| Minam River | |
|---|---|
 Minam River near its confluence with the Wallowa River | |
  Location of the mouth of the Minam River in Oregon Show map of Oregon Minam River (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Union andWallowa |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Eagle Cap Wilderness |
| • location | Wallowa–Whitman National Forest,Union County |
| • coordinates | 45°10′07″N117°21′28″W / 45.16861°N 117.35778°W /45.16861; -117.35778[1] |
| • elevation | 7,684 ft (2,342 m)[2] |
| Mouth | Wallowa River |
• location | Minam,Wallowa County |
• coordinates | 45°37′17″N117°43′14″W / 45.62139°N 117.72056°W /45.62139; -117.72056[1] |
• elevation | 2,536 ft (773 m)[1] |
| Length | 51 mi (82 km)[3] |
| Basin size | 239 sq mi (620 km2)[4] |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 455 cu ft/s (12.9 m3/s)[5] |
| Type | Wild |
| Designated | October 28, 1988 |
TheMinam River is a tributary of theWallowa River, 51 miles (82 km) long,[3] in northeasternOregon in theUnited States. It drains a ruggedwilderness area of theWallowa Mountains northeast ofLa Grande.
It rises in the Wallowas in theEagle Cap Wilderness of theWallowa–Whitman National Forest, just south of theWallowa–Union border approximately 25 miles (40 km) southeast of La Grande at Blue Lake. It flows generally northwest through the mountains along the Wallowa–Union county line. It joins the Wallowa from the south at the community ofMinam nearOregon Route 82.[6] Its headwaters include springs stemming from outflow fromMinam Lake,[7] also the source of theLostine River.[8]
From its headwaters to the Eagle Cap Wilderness boundary downstream of Cougar Creek, a distance of 39 miles (63 km), the Minam River was declared part of theNational Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 1988. Accessible mainly byUnited States Forest Service trails, the river basin supports diverse wildlife, includingwolverine,bighorn sheep,elk,American black bear, andcougar.[7]
The Minam, except for the lower 8 miles (13 km), where the surrounds have been heavily logged and otherwise altered, is largely pristine. It and theWenaha River are the two largest rivers in Oregon that are nearly pristine.[5]
| point | geolocation | USGS map |
|---|---|---|
| mouth at Wallowa River | 45°37′17″N117°43′14″W / 45.621256°N 117.720478°W /45.621256; -117.720478 (Minam River mouth) | Minam |
| GNIS point 2, RM 10.1 | 45°30′00″N117°41′07″W / 45.499866°N 117.685198°W /45.499866; -117.685198 (Minam River RM 10.1) | Mount Moriah |
| GNIS point 3 | 45°22′29″N117°39′09″W / 45.374586°N 117.652424°W /45.374586; -117.652424 (Minam River pt 3) | Mount Fanny |
| GNIS point 4 | 45°20′51″N117°37′34″W / 45.347364°N 117.626036°W /45.347364; -117.626036 (Minam River pt 4) | Jim White Ridge |
| GNIS point 5 | 45°15′00″N117°31′46″W / 45.249867°N 117.529373°W /45.249867; -117.529373 (Minam River pt 5) | China Cap |
| GNIS point 6, RM 33.8 | 45°12′40″N117°30′03″W / 45.210980°N 117.500761°W /45.210980; -117.500761 (Minam River RM 33.8) | Steamboat Lake |
| Blue Lake source RM 46 | 45°10′07″N117°21′28″W / 45.168485°N 117.357688°W /45.168485; -117.357688 (Minam River source RM 46) | Eagle Cap |
From source to mouth, the named tributaries of the Minam River are Pop and Trail creeks, which enter from the left; Lowry Gulch, left; Wild Sheep Creek, right; Granite Gulch, right; Elk Creek, left; and Last Chance Gulch, right. Then Cap, Rock, and Lackey creeks, all from the left; Pole Creek, right, Pot Creek, left; North Minam River, right, and Little Pot and Jerry creeks, left.[9]
Then Threemile, Garwood, Whoopee, Chaparral, Wallowa, Horseheaven, and Horse Basin creeks, all from the right; theLittle Minam River, left; Faun Creek, right, and Lobo and Eagle creeks, left. Then Murphy, Trout, Cougar, Gunderson, and Squaw creeks, all from the right.[9]