the islands. "Coon I." was the island off of Sauvie Island, "Pearcy's Island" was the island which was to become Kelley Point and "Pearcy's Slough" separated the island from mainland Oregon. "Ramsey's I." was the small island in the slough and "Nigger Tom I." was the small island off of Pearcy's Island which would later become part of Kelley Point.
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Willamette River in 1858 ...
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From the 1858 U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey's "Coast Pilot":
"From the Cowlitz the next course of the Columbia is SE. 2/3 S. for 27 miles to the mouth of the Willamette river (A corruption of the Indian name. This stream is the Multnomah of Lewis and Clark.), about 16 miles above the Cowlitz. The Warrior branch or slough of the river makes in from the west side and runs around Multnomah island, coming into the Willamette two miles above its mouth. The Willamette continues the same general course of the Columbia for 16 miles to the falls, where is situated the town of "Oregon City," destined to become a place of importance, on account of the extensive water power; the river there falling perpendicularly 38 or 40 feet. Six miles lower down on the Willamette is the rapidly improving town of Portland, situated at the head of ship navigation, with a population of nearly 5,000. The valley of the Willamette is well settled, contains several thriving towns, and is remarkably productive. The course of the river is southward, gradually approaching the coast within 25 miles, in the latitude of Cape Perpetua. In latitude 44o it runs eastward to the base of the Cascade range, which rises between the snow peaks of Mount Jefferson and Mount McLaughlin."
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The "Warrior branch or slough of the river" is the Multnomah Channel and "Multnomah island" is today's Sauvie Island.
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Along the Willamette River
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- Willamette River Mile (RM) 0 ... Mouth ...
- Willamette River Mile (RM) 0 ... Willamette River Lighthouse ...
- RM 3.5 ... Head of Multnomah Channel (upstream tip Sauvie Island) ...
- RM 5 ... Port of Portland's Terminal 4 and Linnton, Oregon ...
- RM 6 ... St.Johns, Cathedral Park, and the St. Johns' Bridge ...
- RM 8 to 10 ... Swan Island ...
- RM 11 ... Fremont Bridge and Broadway Bridge ...
- RM 12.5 ... Sternwheeler "Portland" and the Oregon Maritime Museum ...
- RM 24.5 ... Goat Island ...
- RM 25 ... Clackamas River ...
- RM 25 to 27 ... Oregon City and the two Bridges ...
- RM 27 ... Willamette Falls ...
- RM 27 ... Oregon City Water Gap ...
- RM 28.5 ... Tualatin River ...
- RM 34.5 ... Canby Ferry ...
- RM 36 ... Molalla River ...
- RM 67 (approximate) ... Glacial Erratic ...
- RM 75 (approximate) ... Willamette Valley Missoula Flood Deposits ...
- RM 84 ... Salem, Oregon ...
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RM 0 ... Mouth ...
Click image to enlarge
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Mouth of the Willamette River, Oregon, as seen from Blurock Landing, Washington.
Kelley Point is treed area on the on the left and Sauvie Island's Belle Vue Point is treed area on the right. Drainage in foreground is Vancouver Lake's flushing channel.
Image taken July 1, 2009.
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RM 0 ... Willamette River Lighthouse ...
In 1895 a lighthouse was constructed near today's Kelley Point where the Willamette River met the Columbia. In 1935 the lighthouse was electrified and no longer needed keepers to light the lantern or ring the fog bell. It was sold and moved during the 1940s and burned during the 1950s.
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Columbia River - Willamette River Lighthouse, ca.1910.
Image scanned from notecard purchased in 2006.
In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
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RM 3.5 ... Head of Multnomah Channel (upstream end of Sauvie Island) ...
RM 5 ... Port of Portland's Terminal 4 and Linnton, Oregon ...
Click image to enlarge
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Linnton, Oregon.
View from moving car on Oregon Highway 30.
Image taken March 19, 2006.
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RM 6 ... St. Johns, Cathedral Park, and the St. Johns Bridge ...
On April 2 and April 3, 1806, Captain Clark explored the Willamette River, reaching the location of today's St. Johns Bridge and Cathedral Park, before turning around and heading back to the main camp.
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St. Johns Bridge.
Cathedral Park lies underneath the St. Johns Bridge. On April 3, 1806, Captain Clark explored the Willamette River upstream as far as the St. Johns Bridge.
Image taken November 20, 2005.
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Double-crested Cormorant, Willamette River at Cathedral Park, St. Johns, Oregon.
Image taken November 28, 2011.
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RM 8 to 10 ... Swan Island ...
