Vicinity Location:
About 60 miles southwest of Portland, Oregon near Lincoln City, Oregon.
Directions:
From Lincoln City, drive south from Lincoln City. About .25 mile south of the city limits of Lincoln City, turn left onto Drift Creek Road.
Follow Drift Creek Road for .25 mile and turn left onto Forest Road 17 (not Anderson Creek Road) and drive about 10 miles to the trailhead.
To reach the second road access, from Portland, Oregon, take I-5 South to Salem and take exit 258. Follow signs for Highway 22 west towards Lincoln City. Drive on Highway 22 west for 25.8 miles, then take the exit onto Highway 18 for 22.2 miles.
Turn left onto Bear Creek County Road for 3.5 miles. Continue straight 7 more miles on Forest Service Road 17 to trailhead.
A Northwest Forest Pass or a $5 day-use parking permit is required.
Outhouses are available at the trailhead parking lot. Dogs on leashes are allowed on these trails.
Length and Elevation:
2.5 miles round trip to the suspension bridge and 3 miles round trip to the creek. Elevation gain 50 feet and 500 feet loss. Total gain and loss is 550 feet one way. Elevation at the trailhead is 910 feet, the high point of the trail is 910 feet. Elevation at the bridge is 630. Elevation at the end of the trail is 532 feet.
Trail:
Drift Creek Falls Trail #1378.
Trail Maps:
Topo Map, Download Garmin .gpx file
Follow this link for information from Mt. Hebo Ranger District
Review: July 24, 2009
From the parking lot, walk down the wide, well gravelled trail through the second growth trees. The trail makes a couple of gentle switchbacks as it drops down to cross a small stream.
There is a trail junction for the North Loop Trail. I didn’t take this trail because of the wet bushed overhanging the trail and waiting to slather me with water.
The main trail continues for about .3 mile on a fairly level grade and approaches the two highlights of the hike.
The first thing you see is the 240 foot long suspension bridge pretty much in the middle of nowhere. This is reputed to be the longest hiker suspension bridge in the Northwest. The support towers at each end are 29 feet tall and the main bridge cables are 1-1/4″ thick which are anchored into the bedrock. There are extra cables along the deck of the bridge to keep the swaying to a minimum. The bridge was built in 1997.
Standing in the center of the span, you see the waterfall making a 90 foot plunge to the creek below. The bridge provides a bird’s eye view of the waterfall roaring over the cliffs to the Drift Creek.
From here it is a .25 mile hike down to Drift Creek. Be careful because there are a couple of steep, slippery spots as you make your way down the last few hundred feet of the trail.
Once at the creek, be careful crossing on the slippery rocks. Find a spot to sit and enjoy the views, then make your way back up the trail to the car.
This is a great hike for kids who don’t have a fear of heights and will follow rules about staying back from the edges of cliffs.
Enjoy the photos!!
Gallery Pics
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