Lake Creek (Siuslaw River tributary) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake Creek
Lake Creek Falls near Triangle Lake
Location of the mouth of Lake Creek in Oregon
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Lane
Physical characteristics
Main source	near Prairie Mountain Central Oregon Coast Range, Siuslaw National Forest 2,752 ft (839 m) 44°16′43″N 123°34′18″W / 44.27861°N 123.57167°W / 44.27861; -123.57167
River mouth	Siuslaw River Swisshome 112 ft (34 m) 44°03′19″N 123°47′47″W / 44.05528°N 123.79639°W / 44.05528; -123.79639
Length	40 mi (64 km)
Basin features
Basin size	223 sq mi (580 km2)

Lake Creek is a major stream in Lane County, Oregon, in the United States. It is a very important branch of the Siuslaw River. This creek is about 40 miles (64 km) long. It adds about one-third of the water to the lower Siuslaw River.

Lake Creek starts near Prairie Mountain. This area is close to the border of Lane and Benton counties. It flows through the Central Oregon Coast Range and the Siuslaw National Forest. The creek then passes through small towns like Horton, Blachly, Triangle Lake, Greenleaf, and Deadwood. Finally, it joins the Siuslaw River at Swisshome. This spot is about 29 miles (47 km) from where the Siuslaw River meets the Pacific Ocean at Florence.

Getting Around Lake Creek

Oregon Route 36 is a road that follows Lake Creek. You can drive along the creek from Blachly all the way to Swisshome.

The Lake Creek Bridge

Near Greenleaf, there is a special covered bridge. It is called the Lake Creek Bridge or Nelson Mountain Bridge. This bridge carries Nelson Mountain Road over the creek. The bridge is a historic place. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Fun Things to Do at Lake Creek

There are many cool activities you can do along Lake Creek.

Picnicking and Swimming

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) looks after the Lake Creek Falls recreation site. This spot is located downstream from Triangle Lake. It is open all year round. You can enjoy picnics here. It is also a great place for swimming.

You can also watch different types of salmon and trout here. These fish, like steelhead, coho, and Chinook salmon, swim upstream to lay their eggs. In 1989, the BLM built a fish ladder at this site. This ladder helps fish move past the falls. It opened up 110 miles (180 km) of new stream for fish to travel.

The BLM also manages another spot called Hult Reservoir, or Hult Pond. This is upstream from Horton. Here, you can have picnics, go boating, and fish for warm-water fish. There is a boat launch and restrooms available. Close by is the Hult Equestrian Staging Area. This is a place for horse riders to start their adventures on trails.

Whitewater Boating Adventures

Some people enjoy whitewater boating on Lake Creek. They often paddle an 8-mile (13 km) section. This part goes from Deadwood on Lake Creek to Tide on the Siuslaw River.

The difficulty of this trip changes. It can be easy for beginners (Class I) or very challenging for experts (Class IV). This depends on the specific spot and how fast the water is flowing. There are some tricky spots with big waves and rocks. These include rapids called "The Horn" and "Bus Stop." Boaters also need to watch out for a structure under the water. It can be dangerous when the water is low.

Fishing for Fish

Lake Creek is home to several types of fish. These include steelhead, Chinook salmon, and cutthroat trout. You can catch these fish if you follow certain rules.

• For wild steelhead, you must catch and then release them. But you can keep some hatchery steelhead that have a clipped fin.
• You can fish for Chinook salmon below Deadwood Creek.
• Cutthroat trout can be caught in the main part of the creek. However, you cannot fish for them in the smaller streams that flow into Lake Creek.
• It is not allowed to fish for coho salmon in Lake Creek.

Always check the latest fishing rules. They can change based on the type of fish, the time of year, and the location.

Lake Creek's Smaller Streams

Many smaller streams flow into Lake Creek. These are called tributaries. From where Lake Creek starts to where it ends, some of these named streams are:

• Billy Tower Canyon
• Congdon Creek
• Swartz Creek
• Village Creek
• Conrad Creek
• Pope Creek
• Post Creek
• Swamp Creek
• Pontiss Creek
• Little Lake Creek
• Spring Canyon Creek
• Fish Creek
• Lamb Creek
• Greenleaf Creek
• Steinhauer Creek
• Wheeler Creek
• Nelson Creek
• Wilcut Creek
• Hollo Creek
• Johnston Creek
• Deadwood Creek
• Indian Creek