Drift Creek

There are two Drift Creek whitewater runs in Oregon. Both drain the central Oregon coast, and both expose remote and scenic canyons. Saturday, February 2, 2008, the WKCC paddled the northern of the two. This Drift Creek heads up slightly southeast of Lincoln City, only a dozen or so miles from the ocean, and drops through multiple remote, scenic, slickrock canyons on its way to the tidal plain of Siletz Bay.

Greg Skaer, Brad Bassi, Ken Hutchinson, Lindsey Gay, Guy Fielding, and I drove over from the Willamette Valley expecting lush greenery and moderate flows. We were greeted by lush greenery, moderate flows, and over a foot of snow. Gary McCammon’s two large 4WD trucks saved the day! And let me tell you – when you get a ¾ ton 22 foot long vehicle stuck in deep snow (we, as good Samaritans, had to get off the narrow road to let a 2WD vehicle pass), put Gary behind the wheel and get out of the way! That truck will roar, will rock, will rumble, will throw snow & ice for 20 yards, and WILL get back onto the road.

Once upon the river (@ ~2pm), we found approximately 800 cfs of greenish water disappearing downstream. Drift Creek is mostly class II+ water snaking through what feels like a primeval canyon. You almost expect to see BigFoot around every corner. We did see dozens of elk track, fish, moss-laden trees, and waterfalls cascading hundreds of feet off the enclosing slickrock walls. Two rapids break up the routine. Both are what I would call classic class III+ or IV – Long, constricted, and with large waves & holes. Fun! The first signals the start of the whitewater on this run, and the second signals the end.

Drift Creek is a classic of the II-III(IV) variety. Don’t forever pass over it in favor of something else. DO always be on the lookout for log blockages. The slickrock canyon walls are prone to slides, and river-wide old growth logs within those walls can be especially hazardous. And at high water, stopping, and portage, options within some of those swift canyons could actually become impossible.

-SS

photo credit: Brad Bassi

Note:  trip report written by Steve Stuckmeyer; sparcplug transfered content from old web site.