Hills Creek (Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hills Creek |
|
|---|---|
 Location of the mouth of Hills Creek in Oregon
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Lane |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Juniper Ridge Willamette National Forest 5,043 ft (1,537 m) 43°34′12″N 122°15′50″W / 43.57000°N 122.26389°W |
| River mouth | Middle Fork Willamette River Hills Creek Dam 1,545 ft (471 m) 43°42′27″N 122°25′24″W / 43.70750°N 122.42333°W |
| Length | 16 mi (26 km) |
Hills Creek is a small river, about 16 miles (26 km) long, in the state of Oregon in the United States. It flows into the Middle Fork Willamette River.
The creek starts high up on Juniper Ridge in the Cascade Range mountains. It then flows northwest through Lane County. The entire creek is located within the Willamette National Forest.
Hills Creek flows into the Hills Creek Reservoir. This reservoir is created by the Hills Creek Dam. The dam is on the Middle Fork Willamette River, about 3 miles (5 km) from the town of Oakridge. A road called Forest Road 23 (Hills Creek Road) runs alongside the creek for most of its journey.
The creek was named after John J. Hill. He was an early settler who moved near the creek's mouth in 1870. The dam and the lake also got their names from Hills Creek.
Fun Activities on Hills Creek
Hills Creek is a great place for outdoor fun, especially if you enjoy fishing or whitewater sports.
Fishing in Hills Creek
The lower part of Hills Creek, about 3 to 4 miles (5 to 6 km) long, is a popular spot for fishing.
- It is stocked with rainbow trout. These fish usually grow to be about 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm) long.
- The creek also has wild coastal cutthroat trout.
Whitewater Adventures
Some people who love whitewater sports enjoy paddling a 4-mile (6 km) section of Hills Creek. This part of the creek is known for being quite challenging.
- It has rapids that range from Class 4 to Class 5 on the International Scale of River Difficulty. This scale helps people understand how hard and dangerous a river section is.
- Class 4 rapids are difficult and require good paddling skills.
- Class 5 rapids are extremely difficult and dangerous, only for expert paddewater paddlers.
- Because of old logging activities, there can be a lot of wood and other debris in the water. This adds to the dangers of the run, so only experienced paddlers should try it.
