View source for San Rafael River

{{Infobox river
 | name              = San Rafael River
 | image             = SanRafaelRiverUT2.jpg
 | image_size        = 250px
 | image_caption     = San Rafael River Gorge
 | map               = File:Sanrafaelriver.png
 | map_size          = 250px
 | map_caption       = Location of the San Rafael River within Utah
 | map_alt           = 
 | subdivision_type1 = Country
 | subdivision_name1 = United States
 | subdivision_type2 = [[U.S. state|State]]
 | subdivision_name2 = Utah
 | subdivision_type3 = 
 | subdivision_name3 =
 | source1_location  = 
 | mouth_location    = 
 | progression       = 
 | length            = {{convert|90|mi|km}}
 | source1_elevation = 
 | mouth_elevation   = 
 | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|38|46|31|N|110|06|17|W|region:US_type:landmark_scale:10000|display=inline,title}}
 | discharge1_avg    = 
 | basin_size        = 
 | river_system      =
 | tributaries_left  =
 | tributaries_right =
}}

The '''San Rafael River''' is a tributary of the [[Green River (Colorado River)|Green River]], approximately {{convert|90|mi|km}} long, in east central [[Utah]], United States.<ref>{{gnis|1432176|San Rafael River}}</ref> The river flows across a sparsely populated arid region of the [[Colorado Plateau]], and is known for the isolated, scenic gorge through which it flows.

==Description==
The river rises in northwestern [[Emery County, Utah|Emery County]], approximately {{convert|5|mi|km}} southeast of [[Castle Dale, Utah|Castle Dale]], by the confluence of Cottonwood, [[Huntington Creek (Utah)| Huntington]] and Ferron creeks, which provide its headwaters in the [[Wasatch Plateau]] region. It flows east-southeast along the north side of the [[Coal Cliffs]] and the prominent [[anticline]] called the [[San Rafael Swell]], passing north of Window Butte (Window Blind Peak) and through two narrow [[slot canyon]]s in [[Coconino Sandstone]] called the Upper and Lower Black Box. This area is known as the San Rafael Gorge, sometimes called the "Little Grand Canyon". (Actually, the "Little Grand Canyon" is a few miles upstream where the San Rafael passes between the Wedge on the north and Sid's Mountain and No Man's Mountain on the south). After passing through the [[San Rafael Reef]] it enters the 15 miles (24&nbsp;km) long [[San Rafael Valley (Utah)|San Rafael Valley]], where it joins the [[Green River (Colorado River)|Green River]] from the west, approximately {{convert|10|mi|km}} south of the town of [[Green River, Utah|Green River]]. The San Rafael is the last major tributary of the Green River before it joins the [[Colorado River]] in [[Canyonlands National Park]].

Diversion tunnels at the headwaters of the river in the [[Manti-La Sal National Forest]] provide [[irrigation]] water to [[Sanpete County, Utah|Sanpete County]] on the west side of the [[Wasatch Plateau]].

==See also==
{{stack|{{portal|Utah|Rivers}}}}
* [[List of rivers of Utah]]
* [[List of tributaries of the Colorado River]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|San Rafael River}}
* [http://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/san_rafael_swell/index.html The San Rafael Swell]
* [http://www.utahtrails.com/Backcountry%20pages/SanRafael.html Utah Trails: San Rafael River Gorge]

{{Colorado_River_system}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of Utah]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the Green River (Colorado River tributary)]]
[[Category:Canyons and gorges of Utah]]
[[Category:San Rafael Swell]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the Colorado River in Utah]]