Drift Creek Wilderness is a 5798 acre wilderness area in the Siuslaw National Forest on the Oregon Coast. It was created in 1984, along with two other small wilderness areas in the forest - Cummins Creek Wilderness and Rock Creek Wilderness. The elevation of Drift Creek ranges from 150 to 1500 ft, and is characterized by long steep slopes with broken and uneven terrain. Drift Creek was named for the accumulations of driftwood on its banks.

Human history

Natives of the Alsea tribe used to hunt and gather berries in Drift Creek Wilderness and the surrounding area. Later, in the early 20th century, American settlers tried unsuccessfully to homestead the wilderness. Fred Purath operated a subsistence farm and ran a few head of cattle. When he died in the early 1940s his land was purchased by Earl Harris. The only relic of the so-called Harris Ranch homestead is a moss-covered stove and stove parts along the Harris Ranch Trail.

Vegetation

Drift Creek Wilderness generally receives some 120 in of rain per year, which leads to a very lush environment. It contains one of the largest remaining stands of old growth in the Coast Range. Sitka spruce, western hemlock, western red cedar, and Douglas fir dominate the area, but bigleaf maple and red alder can be found as well. Much of the underbrush is licorice fern, oxalis, salmonberry, thimbleberry, huckleberry, foxglove, trillium, sword fern, and salal.

Wildlife

Roosevelt elk, black-tailed deer, and black bear share Drift Creek Wilderness with two endangered Oregon species - the northern spotted owl and the bald eagle. In autumn, Chinook and coho salmon, as well as steelhead and coastal cutthroat trout use Drift Creek, a tributary of the Alsea River, to spawn.

Recreation

Primary recreational activities in Drift Creek Wilderness include hiking, hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching. Fishing is managed for native fish only. There are approximately 8.5 mi of trail in the wilderness area. Horseback riding is prohibited due to the fragility of the soil.

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