Union Creek (Rogue River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Union Creek |
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Near Union Creek Lodge
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 Location of the mouth of Union Creek in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Jackson |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | near Rocktop Butte Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest, Cascade Range 5,444 ft (1,659 m) 42°49′50″N 122°17′58″W / 42.83056°N 122.29944°W |
| River mouth | Rogue River Union Creek 3,291 ft (1,003 m) 42°54′41″N 122°27′13″W / 42.91139°N 122.45361°W |
| Length | 15 mi (24 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 26 sq mi (67 km2) |
Union Creek is a 15-mile (24 km) long stream in the U.S. state of Oregon. It flows into the Rogue River. The creek starts near Union Peak in the Cascade Range mountains. It then flows through the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest. Finally, it joins the Rogue River near the community of Union Creek. This area is also home to the Union Creek Historic District.
Where Does Union Creek Flow?
Union Creek begins near a place called Rocktop Butte. It flows north through Jackson County. The creek runs close to the edge of Crater Lake National Park. This park border is on the creek's right side.
About 10 miles (16 kilometers) into its journey, the creek turns west. Other smaller streams, like Grouse and Crawford creeks, join it from the left. After this, Union Creek flows over Union Creek Falls. This waterfall is a slide about 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6.1 meters) high.
The creek then reaches the small community of Union Creek. It goes under Oregon Route 62, also known as Crater Lake Highway. The stream flows through a picnic area and a campground. It then enters the Rogue River just below a spot called Rogue Gorge. This meeting point is about 187 miles (301 kilometers) from where the Rogue River reaches the Pacific Ocean.
What Animals Live in Union Creek?
Union Creek is a good home for several types of trout. These fish include:
You can find forest roads running next to the creek for most of its path. There is also a hiking trail along the lower parts of the creek for several miles. The United States Forest Service has campgrounds nearby. These include Farewell Bend, Natural Bridge, and Union Creek campgrounds.
How Was Crater Lake Rediscovered?
In 1865, a new wagon road was being built. This road aimed to connect Fort Klamath with Jacksonville. It would pass through the valleys of the Wood River, Union Creek, and the Rogue River. About twenty men, led by Captain Franklin B. Sprague, worked on this road.
On August 1, two of these men, Francis M. Smith and John M. Corbell, were hunting. They accidentally rediscovered Crater Lake. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. It is also one of the clearest lakes in the world. (Someone named John Wesley Hillman had found it before in 1853, but its exact location was not well recorded.)
After visiting the lake a few times, Captain Sprague and some other men became the first European Americans to reach the lake's shore. This happened on August 24, 1865.