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According to "Oregon Geographic Names" (McArthur and McArthur, 2003, Oregon Historical Society Press):
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"The origin of this name is obvious, but the compiler has been unable to find out by whom the name was applied. The island was charted by Wilkes in the atlas accompanying U.S. Exploring Expedition, v.23, Hydrography, as Willow Island, but the name has not persisted. ... Despite the fact that the land is no longer an island, the name Swan Island is firmly and affectionately fixed in the public mind. In the 1930s, the Portland Airport was on Swan Island. It was moved, and the island was a site of a major shipyard during World War II. It is now a major industrial area and the location of the Port of Portland drydock complex. ... From 1943 to 1954, there was a Swan Island contractt station post office."
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RM 11 ... Fremont Bridge and Broadway Bridge ...
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Mount Hood, the Willamette River, and Portland, Oregon, as seen from the Fremont Bridge.
View looking south, from the lower deck of the Fremont Bridge.
Image taken June 10, 2012.
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Broadway Bridge, Portland, Oregon.
Image taken September 24, 2006.
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RM 12.5 ... Sternwheeler "Portland" and the Oregon Maritime Museum ...
The last steamboat race on the Columbia River was between the "Henderson" and the "Portland". The two steamboats raced between Portland, Oregon, and Rooster Rock as part of the promotion for the 1952 motion picture Bend of the River, staring James Stewart. The "Henderson" won the race but blew a gasket doing it. In the film the steamer "River Queen" is played by the "Henderson".
The sternwheeler "Portland" is now docked on the Willamette River at the Portland, Oregon waterfront (Willamette River Mile 12.5), and is home to the "Oregon Maritime Museum".
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"The Portland is the last steam-powered, sternwheel tugboat to be built in the United States. The Port of Portland took delivery on August 29, 1947 and she immediately went into service. The Portland assisted ships to dock, turn and pass through the narrow bridge spans on the Willamette River. Her massive rudders and backing power were essential for moving loaded ocean-going ships.
When you visit the steamer Portland today, you see the result of more than a million dollars worth of volunteer labor over 15 years to restore the steamer Portland. The deckhouse is rebuilt, and new systems are installed. The boat comes alive again when the sternwheel rotates and the sound of the whistle fills the valley!
The Portland is the last operating sternwheel steam towboat in the United States.
The Past:
1946 | The Port of Portland realized the need to replace the wooden hulled, sternwheeled tug Portland that had served the area from 1919. A diesel-powered screw tug was initially proposed, but the Columbia River Pilots Association wanted another sternwheeled tug. They depended on the power and unusual ship handling ability only sternwheeled tugs could deliver at the time. The pilots prevailed.
1947 | On February 3, the keel was laid at Northwest Marine Iron Works and the new Portland took shape.
1981 | After almost 30 years of service in and around the Portland harbor, the stately Portland yielded the harbor to diesel-powered youngsters. The Port of Portland faced economic realities, and decided to retire the labor-intensive steam tugboat in 1981.
The Port Commission was reluctant to send her to the ship breakers and tried in vain to sell her to commercial interests. She sat some years at Terminal One, quietly rusting. Her wheelhouse and 'Texas' house were removed and rested on the dock. Her wooden superstructure rotted away down to the steel housing of her machinery space. The powerful sternwheel dried and cracked where exposed and the underwater surface grew long tendrils of marine plants.
1991 | The sad remains of the once-proud Portland were deeded to the Oregon Maritime Museum. With funds from Meyer Memorial Trust, Murdock Charitable Trust and the Port of Portland, a group of dedicated volunteers began restoration of the last steam powered sternwheel tug. The work is never-ending, and the results are well worth the effort. Today, the steamer Portland gleams inside and out."
Source:
Oregon Maritime Museum website, 2011.
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Sternwheeler "Portland", now the home to the Oregon Maritime Museum.
Willamette River, Portland, Oregon.
Image taken February 14, 2009.
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Sternwheeler "Portland", now the home to the Oregon Maritime Museum.
Willamette River, Portland, Oregon.
Image taken February 14, 2009.
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Click image to enlarge
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Sternwheeler "Portland", now the home to the Oregon Maritime Museum.
Willamette River, Portland, Oregon.
Image taken February 14, 2009.
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RM 24.5 ... Goat Island ...
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Goat Island lies in the Willamette River at the mouth of the Clackamas River. In 1841 Charles Wilkes of the U.S. Exploring Expedition called the Island "Goat Island".
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"The course of the Willamette and its branch is serpentine. Its lower reach is to the south 3 miles; thence it turns to the southeast 6 miles, to Willow Island [Swan Island]; again south 5 miles, to the Oak Island [Ross Island], varying beyond them for 3 miles to the southward and eastward, where it makes an elbow to the southward and westward of 3 miles; thence a south-southeast course of 4 miles to Goat Island [Goat Island], at the mouth of the Klackamus [Clackamas River]; it then turns to the southwest, 1 mile to the falls [Willamette Falls]."
