Name: Shoshone River

 

County: Big Horn

 

Authority Name: Shoshone River (Wyo.)

 

GNIS Entry

 

Longitude:  1081217W

Latitude: 445144N

 

Legal Description:

 

Elevation: 3642/1110

(ft/m)

 

Feature Type: Stream

 

Origin of Name:

River, tributary to Big Horn River, Big Horn and Park Counties, Wyo. (Not Stinking Water)

Source: Decisions, 1890-1932 

 

In 1901, the Wyoming Legislature changed the name of the Stinking Water River to Shoshone.

Source: Annals 24(2)

 

The Shoshone River was called “Stinking Waters” in the early days, due to the Maris sulfur springs above Cody. It is well established that John Colter was the first white man to see the Stinking Water River so named by him because of the foul odors from sulfur and other mineral hot springs common along side its course. According to one historian, Colter probably did not go all the way up the Clarks Fork but followed up Dead Indian Creek to the North Fork of the Shoshone, where he detected the odors of the stinking waters. From the North Fork, he proceeded southward up the Elk Fork , thence over into the South Fork via Ishawooa Pass, thence up the South Fork and over the divide into the Wind River Country. From here, he circled northward and made his famous Colter’s Hell discovery.  

Source: WPA

 

Other Names: Stinking Water, Stinking Waters, Stinkingwater River, Stinking Water River

 

Alternative Spellings:

 

History:

 

Stories:

 

Maps:

1:24000 Quadrangle: Kane

 

Newspapers:

 

More Information:

 

Pictures: