Bridge Creek Falls

Presumably once a major attraction along the Wilson River Highway, the 100-yard path up to Bridge Creek Falls is marked by a stone stairway of the same craftsmen quality as the Civilian Conservation Corp projects of the 1930s.  Today the stairway is only recognizable with the help of a small and obscure wooden sign reading "Waterfall."

The stairway and path that leads to the 35-foot, three-tiered waterfall may not be worth a stop for those in a hurry to reach the beaches along the northern Oregon coast. If you are already in the area to camp, hike the Wilson River Trail, explore the Tillamook Forest Center, or soak up the sun at Footbridge Day Use Area, however, this delicate cascade is certainly worthy of a visit.

Oregon’s North Coast Forests

The Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests are 45 minutes outside of Portland’s backdoor and one of the state’s best keep secrets. But these forests also have a fraught history with logging, fires and more logging.  They are now 50 to 70 years into the recovery process and offer prime habitat for vibrant communities of fish and wildlife, as well as an immense array of recreational opportunities. The Wilson and Kilchis rivers host globally important runs of Chinook, chum, coho and steelhead. Both forests provide camping, biking, fishing, hunting and hiking grounds for thousands of Oregonians, and they also provide over 400,000 people with clean drinking water.

Wild Salmon Center is a founding member of the North Coast State Forest Coalition, a diverse group of over 100 businesses, governing bodies and nonprofits working to leverage public support to increase forest and streamside protection along the North Coast. These popular and biologically important areas deserve real protection. That’s why we’re asking state and federal leaders to protect 33,000 acres of land around the Wilson and Kilchis Rivers and another 8,000 acres around Kings Mountain.  It’s no easy task ensuring a future for these forests but this is where you can help.

Get Involved

Learn more about the North Coast State Forest Coalition, on their website. Join in the coalition by signing up for their newsletter and signing on to the latest action alerts to protect the Wilson/Kilchis and Kings Mountain.