Drift Creek (Siletz Bay) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Drift Creek |
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Drift Creek Bridge formerly spanned the creek near the Oregon Coast
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 Location of the mouth of Drift Creek in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Lincoln |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | near Stott Mountain Siuslaw National Forest, Central Oregon Coast Range 2,767 ft (843 m) 44°56′53″N 123°47′10″W / 44.94806°N 123.78611°W |
| River mouth | Siletz River Siletz Bay 7 ft (2.1 m) 44°54′40″N 124°00′35″W / 44.91111°N 124.00972°W |
| Length | 18 mi (29 km) |
Drift Creek is a small river, about 18 miles (29 kilometers) long, in Oregon, United States. It flows into Siletz Bay, which is part of the Pacific Ocean. The creek starts near Stott Mountain in the Central Oregon Coast Range. It winds its way west through the Siuslaw National Forest. Finally, it reaches Siletz Bay just south of Lincoln City. Before joining the bay, it flows under U.S. Route 101.
Many smaller streams, called tributaries, flow into Drift Creek. These include Nelson, Fowler, Barn, Smith, Sampson, Wildcat, and North creeks. Further downstream, Quarry, Odell, Bluff, Gordey, and Anderson creeks also join it.
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A Famous Covered Bridge
For many years, a special covered bridge called the Drift Creek Bridge crossed this creek. It was unique because it was the closest covered bridge to the ocean in all of Oregon! A covered bridge is a wooden bridge with a roof and sides. This helps protect the bridge's wooden parts from rain and sun, making them last longer.
In 1997, the old Drift Creek Bridge was taken apart. It was then rebuilt over Bear Creek, which is a tributary of the Salmon River. Even though the bridge is gone from its original spot, you can still visit Drift Creek Park. This park is managed by Lincoln County and is located where the bridge used to be. You can find information about the bridge and directions to its new home there.
Fun Things to Do at Drift Creek
Drift Creek offers some great ways to enjoy nature, especially if you like hiking or fishing!
Hiking to Drift Creek Falls
One popular activity is hiking the Drift Creek Falls Trail. This trail is about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) long. It starts from the Drift Creek Trailhead along Forest Road 17. The trail leads you to an amazing 240-foot (73-meter) long suspension bridge. This bridge hangs high above the creek, giving you a fantastic view of Drift Creek Falls. The waterfall itself is about 75 feet (23 meters) tall, making for a beautiful sight!
Fishing for Trout and Salmon
Drift Creek is home to several types of fish. You might find cutthroat trout, steelhead (which are a type of rainbow trout), and Chinook salmon. These fish are important for efforts to bring back native fish populations in Oregon.
It can be a bit tricky to reach some parts of the creek for fishing because there aren't many roads. To get to the upper areas, you often need to hike along the Drift Creek Trail or use old logging roads. Many people who fish here practice "catch-and-release". This means they catch the fish, but then gently put them back into the water. This helps protect the fish populations for the future.
