Nisqually River, River in Lewis County, United States
The Nisqually River is a river in western Washington state that begins at a glacier on Mount Rainier and flows westward to the southern end of Puget Sound. Along the way, it passes through forest, wetlands, and ends at a broad, flat delta where fresh water meets the sea.
The river has been home to the Nisqually people long before the first European traders arrived in the region in the early 1800s. In 1854, the Treaty of Medicine Creek was signed near its delta, a moment that changed the land rights and lives of the tribes in the area.
The Nisqually people take their name from this river and have fished its waters for centuries, with salmon at the center of their traditions. During the annual salmon runs, the river remains a gathering place where these ties to the water are still visible today.
The river can be reached at several points, including the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge near the delta and the upper sections within Mount Rainier National Park. Waterproof footwear is a good idea if you plan to walk near the delta, where trails can be muddy after rain.
The Nisqually is one of the few rivers in Washington state that still runs largely free from a glacier to the sea, without major dams blocking its course. Because of this, salmon can travel almost the full length of the river, from the salt water all the way up toward the mountain snowfields.
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