How Wide is the Snake River at Its Widest Point?

Written by Janet F. Murray
Updated: July 20, 2023
Share on:

Advertisement


Infographic about the Snake River.
The Snake River is the largest tributary of the Columbia River and travels through four states.

The Snake River is 1,078 miles long and is one of the most scenic rivers in the country. On its journey through Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, and Washington, it discharges over 54,000 cubic feet of water per second. Much of this water is crucial to irrigation and farming purposes for residents along the river.

As one of the most extensive water sources in the United States, it is also the largest tributary of the Columbia River. If the Snake River covers four states and is the source of so much water, you have to wonder how wide is the Snake River at its widest point.

The Snake River is 250 feet wide at its widest point, is 1,078 miles long, and discharges over 54,000 cubic feet of water per second.

©Barry Bjork/Shutterstock.com

The Widest Point of the Snake River

The Snake River is 250 feet wide at its widest point. It is only 20 feet at its narrowest point! As it gets to the oxbow bend in Hells Canyon, this is the point where the river reaches its widest point. Here is also where the Oxbow Dam was built in 1961 and named after this oxbow-shaped 3-mile wide bend. Besides these features, the Snake River flows through the Snake River plain, covering Idaho and Oregon. Because of the river’s nature, its plain stretches over an area ranging from 30 to 75 miles.

The Course of the Snake River

The headwaters of the Snake River are in Wyoming near the Continental Divide in Yellowstone National Park. From this origin, the river flows into Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park. Then, it travels past Jackson, Wyoming, before entering the Snake River Canyon.

After the river exits the canyon, it enters the Palisades Reservoir in Idaho. Once there, it flows into the Swan Valley and an inland delta where it meets its confluence at Henrys Fork. 

Next, it travels through the Snake River plain across Idaho. Next, the Snake River travels through Idaho Falls and alters drastically at American Falls. This point is where the Portneuf River joins the Snake River. 

The Raft River also joins the Snake River before entering Lake Walcott, where the Minidoka Dam captures its output. Finally, the Snake River exits the Minidoka Dam and enters the Milner Dam before passing the city of Twin Falls. After Twin Falls, it enters the Snake River Canyon and gushes over Shoshone Falls.

Once the river exits Snake River Canyons, the Bruneau River and the Malad River join it on its journey. As it continues past Boise and the Idaho-Oregon borders, many other rivers enter this waterway. These rivers are the Boise River, Owyhee River, Malheur River, Payette River, Weiser River, and Powder River. 

Subsequently, the Snake River rushes through Hells Canyon, where three dams impound its content. The Snake in Hells Canyon is described as the National Wild and Scenic River. Finally, the Salmon River meets the Snake River in Hells Canyon and the Grande Ronde River. 

Next, it exits Hells Canyon and courses past cities like Lewiston in Idaho and Clarkston in Washington. After this, the Clearwater River joins the Snake River before flowing through southeast Washington’s Palouse region. Eventually, the Snake River enters the Columbia River before streaming through the Lower Granite, Little Goose, Lower Monumental, and Ice Harbor Locks and Dams.

The Origin of the Snake River’s Name

Although the Snake River’s shape between Yellowstone National Park and the Columbia River is similar to that of a snake, this isn’t the reason for the name. Instead, the river’s name originates from the Shoshone, a Native American tribe that lived along its shores in Idaho.

Because the Shoshone people arranged sticks in the image of a snake to mark their territory and greeted and identified themselves using an S-shaped sign to resemble a swimming salmon, the river took its name from these cultural behaviors.

European colonizers saw this hand greeting and misinterpreted it as a snake, leading to the naming of “Snake River.” However, this river has also had other names, including:

  • Great Snake River
  • Lewis Fork
  • Lewis River
  • Mad River
  • Saptin River
  • Shoshone River
  • Yam-pah-pa

Dams Along the Snake River

People use the water from the Snake River for irrigation and hydroelectric power. This practice is more valuable because of the construction of multiple dams along the Snake River. Some of these dams that have been built and modified for hydroelectric power are:

  • Ice Harbor
  • Lower Monumental
  • Little Goose
  • Lower Granite
  • Hells Canyon Dam
  • Oxbow Dam
  • Brownlee Dam
  • Swan Falls Dam
  • C. J. Strike Dam
  • Bliss Dam
  • Lower Salmon Falls Dam
  • Upper Salmon Falls Dam A
  • Upper Salmon Falls Dam B
  • Milner Dam
  • Minidoka Dam
  • American Falls Dam
  • Palisades Dam
  • Jackson Lake Dam
  • Gem State Dam

Builders have introduced modifications to Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose, and the Lower Granite dams to allow fish to travel through the river. In addition, they have also made changes at the Swan Falls, Hells Canyon, Oxbow, and Brownlee Dams to prevent fish from migrating upriver.

While some dams provide power, others like the C. J. Strike, Gem State, Milner, Minidoka, American Falls, Palisades, and Jackson Lake Dams provide irrigation to surrounding areas. These dams are built, maintained, and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, local government, and private owners.

The river also has two waterfalls near the city of Twin Falls, which offer hydropower. These waterfalls are called Shoshone Falls and Twin Falls and are known as the Shoshone Falls Project.

The Wide Snake River Wildlife

Below the Shoshone Falls, you will find 35 native fish species. Four are native to the Snake River: the relict sand roller, the shorthead sculpin, the margined sculpin, and the Oregon chub. You will also find seven species of Pacific salmon and trout in the river.

A pair of bright-red sockeye salmon

Pacific

Sockeye salmon

found in the wiSnake River.

©Vasik Olga/Shutterstock.com

Outside the river, you will undoubtedly find a range of mammals in the surrounding forests and plains. Examples are the elk, red fox, coyote, the North American River otter, American beavers, and mountain goats. The Snake River region is also where 300 bird species, like the osprey, eagle, and peregrine falcon, make their homes.

Where is the Snake River Located on a Map?

The Snake River is a prominent river in the wider Pacific Northwest area of the United States, spanning a length of 1,078 miles and serving as the primary tributary to the Columbia River, which is the largest river in North America that flows into the Pacific Ocean.

Here is the Snake River located on a map:

The photo featured at the top of this post is © CSNafzger/Shutterstock.com


Share on:
About the Author

I'm a freelance writer with more than eight years of content creation experience. My content writing covers diverse genres, and I have a business degree. I am also the proud author of my memoir, My Sub-Lyme Life. This work details the effects of living with undiagnosed infections like rickettsia (like Lyme). By sharing this story, I wish to give others hope and courage in overcoming their life challenges. In my downtime, I value spending time with friends and family.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

How wide is the Snake River at its widest point?

The Snake River is 3 miles wide at its widest point.

How long is the Snake River?

The Snake River is 1,078 miles long and is one of the most scenic rivers in the country. On its journey through Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, and Washington, it discharges over 54,000 cubic feet of water per second.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.