The Weiser River is a
tributary of the
Snake River in western
Idaho
Idaho ( ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Montana and Wyomi ...
in the United States. It drains a mountainous area of consisting primarily of low rolling foothills intersected by small streams south and east of
Hells Canyon along the Idaho-
Oregon
Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idaho. T ...
border.
Description
It rises in northern
Adams County in the
Seven Devils Mountains, approximately west of
New Meadows in the
Payette National Forest. It flows generally southwest, between the
Cuddy Mountains to the west and the
West Mountains to the east, past
Council and
Cambridge
Cambridge ( ) is a College town, university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cam ...
. In southern
Washington County it turns west for its lower and enters a broadening valley called the Weiser Cove along the northwestern extreme of the
Snake River Plain before entering the Snake from the east at
Weiser.
It receives the
Little Weiser River from the east approximately southwest of Cambridge. The river descends from approximately above sea level at its source to at its mouth on the Snake. For much of its upper reaches, the river follows a narrow course through the mountains, emerging at times into several broad ranching valleys, including one around
Midvale. Although it flows unimpeded, it is used for
irrigation
Irrigation (also referred to as watering) is the practice of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow crops, landscape plants, and lawns. Irrigation has been a key aspect of agriculture for over 5,000 years and has been devel ...
in the vicinity of its mouth upstream from Weiser, as well along tributaries in its upper reaches. The
Pacific and Idaho Northern Railroad formerly followed its course from Weiser to New Meadows.
The river, as well as the town of
Weiser, are named for Private
Peter M. Weiser of the
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, was the United States expedition to cross the newly acquired western portion of the country after the Louisiana Purchase. The Corps of Discovery was a select gr ...
of 1804-1806.
See also
*
List of Idaho rivers
*
List of longest streams of Idaho
References
External links
Idaho State University: Weiser River Drainage
{{authority control
Rivers of Idaho
Tributaries of the Snake River
Rivers of Adams County, Idaho
Rivers of Washington County, Idaho
Payette National Forest
Rivers of Valley County, Idaho