| North Powder River | |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Oregon |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of the North Powder River in Oregon |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Oregon |
| Subdivision Type4: | County |
| Subdivision Name4: | Union and Baker |
| Length: | 25miles[1] |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 90cuft/s |
| Source1: | Blue Mountains |
| Source1 Location: | Wallowa–Whitman National Forest |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 44.8708°N -118.2039°W[2] |
| Source1 Elevation: | 7627feet[3] |
| Mouth: | Powder River |
| Mouth Location: | North Powder, Oregon |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 45.0386°N -117.8956°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 3205feet |
| Basin Size: | 118sqmi |
The North Powder River is a 25miles tributary of the Powder River in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon.[1] Fed by water from three small, high-elevation lakes, it begins in the Elkhorn Mountains, a sub-range of the Blue Mountains of the Pacific Northwest. From there it flows generally east to meet the larger river near the city of North Powder.[4]
In 1988, the upper 6.4miles of the river, from the headwaters to the eastern boundary of the Wallowa–Whitman National Forest was named part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.[5] About 30miles from Baker City, the scenic upper river flows through rugged territory. Access by vehicle is limited to high-clearance types that use mainly the North Powder River Trail via Forest Road 7301.[6] Although the upper river flows through old-growth forests and supports a population of wild rainbow trout, the lower river "mostly disappears in hayfield diversions."[1]
The lower river forms the border between Union County on the north and Baker County on the south. Slightly upstream of North Powder, the river passes under Interstate 84.[4]
Named tributaries of the North Powder River from source to mouth are Horse Creek, North Fork North Powder River, Twin Mountain Creek, and Jimmy Creek. Then come Lawrence, Dutch Flat, Antone, and Little Antone creeks followed by Gorham Gulch. Entering the lower reaches are Anthony and Pilcher creeks.[7]