Little Nestucca River
Encyclopedia
The Little Nestucca River is a river, approximately 20 mi (32 km) long, on the Pacific
coast of northwest Oregon
in the United States
. It drains an area of the Central Oregon Coast Range
west of the Willamette Valley
.
It rises in the Van Duzer State Forest in northwestern Polk County
, in the mountains west of Salem
. It flows generally northwest, through Siuslaw National Forest
and enters Nestucca Bay
on the Pacific near Pacific City
. The Little Nestucca River crosses under the U.S. Highway 101 just three miles south of Pacific City and is paralleled for much of its length by County Road 130.
It enters Nestucca Bay at the south end independently of the Nestucca River
which enters from the north end. They flow approximately parallel, and at their nearest, are about two miles (3 km) apart.
The Little Nestucca River joins the Nestucca River from the south just before it flows into the Pacific Ocean
. Only the headwaters are in public ownership—being managed by the Forest Service—with most of the primary fishing areas located on private lands. The river offers some boat fishing opportunities with a boat ramp located at the Hwy 101 bridge. Most people fish for salmon
and steelhead in the fall and winter. The river also features cutthroat trout
.
The river contains wild coho salmon
which are listed as threatened species
under the Endangered Species Act
.
and a small embankment dam
to divert the water to the ladder. There is a swimming hole
downstream of the falls. The waterfall was originally most likely similar to Stella Falls, located a mile upstream.
The falls apparently were named for James B. Upton, a nearby homesteader who owned and operated a farm in the area.
Upton Falls is adjacent to the Little Nestucca Highway, just over three miles inland from Highway 101. The falls are clear to westbound traffic. Parking is available for only a few cars. Scramble paths lead down from the road to the river, but they are steep and generally unstable.
Width: 5 feet Height: 20 feet 45.13578°N 123.89570°W
Stella Falls occurs adjacent to the Little Nestucca Highway, just less than four miles inland from Highway 101. A large pool precedes the gorge. Ample parking is available along the road, and fishing access paths lead to the rocks adjacent to the river for views upstream and down.
Width: 10 feet Height: 10 feet 45.12625°N 123.88719°W
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
coast of northwest Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It drains an area of the Central Oregon Coast Range
Central Oregon Coast Range
The Central Oregon Coast Range is the middle section of the Oregon Coast Range, in the Pacific Coast Ranges physiographic region, and located in the west-central portion of the state of Oregon, United States roughly between the Salmon River and the Umpqua River and the Willamette Valley and the...
west of the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
.
It rises in the Van Duzer State Forest in northwestern Polk County
Polk County, Oregon
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for James Knox Polk, the 11th president of the United States. In 2010, its population was 75,403. The seat of the county is Dallas....
, in the mountains west of Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
. It flows generally northwest, through Siuslaw National Forest
Siuslaw National Forest
Siuslaw National Forest is a national forest in western Oregon, United States. Established in 1908, the Siuslaw is made up of a wide variety of ecosystems, ranging from coastal forests to sand dunes.- Geography :...
and enters Nestucca Bay
Nestucca Bay
Nestucca Bay is a small S-shaped inlet of the Pacific Ocean located in northwest Oregon in the United States. It is located near the town of Pacific City in southwestern Tillamook County, approximately 12 mi south of Cape Lookout. The Nestucca and Little Nestucca rivers enter the bay from the...
on the Pacific near Pacific City
Pacific City, Oregon
Pacific City is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Tillamook County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,027 at the 2000 census...
. The Little Nestucca River crosses under the U.S. Highway 101 just three miles south of Pacific City and is paralleled for much of its length by County Road 130.
It enters Nestucca Bay at the south end independently of the Nestucca River
Nestucca River
The Nestucca River flows for about through forests near the Pacific coast of northwest Oregon in the United States. It drains a timber-producing area of the Northern Oregon Coast Range west of Portland....
which enters from the north end. They flow approximately parallel, and at their nearest, are about two miles (3 km) apart.
Fishing
The Little Nestucca River offers steelhead. A few stray hatchery steelhead are present throughout the winter season. Wild fish may be caught and released through the winter, with the run peaking in March. Limited public access is available along Little Nestucca River Rd. between Hwy 22 and Hwy101.The Little Nestucca River joins the Nestucca River from the south just before it flows into the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. Only the headwaters are in public ownership—being managed by the Forest Service—with most of the primary fishing areas located on private lands. The river offers some boat fishing opportunities with a boat ramp located at the Hwy 101 bridge. Most people fish for salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
and steelhead in the fall and winter. The river also features cutthroat trout
Cutthroat trout
The cutthroat trout is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. It is one of the many fish species colloquially known as trout...
.
The river contains wild coho salmon
Coho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
which are listed as threatened species
Threatened species
Threatened species are any speciesg animals, plants, fungi, etc.) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.The World Conservation Union is the foremost authority on threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories,...
under the Endangered Species Act
Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is one of the dozens of United States environmental laws passed in the 1970s. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973, it was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of economic growth and...
.
Upton Falls
Upton Falls was historically the upstream limit of migration for native fish, but the falls have been altered to include a fish ladderFish ladder
A fish ladder, also known as a fishway, fish pass or fish steps, is a structure on or around artificial barriers to facilitate diadromous fishes' natural migration. Most fishways enable fish to pass around the barriers by swimming and leaping up a series of relatively low steps into the waters on...
and a small embankment dam
Embankment dam
An embankment dam is a massive artificial water barrier. It is typically created by the emplacement and compaction of a complex semi-plastic mound of various compositions of soil, sand, clay and/or rock. It has a semi-permanent waterproof natural covering for its surface, and a dense, waterproof...
to divert the water to the ladder. There is a swimming hole
Swimming hole
A swimming hole is a place in a river, stream, creek, spring, or similar natural body of water, which is large enough and deep enough for a person to swim in...
downstream of the falls. The waterfall was originally most likely similar to Stella Falls, located a mile upstream.
The falls apparently were named for James B. Upton, a nearby homesteader who owned and operated a farm in the area.
Upton Falls is adjacent to the Little Nestucca Highway, just over three miles inland from Highway 101. The falls are clear to westbound traffic. Parking is available for only a few cars. Scramble paths lead down from the road to the river, but they are steep and generally unstable.
Width: 5 feet Height: 20 feet 45.13578°N 123.89570°W
Stella Falls
Stella Falls (also known as Estella Falls) is the upper of two small waterfalls along the lower stretch of the Little Nestucca River. The falls consist of a cascading chute which rumbles into a deep trough-like gorge, bypassed by a fish ladder. The falls remain in their original state. The area just downstream has a popular swimming hole and is popular for fishing as well.Stella Falls occurs adjacent to the Little Nestucca Highway, just less than four miles inland from Highway 101. A large pool precedes the gorge. Ample parking is available along the road, and fishing access paths lead to the rocks adjacent to the river for views upstream and down.
Width: 10 feet Height: 10 feet 45.12625°N 123.88719°W