South Fork Burnt River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Fork Burnt River |
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 Location of the mouth of the South Fork Burnt River in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Baker |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Blue Mountains Monument Rock Wilderness, Wallowa–Whitman National Forest 6,825 ft (2,080 m) 44°20′35″N 118°23′40″W / 44.34306°N 118.39444°W |
| River mouth | Burnt River Unity Reservoir, north of Unity 3,825 ft (1,166 m) 44°29′23″N 118°12′04″W / 44.48972°N 118.20111°W |
| Length | 12 mi (19 km) |
The South Fork Burnt River is a cool river in Baker County, Oregon. It's a smaller stream that flows into the Burnt River. This river starts high up in the Blue Mountains. You can find its beginnings in the Monument Rock Wilderness and the Wallowa–Whitman National Forest.
The river flows mostly northeast. It travels about 12 miles (19 km) before joining the main Burnt River at Unity Reservoir. This reservoir is just north of a town called Unity. The South Fork Burnt River even goes under U.S. Route 26. This crossing is about 3 miles (5 km) northwest of Unity.
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Fun Things to Do: Recreation
The South Fork Burnt River is a great place for outdoor fun! Its water comes from springs, so it stays cool and flows steadily. This makes it a perfect home for many rainbow trout.
Fishing for Trout
If you like fishing, you'll probably enjoy casting a line here. Fishing for trout is usually good along the main part of the South Fork. You can also find good fishing spots in Elk Creek and Last Chance Creek, which are smaller streams that flow into the South Fork.
Camping Along the River
There are a few campgrounds right along the South Fork Burnt River, perfect for a night under the stars.
- South Fork Campground: This spot is about 7 miles (11 km) from Unity. It has 12 places for tents or trailers and 2 spots just for tents. You'll find it near where Rail Gulch joins the South Fork, along Forest Road 6005. There are picnic tables and special toilets called vault toilets.
- Stevens Campground: A little further upstream, about 8 miles (13 km) from Unity, is Stevens Campground. It's also on Forest Road 6005 and has seven tent-only campsites. It offers picnic tables and toilets.
- Elk Creek Campground: About 9 miles (14 km) from Unity, this campground has 10 campsites. It's located near where Elk Creek meets the South Fork, also on Forest Road 6005. Like the others, it has vault toilets and picnic areas.
Exploring Trails
The Blue Mountain/South Fork OHV trails are a huge network of paths, about 56-mile (90 km) long! OHV stands for "Off-Highway Vehicle," so these trails are great for ATVs and other vehicles up to 50 inches (130 cm) wide. But they're not just for vehicles! Hikers, bikers, and even people riding horses can use these trails too. The southern end of the South Fork OHV trail is close to the South Fork Campground. The trail system stretches north all the way toward Sumpter.
Smaller Streams: Tributaries
Many smaller streams flow into the South Fork Burnt River. These are called tributaries. Here are some of them, listed from where the South Fork starts to where it ends:
- Lookout Creek (joins from the left side)
- Bear Creek (joins from the right side)
- Spring Creek, Elk Creek, and Rail Gulch (all join from the left side)
- Stevens Creek, Barney Creek, and Amelia Creek (all join from the right side)
- Steep Creek (joins from the left side)
- Bullrun Creek (joins from the right side)
- Pole Creek and Powell Gulch (both join from the left side)
