North Fork Smith River (Umpqua River)

North Fork Smith River
Name origin: Jedediah Smith, early 19th century explorer[1]
Country United States
State Oregon
County Douglas
Source Central Oregon Coast Range
 - location near Roman Nose Mountain, Siuslaw National Forest
 - elevation 2,140 ft (652 m) [2]
 - coordinates 43°55′15″N 123°43′42″W / 43.92083°N 123.72833°W / 43.92083; -123.72833 [3]
Mouth Smith River
 - location River mile 16 (river km 26) on the Smith River
 - elevation 30 ft (9 m) [3]
 - coordinates 43°46′49″N 123°56′14″W / 43.78028°N 123.93722°W / 43.78028; -123.93722Coordinates: 43°46′49″N 123°56′14″W / 43.78028°N 123.93722°W / 43.78028; -123.93722 [3]
Length 34 mi (55 km) [4]
Basin 69 sq mi (179 km2) [4]
Discharge
 - average 214 cu ft/s (6 m3/s) [4]
Location of the mouth of the North Fork Smith River in Oregon

The North Fork Smith River is a 34-mile (55 km) tributary of the Smith River in Douglas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins in the Central Oregon Coast Range near Roman Nose Mountain and flows generally southwest to meet the larger river 16 miles (26 km) from its confluence with the Umpqua River at Reedsport. The entire course of the North Fork lies within the Siuslaw National Forest.[5]

Recreation

The North Fork supports populations of cutthroat trout and steelhead suitable for sportfishing. Bank access is good where land owners allow it, but anglers often prefer drift fishing from boats. Watercraft can be launched from near bridge crossings and taken out above the rapids at Culvert Hole, about 5 miles (8 km) from the river mouth.[6]

The North Fork Smith Trail, open all year, runs along the North Fork for 6.5 miles (10.5 km) through a forest of old-growth Douglas firs to Lower Kentucky Falls along Kentucky Creek.[7] There it connects to the 2.2-mile (3.5 km) Kentucky Falls Trail, which follows the creek through old-growth to Upper Kentucky Falls.[8] Lower Kentucky Falls is a 100-foot (30 m) twin fall at the confluence of the river and the creek.[8]

Tributaries

Named tributaries of the North Fork Smith River from source to mouth are Jump, Sheep Herder, and Kentucky creeks. Then the Middle Fork North Fork Smith River and the West Branch North Fork Smith River followed by Paxton, Harlan, Sulphur, Chapman, Georgia, and McKinney creeks. Then come Edmonds, Johnson, Dry, Straddle, and Railroad creeks.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland: Oregon Historical Society Press. pp. 889–90. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.
  2. ↑ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  3. 1 2 3 "North Fork Smith River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Palmer, Tim (2014). Field Guide to Oregon Rivers. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press. pp. 104–05. ISBN 978-0-87071-627-0.
  5. 1 2 "United States Topographic Map". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved December 27, 2015 – via Acme Mapper. The map includes mile markers along the Smith River.
  6. ↑ Sheehan, Madelynne Diness (2005). Fishing in Oregon: The Complete Oregon Fishing Guide (10th ed.). Scappoose, Oregon: Flying Pencil Publications. pp. 95–96. ISBN 0-916473-15-5.
  7. ↑ "North Fork Smith Trail". United States Forest Service. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Kentucky Falls Trail". United States Forest Service. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
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