The U.S. Board of Geographic Names database (2018) says:
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"Goats were placed on the island to consume vegitation so that the island would not cause visual hinderance to steamboat captains passing through the rough rapids on either side of the island."
Previous names for the island were "Clackamette Island" and "Goose Island". In 1994 the U.S. Board of Geographic Names made "Goat Island" official.
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RM 25 ... Clackamas River ...
The Clackamas River is an 83-mile-long tributary to the Willamette River and enters the Willamette at RM 25 north of Oregon City and south of Gladstone. Clackamette Park is located on the Clackamas River's left bank and Meldrum Bar and Dahl Parks are located on its right bank.
[More]
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Willamette River and Clackamette Park, Oregon.
Image taken February 10, 2016.
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Mouth of the Clackamas River as seen from Dahl Park, Oregon.
The Willamette River is on the right with the Abernethy Bridge visible.
Image taken February 10, 2016.
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Willamette River just downstream of the mouth of the Clackamas River, as seen from Dahl Park, Oregon.
Image taken February 10, 2016.
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Willamette River looking downstream, as seen from Dahl Park, Oregon.
Image taken February 10, 2016.
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RM 25 to 27 ... Oregon City and the two Bridges ...
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Oregon City is located along the Willamette River between River Miles (RM) 25 to 27.
Oregon City's first bridge crossing the Willamette River between Oregon City and West Linn was a suspension bridge, the first suspension bridge built west of the Mississippi. This bridge was erected in 1888 and opened for traffic in 1889. In 1922 it was replaced by a concrete "Arch Bridge". This new bridge, designed by engineer Conde McCullough, is in place today and is located at RM 26. It is 745 foot long, 28 foot wide, and rises 49 feet above the river, and is the southernmost of the Willamette River Bridges in the Portland area.
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"...
The Willamette River Bridge at Oregon City is a 745-foot structure consisting of a 360-foot steel through arch and eleven concrete deck girder approach spans. The steel arch span is protected from corrosion by encasement in sprayed-on concrete (Gunite), which gives it the appearance of a concrete structure. The detailing--obelisk-shaped pylons, ornate bridge railing, arched fascia curtain walls, fluted Art-Deco main piers, cantilevered sidewalks, ornate balustrade railings and the use of bush-hammered inset panels--identify this structure as a Conde B. McCullough and contributes to the significance of the structure. ..."
[Oregon State Department of Transportation website, 2006]
The new Oregon City bridge opened in 1922 with a dedication called "Wedding of Two Cities", a celebration which included a bridge queen, parade, and even a wedding held at the center span.
The "Willamette River (Oregon City) Bridge (No.357), also known as the "Oregon City Bridge", was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 (Architecture/Engineering, #05000639).
The six-lane Abernethy Bridge opened in 1970 and carries Interstate 205 traffic across the Willamette River between Oregon City and West Linn. The bridge was named for George Abernethy, the first governor of Oregon under the provisional Oregon government. Abernethy was elected in 1845 and re-elected in 1847. His administration technically ended in 1848 when Oregon received territorial status and President Polk appointed General Joseph Lane as the first official territorial governor. The Abernethy Bridge is located at RM 25.5.
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Oregon City Bridge across the Willamette River, with the Abernethy Bridge in the background, Oregon City, Oregon.
The arched bridge connects Oregon City with West Linn, Oregon. The Abernethy Bridge carries Interstate 205 traffic over the Willamette River. View from the Oregon City side of the Willamette River.
Image taken February 19, 2006.
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Oregon City Bridge across the Willamette River, Oregon.
The Bridge connects Oregon City with West Linn, Oregon. View from West Linn.
Image taken February 19, 2006.
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George Abernethy Bridge across the Willamette River, Oregon.
The Bridge connects Oregon City with West Linn, Oregon. View from Oregon City.
Image taken January 8, 2015.
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RM 27 ... Willamette Falls ...
The
Willamette Falls are located at Willamette River Mile (RM) 26, at Oregon City, Oregon, where the Willamette River spills about 40 feet over horseshoe-shaped basalt ridge.
Lewis and Clark make many references to the "falls of the Multnomah" and the Indian tribe which lived there.
[More]
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Willamette Falls and Mount Hood.
Willamette Falls and Oregon City, with Mount Hood in the distance, as seen from the Willamette Falls overlook off of Interstate 205.
Image taken February 19, 2006.
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Willamette River looking upstream from the Oregon City Bridge, Oregon.
Willamette Falls can be seen on the left and the downstream end of the Willamette Locks can be seen on the right.
Image taken February 19, 2006.
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RM 27 ... Oregon City Water Gap ...
