Bear Creek (Lincoln County, Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bear Creek |
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_Covered_Bridge,_near_Lincoln_City,_OR_(7238315602).jpg)
Covered bridge over Bear Creek, built from former Drift Creek Bridge timbers
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 Location of the mouth of Bear Creek in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Lincoln |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | near Cougar Mountain Central Oregon Coast Range, Siuslaw National Forest 1,445 ft (440 m) 44°57′50″N 123°51′12″W / 44.96389°N 123.85333°W |
| River mouth | Salmon River near Rose Lodge 82 ft (25 m) 45°00′12″N 123°54′13″W / 45.00333°N 123.90361°W |
Bear Creek is a cool stream located in the state of Oregon, USA. It's like a smaller river that flows into a bigger one called the Salmon River. Bear Creek starts high up in the mountains, in a big forest called the Siuslaw National Forest. It winds its way through Lincoln County before joining the Salmon River near the towns of Rose Lodge and Otis.
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Where Bear Creek Flows
Bear Creek begins near Cougar Mountain in the Central Oregon Coast Range. As it flows, other smaller streams join it. These are called tributaries. The named tributaries that flow into Bear Creek are McMullen, Tarry, Southman, and Morton creeks.
The Special Covered Bridge
One of the most interesting things about Bear Creek is a special covered bridge that crosses over it. This isn't just any bridge; it has a unique history!
A Bridge with a Story
The timbers, or large wooden beams, used to build this covered bridge came from an even older bridge. This old bridge was called the Drift Creek Bridge, and it was also in Lincoln County. In 1988, officials decided to close the old Drift Creek Bridge. It had become unsafe because of rot and insect damage.
Rebuilding the Bridge
In 1997, the old Drift Creek Bridge was carefully taken apart. Its timbers were given to a family named Laura and Kerry Sweitz. They owned land along Bear Creek, about 8 miles (13 km) north of where the old bridge used to be. In the year 2000, the Sweitz family used these salvaged timbers to rebuild the bridge over Bear Creek. They also made sure that everyone could use the bridge by granting a permanent public easement. This means the public can always cross the bridge. Today, the bridge carries North Rogers Lane over Bear Creek.
