Virgin River, Tributary river in southwestern United States.
The Virgin River is a tributary in the southwestern United States that flows through Utah, Arizona, and Nevada before joining the Colorado River at Lake Mead. Its course crosses four counties and ends after about 162 miles at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Jedediah Smith reached the waterway in 1826 during an expedition and first called it Adams River before the current name became common. Settlers followed in the coming decades and established numerous communities along its banks.
The waterway takes its name from the early days of Mormon settlement in the region and remains a defining part of the landscape today. Its banks provide access to several hiking routes and popular fishing spots used by locals and visitors alike.
Water levels vary considerably depending on the season, with spring and early summer usually bringing higher flows. Several sections are accessible on foot, while others are better viewed from more distant vantage points.
Several fish species live in this river system that exist nowhere else, including the Virgin River chub and the woundfin. These species adapted over thousands of years to the shifting conditions of the waterway and are now strictly protected.
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