Drift Creek Falls, Lincoln City OR


• 5-star hike
• 3 mile out-and-back
• Easy | Gain 420 to 490 feet
• Lincoln City, OR | Oregon
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A waterfall cascading over a prominent cliff face of vertical, hexagonal basalt columns. The scene includes a rocky, uneven basin at the base of the falls where a person wearing a red shirt is standing, providing a sense of scale against the rugged terrain.
A suspension bridge provides an awesome vantage point.

Tucked into the Siuslaw National Forest east of Lincoln City, this out-and-back route along the Drift Creek Falls Trail leads hikers across a steel rope bridge that spans a 100-foot-deep gorge to reveal spectacular views of the nearby Drift Creek Falls.

The trail heads downhill from the trailhead through shaded second-growth forest, switchbacking its way to the bridge. The grade is consistent rather than steep, so the return ascent is manageable, though noticeably more strenuous than the easy walk down.
⬤ 5★ Drift Creek Falls Trail   2.7 to 3.0 mi out & back, easy, gain 420 to 490 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions GPX?
 $  National Forest parking fee

The steel suspension bridge remains reassuringly sturdy underfoot, even though it sways slightly from the footfalls of other hikers crossing the span. Looking back offers the first views of the impressive 66-foot waterfall that spills over columnar basalt to the creek below. Beyond the bridge are additional vantage points, and continuing to the bottom of the trail reveals further creekside views of both the waterfall and the suspension bridge. This extra section adds 0.3 miles and 70ft elevation gain to your journey.

The trailhead can be reached by vehicle either from US-101 to the west or OR-18 to the north. Expect miles of paved, winding road that is partly single-track, with plenty of passing places. Approaching from OR-18 includes a brief unpaved section, but pavement resumes shortly after.

Parking at this National Forest site requires a day-use permit that should be purchased in advance using the Recreation.gov app or website (link below). Accepted annual passes include the Northwest Forest Pass, the Oregon Pacific Coast Passport, and the National Interagency Annual Pass (also known as the America the Beautiful Pass).

A person with dark hair tied back walks away from the camera along a dirt path. They are wearing a light-colored t-shirt, dark pants, and athletic shoes. The trail is surrounded by a dense, temperate forest floor covered in lush green ferns, with tall trees extending upwards.
Hike through dense forest to reach the falls.

Three hikers crossing a metal suspension bridge, moving from left to right against a dense, lush backdrop of towering coniferous trees. The bridge is constructed with a metal truss framework and features wire mesh side railings for safety.
100 feet above Drift Creek.

This composite image features two views of a wooden suspension bridge nestled in a dense, green forest. The left photo provides a wide, low-angle shot looking through the bridge’s tall, angular wooden support structure toward the sun, which flares brightly through the surrounding tree canopy while a person walks ahead on the path. The right photo offers a first-person perspective looking down the length of the wooden-planked bridge as a person in a white t-shirt and grey trousers walks away from the camera, flanked by wire mesh safety railings and tall, lush conifer trees that frame the narrow walkway.
Two views of the sturdy, 240 foot long suspension bridge.

This outdoor scene captures a waterfall cascading down a rugged, textured rock face into a shadowed pool below, while a suspension bridge stretches diagonally across the upper portion of the frame, spanning a deep, forested canyon filled with dense, vibrant green conifers. In the foreground, a person stands on large, moss-covered boulders near the base of the waterfall, providing scale to the towering cliff walls and the lush, sunlit foliage that climbs the steep terrain.
Creekside view at the end of the trail.

Tangents:
• Official: USFS Page, USFS Brochure,
• Recreation.gov: Advance Day Pass
• AllTrails Public: Drift Creek Trail

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Content provided without warranty of accuracy. Copyright © 2026 Stuart Green all rights reserved.

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