Lost Creek (Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lost Creek |
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 Location of the mouth of Lost Creek in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Lane |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Cascade Range A spring near Foley Ridge, Willamette National Forest 44°09′39″N 122°01′06″W / 44.16083°N 122.01833°W |
| River mouth | McKenzie River near Belknap Springs 44°11′21″N 122°03′57″W / 44.18917°N 122.06583°W |
| Length | 3 mi (4.8 km) |
Lost Creek is a small river, or tributary, in Oregon, a state in the United States. It flows for about 3 miles (4.8 km) and joins the McKenzie River. You can find Lost Creek in Lane County, near a place called Belknap Springs.
What makes Lost Creek special is that it's part of a "disappearing" water system. This means some of its water flows underground for a while! It starts from a spring in the Cascade Range mountains and flows generally northwest.
How Lost Creek Disappears
Lost Creek gets its name because it's part of a system where water seems to vanish. Its main feeder stream, called White Branch, is a good example of this.
White Branch starts high up at the Collier Glacier. It flows on the surface for a bit, but then it disappears! The water sinks into the ground because it's flowing over a type of rock called porous lava. This lava has many tiny holes, like a sponge, that let water pass through easily.
After flowing underground for about 9 miles (14 km), some of this water comes back to the surface. It emerges as springs that form the beginning of Lost Creek. Other water from White Branch also joins Lost Creek directly on the surface. The whole system, including White Branch and Lost Creek, is about 20 miles (32 km) long.
Fun at Lost Creek
If you like camping, there's a place called Limberlost Campground along Lost Creek. It's managed by the United States Forest Service.
The campground is about a mile upstream from where Lost Creek joins the McKenzie River. It's usually open from early May to late September. At Limberlost, you can find campsites, toilets, picnic tables, and places to have a campfire. Just remember, there's no drinking water or firewood available at the campground, so you'll need to bring your own!
