The San Rafael River is a tributary of the Green River, approximately 90 miles (140 km) long, in east central Utah, United States.[1] The river flows across a sparsely populated arid region of the Colorado Plateau, and is known for the isolated, scenic gorge through which it flows.
The river rises in northwestern Emery County, approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) southeast of Castle Dale, by the confluence of Cottonwood, Huntington and Ferron creeks, which provide its headwaters in the Wasatch Plateau region. It flows east-southeast along the north side of the Coal Cliffs and the prominent anticline called the San Rafael Swell, passing north of Window Butte (Window Blind Peak) and through two narrow slot canyons in Coconino Sandstone called the Upper and Lower Black Box. This area is known as the San Rafael Gorge, sometimes called the "Little Grand Canyon". (Actually, the "Little Grand Canyon" is a few miles upstream where the San Rafael passes between the Wedge on the north and Sid's Mountain and No Man's Mountain on the south). After passing through the San Rafael Reef it enters the 15 miles (24 km) long San Rafael Valley, where it joins the Green River from the west, approximately 10 miles (16 km) south of the town of Green River. The San Rafael is the last major tributary of the Green River before it joins the Colorado River in Canyonlands National Park.
^U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: San Rafael River
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The San Rafael Swell
Utah Trails: San Rafael River Gorge
January 01, 1970
rafael, river, tributary, green, river, approximately, miles, long, east, central, utah, united, states, river, flows, across, sparsely, populated, arid, region, colorado, plateau, known, isolated, scenic, gorge, through, which, flows, gorgelocation, within, u. The San Rafael River is a tributary of the Green River approximately 90 miles 140 km long in east central Utah United States 1 The river flows across a sparsely populated arid region of the Colorado Plateau and is known for the isolated scenic gorge through which it flows San Rafael RiverSan Rafael River GorgeLocation of the San Rafael River within UtahLocationCountryUnited StatesStateUtahPhysical characteristicsMouth coordinates38 46 31 N 110 06 17 W 38 77528 N 110 10472 W 38 77528 110 10472Length90 miles 140 km Contents 1 Description 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksDescription editThe river rises in northwestern Emery County approximately 5 miles 8 0 km southeast of Castle Dale by the confluence of Cottonwood Huntington and Ferron creeks which provide its headwaters in the Wasatch Plateau region It flows east southeast along the north side of the Coal Cliffs and the prominent anticline called the San Rafael Swell passing north of Window Butte Window Blind Peak and through two narrow slot canyons in Coconino Sandstone called the Upper and Lower Black Box This area is known as the San Rafael Gorge sometimes called the Little Grand Canyon Actually the Little Grand Canyon is a few miles upstream where the San Rafael passes between the Wedge on the north and Sid s Mountain and No Man s Mountain on the south After passing through the San Rafael Reef it enters the 15 miles 24 km long San Rafael Valley where it joins the Green River from the west approximately 10 miles 16 km south of the town of Green River The San Rafael is the last major tributary of the Green River before it joins the Colorado River in Canyonlands National Park Diversion tunnels at the headwaters of the river in the Manti La Sal National Forest provide irrigation water to Sanpete County on the west side of the Wasatch Plateau See also edit nbsp Utah portal nbsp Rivers portal List of rivers of Utah List of tributaries of the Colorado RiverReferences edit U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System San Rafael RiverExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to San Rafael River The San Rafael Swell Utah Trails San Rafael River Gorge Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title San Rafael River amp oldid 1192896510, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
