Miller River

The Miller River is a river in King County, Washington. Named for 1890s prospector John Miller,[3] it is a tributary of the Skykomish River, which it joins near the community of Miller River (which was, prior to World War I, known as Berlin). The Miller River is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long from the confluence of its main tributaries, the East Fork and West Fork.[1] Miller River Campground is located just downriver from the confluence.[4]

Not to be confused with Millers River.

Miller River
Location of the mouth of the Miller River in Washington Show map of Washington (state) Miller River (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location
Country	United States
State	Washington
Physical characteristics
Source	Confluence of the East and West Forks
• location	North Cascades
• coordinates	47°40′31″N 121°23′15″W[1]
Mouth	Skykomish River
• location	Miller River (Community)
• coordinates	47°43′8″N 121°23′38″W[1]
Discharge
• location	near Miller River[2]
• average	326 cu ft/s (9.2 m^3/s)[2]
• minimum	18 cu ft/s (0.51 m^3/s)
• maximum	4,740 cu ft/s (134 m^3/s)

West Fork

The West Fork Miller River begins at the ridge dividing it and the Taylor River.[5] It flows northeast from there, converging with the East Fork near the West Fork Campground. Its only officially named tributaries are Cleopatra and Coney Creeks. Cleopatra Creek drains a basin just north of the West Fork’s source while Coney Creek drains high-elevation Coney Lake. Just above its mouth, the West Fork drops over two small waterfalls, Borderline Falls then Immigration Falls. Access along the West Fork road is currently gated, washed out, and grown over (as of 2015) and there is no known plan for re-opening/repairing the road. Mechanized (Car, Bicycle, Helicopter, etc.) access is prohibited higher up on the roadbed due to Alpine Lakes Wilderness restrictions.

West Fork Tributaries

• Gouging Lake Outlet Stream
• Cleopatra Creek
• Coney Creek
• Francis Lake Outlet Stream

East Fork

The 7-mile (11 km) long East Fork Miller River begins at the outlet of Lake Dorothy.[6] Upon exiting the lake, the river drops over a headwall as it makes its way toward the bottom of Camp Robber Valley. Florence Falls occurs near the bottom of the headwall. Shortly after the falls, the river is joined by Camp Robber Creek, from the south, then Smith Creek from the west. Flowing north, the East Fork is joined by several unnamed tributaries. Great Falls Creek, which drains tiny Tumwater Lake, joins from the west.

East Fork Tributaries

• Camp Robber Creek
• Smith Creek
• Hinter Lake Outlet Stream
• Purvis Lake Outlet Stream
• Great Falls Creek

Mainstream

From its source at the confluence of the East and West Forks, the Miller River flows north to its confluence with the Skykomish River near the community of Miller River. A major tributary is Happy Thought Creek, which drains small Cleveland Lake. Mohawk Creek flows joins the North Fork upstream of Happy Thought Creek and about 1/4 of a mile downstream of the West Fork.

Mainstream Tributaries

• Happy Thought Creek
• Mohawk Creek

See also

• Miller River Waterfalls
• List of rivers in Washington
• Lake Dorothy

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Miller River
2. "Historical data, water years 1911-1919, 1929-1931, and 1946, for USGS gage 12132000, Miller River (Creek) at (near) Miller River, WA". USGS. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
3. Majors, Harry M. (1975). Exploring Washington. Van Winkle Publishing Co. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-918664-00-6.
4. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Miller River Campground
5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: West Fork Miller River
6. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: East Fork Miller River