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The Missoula Floods hit a constriction at Kalama, creating a backwater lake known as "Lake Allison". This lake filled the Willamette River Valley as far as Eugene, Oregon, over 100 miles away, with a measured height of 400 feet at Oregon City and an estimated height of 380 feet at Eugene. The area covered was approximately 3,000 square miles. The flood waters dumped thick layers of Palouse Silt, making the Willamette Valley one of the most fertile agricultural lands in the country.
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"Each flood filled the Willamette Valley as far south as Eugene to nearly 400 feet in elevation, leaving deposits in the valley that consist of layered rhythmites known as Willamette Silt. The floods entered the Willamette Valley through the Oregon City Gap. More than 300 known groups of erratic boulders were dropped by melting icebergs around the margin of ephemeral Lake Allison. The floods also poured west through the Lake Oswego Gap into the Tualatin Valley, filling it to at least 350 feet elevation."
[Allen, etc., 2009]
[More]
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Willamette River at Oregon City, as seen from Interstate 205.
Heading south on Interstate 205, looking at the "Oregon City Gap", a constriction along the Missoula Floods path entering the Willamette Valley.
Image taken June 2, 2018.
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RM 28.5 ... Tualatin River ...
The Tualatin River enters the Willamette River at Willamette River Mile (RM) 28.5. The Tualatin River heads in the Coast Range, is approximately 83 miles long, and drains the fertile Tualatin Plains.
[More]
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RM 34.5 ... Canby Ferry ...
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The Canby Ferry, located at Willamette River Mile (RM) 34.5, came into existence in 1914, and today is one of the last three ferries operating on the Willamette River. The current ferry can hold six cars and costs $2.00 to cross (2011).
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Canby Ferry, Willamette River, Oregon.
View looking south.
Image taken October 22, 2011.
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Canby Ferry, Willamette River, Oregon.
View looking south.
Image taken October 22, 2011.
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RM 36 ... Molalla River ...
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The Molalla River heads in the Table Rock Wilderness and flows north-northwest for over 50 miles until it merges with the Willamette River at Willamette River Mile 36.
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Molalla River at Canby, Oregon.
View looking downstream.
Image taken July 13, 2016.
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RM 67 (approximate) ... Glacial Erratic ...
The "Sheridan Erratic", often called the "Bellevue Erratic", is located on the west side of the Willamette Valley, just off of Oregon Highway 18, and halfway between the Oregon communities of Sheridan and McMinnville. According to Dr. Jim O'Connor in an interview with the Yamhill Valley News-Register" (2005): "the 90-ton rock, which sits atop a rise about a half mile from the site entrance, probably came in on an iceberg around 15,000 years ago, transported by one of the Missoula floods, the biggest known fresh water floods in history.
The erratic rock is at an elevation of 300 feet and the floods probably topped that by 100 feet."
The News-Register goes on to say:
"More than 400 ice-rafted rocks have been identified along the flood plain ... they are different in composition from the local bedrock, thus are called "erratic" and the one near Sheridan is the largest known glacial erratic in the Willamette Valley."
Geologically the rock is an argillite boulder from Canada and is believed to be 600 million years old. It was originally part of the sea-floor. It once weighed 160 tons and measured nearly 21 x 18 x 5 feet. Today the boulder sits in many pieces with the largest being nearly 18 x 13 x 5 feet, and weighs in at 90 tons. Vandalism and souvenier hunters have taken the rest.
[More]
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Sign, Glacial Erratic, McMinnville, Oregon.
Image taken January 11, 2013.
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Glacial Erratic, McMinnville, Oregon.
Image taken January 11, 2013.
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Click image to enlarge
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Glacial Erratic, McMinnville, Oregon.
Image taken January 11, 2013.
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Click image to enlarge
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Glacial Erratic, McMinnville, Oregon.
Image taken January 11, 2013.
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Click image to enlarge
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Glacial Erratic, McMinnville, Oregon.
Image taken January 11, 2013.
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RM 75 (approximate) ... Willamette Valley Missoula Flood Deposits ...
The Missoula Floods constriction at Kalama, Washington, and Prescott, Oregon, created a backwater lake, known as "Lake Allison". This lake filled the Willamette River Valley as far as Eugene, Oregon, over 100 miles away, with a measured height of 400 feet at Oregon City and an estimated height of 380 feet at Eugene. The area covered was approximately 3,000 square miles. The flood waters dumped thick layers of Palouse Silt, making the Willamette Valley one of the most fertile agricultural lands in the country.
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Iris fields, Willamette Valley Missoula Flood deposits, as seen from Interstate-5 heading south.
Image taken June 2, 2018.
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RM 84 ... Salem, Oregon ...
Click image to enlarge
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Willamette River at Salem, as seen from Oregon Highway 22 heading east.
Image taken June 2, 2018.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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Clark, November 4, 1805 ...
Clark, April 2, 1806 ...
Whitehouse, April 2, 1806 ...
Clark, April 3, 1806 ...
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