• +2975946827
  • Book Now

Oregon Beach Vacations

800.723.2383
  • Oregon Coast Rentals
    • Destinations
    • Collections
    • Oceanfront Homes
    • Townhouses
    • Cottage Rentals
    • Luxury Properties
    • Pet Friendly Vacation Rentals
    • Hot Tub Properties
    • Large Group
    • All Properties
  • Specials of the Week
  • Oregon Coast Area Guide
    • Newport
    • Lincoln City
    • Rockaway Beach
    • Depoe Bay
    • Neskowin
    • Pacific City
    • Seaside
    • Cannon Beach
    • Manzanita
  • List Your Home
  • More Resources
    • Blog
    • Customer Service
    • Rental Policies
    • Work For The Best
    • Travel Insurance
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us

Jan 18 2018

Drift Creek Falls Trail Hike to Siuslaw National Forest Waterfall

Looking for a fun and easy hike the whole family can enjoy? Drift Creek Falls is located near Lincoln City, Oregon, deep in the Siuslaw National Forest. The drive there is a bit complicated and GPS isn’t reliable due to the lack of phone service out in the forest, so we encourage guests to either print a map or download a Google Map to their phone before leaving their Oregon Coast Rental.

View from the base of Drift Creek Falls
View from the base

Fast Facts:

Difficulty: Easy
Length:
3 miles
Elevation gain: 480 ft.
Type: Out and Back
Approximate time to hike: 2-3 hours
Parking: Drift Creek Falls Trailhead
Cost/Pass Required: A recreational pass is required, and a day pass can be purchased for $5 on the official website.
Dogs allowed? Yes, on a leash
Family/Kid Friendly? Totally! This is a great hike for all ages and skill levels!

Panoramic view of Drift Creek Falls
Panoramic view of Drift Creek Falls

Getting to Drift Creek Falls Trail

The Drift Creek Falls trailhead can be reached via two different directions one coming from near Lincoln City via Highway 101, and the other coming from off of Highway 101/Highway 18. The drive is mainly straight forward, but does have some turns in it that are necessary to know, especially if you are coming from Lincoln City, rather than using the Hwy 18 route.

Get directions to Drift Creek Falls Trailhead.

The Drift Creek Falls Trail is approximately 3 miles long, and rewards hikers with a gorgeous view overlooking a beautiful waterfall from a long suspension bridge. Open year round, this hike is great for all age groups, and you can even bring your dog, so long as they are kept on a leash.

Drift Creek Falls
Drift Creek Waterfall

The trail starts out relatively easy with very manageable switchbacks that wind down the forested slope below the trailhead. After a bit of hiking and crossing small streams and bridges, you’ll come to the main attraction – the 240ft suspension bridge over the trail, the largest suspension bridge in Oregon. The view from the bridge is breathtaking, and the sound of the water crashing below is something to behold.

Once you’ve made it to the bridge, make your way across and then wind down to the base of the falls. At the bottom of the falls you’ll find a picnic table crafted from an old fallen tree, which is a perfect place to stop and get some rest. We recommend taking a break here before heading back, as hiking back to your car is more difficult than the path into the forest was. The way back is much steeper, whereas the first half of the hike was mainly downhill. If you brought a snack or lunch, the base of the falls is a great place to stop and eat!

View of the 240ft suspension bridge over Drift Creek Falls, the longest suspension bridge in Oregon.
View of the 240ft suspension bridge over Drift Creek Falls, the longest suspension bridge in Oregon.

Foot traffic is heavy during the summer months and lighter during the winter. You must also purchase a pass to park at the trailhead, or pay by cash once you’ve arrived ($5). If you plan on beginning this hike close to dark, bring a flashlight along with you, as the canopy of trees lets even less light in, making it harder to see the path in the late afternoon/evening hours.

All in all, this is a very approachable trail, even for beginner hikers. Seasoned adventurers will also enjoy hiking Drift Creek Falls trail, as the reward for making it to the end is breathtaking by any standards. You’re sure to see plenty of others while hiking here, so be sure to share the trail, stay safe, and have fun!

Suspension bridge overlooking Drift Creek Falls
Suspension bridge overlooking the trail

Come to Lincoln City Oregon to Hit the Drift Creek Falls Trailhead!

Written by oregonbeach · Categorized: Lincoln City · Tagged: ttd lincoln city

  • Newport
  • Oceanside
  • Otter Rock
  • Pacific City
  • Rockaway Beach
  • Waldport

  • Yachats
  • Seaside
  • Seal Rock
  • Neotsu
  • Arch Cape
  • Cannon Beach
  • Depoe Bay
  • Gearhart
  • Gleneden
  • Lincoln Beach
  • Lincoln City
  • Manzanita
  • Neskowin

Sign up for our exclusive deals now

Loading

Already know where you want to go?

Search For Property
Company
  • Charitable Givings
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Guests
  • Booking Guarantee
  • Customer Service
  • Specials
  • FAQs
Owners
  • Owner Login
  • List Your Home
  • FAQs
Services
  • Property Management
  • Lost and Found

Oregon Beach Vacations

Toll Free: (800)723-2383(24/7)

Click Here to Email Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Blog

© 2023 Oregon Beach Vacations. All rights reserved. Use of this website constitutes acceptance of the website terms & conditions and privacy policy.

Powered by

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsGot It!
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT