A lush, old-growth Coast Range wilderness on Oregon's central coast.
Drift Creek Wilderness
Drift Creek Wilderness is a small but ecologically rich protected area within the Siuslaw National Forest, set in the steep, forested terrain of Oregon's Coast Range. Designated in 1984, it preserves one of the larger remaining stands of old-growth forest in the range, dominated by Sitka spruce, western hemlock, western red cedar, and Douglas fir. The wilderness combines a high-rainfall coastal environment with rugged slopes, salmon-bearing streams, and habitat for both Roosevelt elk and rare species such as the northern spotted owl and bald eagle.
The area is named for Drift Creek itself, a tributary of the Alsea River, whose banks accumulate driftwood from the surrounding forest. Long before it was protected, the land was used by the Alsea people for hunting and gathering, and later by Twentieth-century settlers who attempted small-scale homesteading. Today, Drift Creek Wilderness serves as a compact example of the wet, mossy, conifer-dominated landscapes that define the central Oregon Coast.