| North Yamhill River | |
| Name Etymology: | Uncertain but probably after a local Kalapuya tribe[1] |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Oregon |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of North Yamhill River in Oregon |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Oregon |
| Subdivision Type4: | County |
| Subdivision Name4: | Yamhill |
| Length: | 31miles[2] |
| Source1: | Northern Oregon Coast Range |
| Source1 Location: | Siuslaw National Forest, in western Yamhill County, Oregon |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 45.3975°N -123.4231°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 2467feet[3] |
| Mouth: | Yamhill River |
| Mouth Location: | between McMinnville and Dayton, Yamhill County, Oregon |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 45.2258°N -123.145°W[4] |
| Mouth Elevation: | 75feet |
| Basin Size: | 177sqmi[5] |
The North Yamhill River is a 31miles tributary of the Yamhill River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It drains an area of the Northern Oregon Coast Range, as well as part of the Willamette Valley west of the Willamette River.[2] [6]
Rising in a remote area in the mountains of northwestern Yamhill County, the river flows generally east, then southeast, then south past the city of Yamhill. It joins the South Yamhill River about 2miles east of McMinnville to form the Yamhill River.[2] [6]
The river begins at an elevation of 2467feet above sea level and falls 2392feet between source and mouth to an elevation of 75feet. It rises northeast of Trask Mountain, a 3412feet peak at 45.3714°N -123.4564°W,[7] in the Northern Oregon Coast Range. The source, at about river mile (RM) 31 or river kilometer (RK) 50, lies near the border between Tillamook County and Yamhill County northwest of the city of Yamhill.[2] [6]
Flowing south and then southeast for its first 1miles, the river receives Perkins Creek from the right. Heading east, it receives Maroney Creek from the right before reaching the Flying M Ranch and Flying M Airport at about RM 26 (RK 42), where it receives Hanna Creek from the left and Petch Creek from the right. Continuing east, the stream receives Fairchild Creek from the left, Haskins Creek from the right, and Cedar Creek from the left before reaching Pike at RM 20 (RK 32). Shortly thereafter, the river turns southeast, and Turner Creek enters from the left.[2] [6]
About 1miles below Pike, the valley widens, and the river begins to meander and to turn more sharply south, receiving Hutchcroft Creek from the right and Salt Creek from the left near RM 16 (RK 26). Turning southeast again, the river flows by the city of Yamhill, which lies to its left, and receives Rowland Creek and Yamhill Creek, both from the left. From Yamhill to the mouth, the North Yamhill River flows generally south and roughly parallel to Oregon Route 47, which lies to its left. Soon the river reaches Alecs Butte, a 384feet summit at 45.3203°N -123.1844°W,[8] on the left at about RM 13 (RK 21).[2] [6]
About 1miles later, the stream enters Carlton Lake Wildlife Refuge and flows through it, reaching the city of Carlton, on the left at RM 10 (RK 16). Slightly downstream of RM 4.0 (RK 6.4), Panther Creek enters from the right. The river passes under Oregon Route 99W at about RM 1.0 (RK 1.6) before joining the South Yamhill River to form the Yamhill River, an 11miles tributary of the Willamette River.[2] [6]