Siletz River

The Siletz River flows about 67 miles (108 km) to the Pacific Ocean through coastal mountains in the U.S. state of Oregon. Formed by the confluence of its north and south forks near Valsetz in Polk County, it winds through the Central Oregon Coast Range. The river, draining a watershed of 373 square miles (970 km²), empties into Siletz Bay, south of Lincoln City in Lincoln County. Although the river travels 67 miles (108 km) in river miles, its winding course begins only about 20 miles (32 km) east of the ocean, and its mouth and source latitudes are almost identical.

Course

The river begins slightly east of the Polk–Lincoln county border in the Siuslaw National Forest of the Central Oregon Coast Range. Flowing west, it crosses into Lincoln County, returns to Polk County, then re-enters Lincoln County for the last time about 66 miles (106 km) from the mouth. Blind Creek enters from the left about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) further on. Flowing generally southwest, the river receives Elk and then Holman creeks from the right, Sunshine Creek from the left, Buck Creek from the right, followed by Wolfer Creek from the left at about river mile (RM) 57 or river kilometer (RK) 92. About 2 miles (3 km) later, the river turns west and soon receives Wildcat Creek from the right. For parts of its course along its upper reaches, the river flows near non-contiguous parcels of land belonging to the Siletz Reservation.