Drift Creek Falls Trail 1378 (Trail Head) — Attraction in Lincoln City

Please make sure you read this all the way through prior to your trip. It may save your vehicle and your sanity. There are two routes to get to Drift Creek Falls. One option is to go up from the south and the other is to head down from the north along HWY 18. Do NOT go along the northern route. Take the southern route, even if the northern route is closer to you. The northern route will take you along a forestry road that is mostly paved and can only accommodate one vehicle at a time for most of it. There is a long section of just gravel and the forestry road is riddled with potholes so deep they will take your tire off. As if this drive was not terrifying enough, there are also logging trucks that WILL NOT STOP OR MOVE FOR YOU. We ran into one heading the opposite direction as we were driving up on a narrow section of road where there was no turnout and the logging truck skirted by us within a hair’s breadth of the car. Luckily, the logging truck went past us and did not hit us. Which is good, because we were on part of the road next to a sheer drop off. Thank you, kind truck driver, for not sending us to our deaths. We decided to try leaving the other way along the southern route after our trip and let me tell you, my friends, TAKE THE SOUTHERN ROUTE OFF HWY 101. You will thank yourself later. The road is paved, fallen trees and branches had been cleared, and the road is wide enough for two cars to pass each other for the majority of the trip. You will need a NorthWest Forest Pass or $5 to park here. The hike itself is lovely, but the drive is very dangerous if you go...

Parking at the trailhead does require a "pass” which can be purchased online or at a local retailer. Worth every single penny!

September 2024 the trailhead must be accessed from Bear Creek and Highway 18 - there is one section of the road, 2 miles from the highway, that's dirt, for one mile. Though its dirt I believe any car (with standard drive height) would make it to the trail's parking area.

The worst part of the drive up is the road is truly a single lane, not like some that say single and they are 1.5 ride, no. This road is ACTUALLY single lane - so go slow and watch carefully. Make note of wide spots in the road as you pass them, you may need it. Be sure to take a snack and drink. I wouldn't want to take this road or trail in heavy rain.

The hike wasn't bad at all. I figured I'd have a tough time on the way back from the falls - but it wasn't bad! We saw so many different cool plants, trees, mushrooms, spiders, slugs, birds, moss, roots, downed logs, etc.

The suspension bridge, in my opinion, is even cooler than the waterfall! ld never been on any other bridge like it! some people may be scared by the 100’ drop to the creek bed below. The cool fact I kept at the front of my mind is that the bridge can hold more than 160,000 lbs! If it can hold that much, surely it could hold me!

I'd say a family could hike this route, be prepared, younger children may end up wanting to be carried part of the way. While there a family of 4 made it up with 2 littles in a wagon. Im sure they had to both help lift the wagon over a few angry root clumps but...

We visited Drift Creek Falls on a busy Saturday. The setting is primitive and remote, along an unpaved, single lane road many miles from the nearest highway and homes.q

It's a beautiful wooded setting, and we visited on a beautiful late Summer sunny day. I had great hopes of seeing the falls that everyone is always raving about. Unfortunately, no one mentioned that the trail is about 3 1/2 miles long with a 600' or so altitude change along the route. I am disabled, but not wheelchair bound, so with enough time and rest, I might have walked a level route of that length, but with my bad right knee and hip, there's no possible way for me to walk to the falls and back. Very disappointed about that 😕. That said, my husband and my little dog hiked the trail and enjoyed it very much! Hubby even saw a Great Horned Owl perched in a tree, intently watching the humans on the trail far below him. So, great day for them, just ok for me as I sat at a picnic table and watched people going and coming from the trail.

I have MAJOR issues with their toilets, though. It's bad enough, although probably unavoidable considering how off the beaten path the place is and the obvious low budget care the park gets, that they stink to high Heaven from most of the parking lot, but I actually saw two women and a child, all at different times, come out of them choking and then vomiting. The place needs a clean up or new pits dug. Better yet, how about a septic system with flushing toilets, and running water to...