Elk River (Oregon)

Elk River
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Curry
Source	confluence of North Fork Elk River and South Fork Elk River
- location	Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest
- elevation	913 ft (278 m)
- coordinates	42°43′00″N 124°12′19″W / 42.71667°N 124.20528°W / 42.71667; -124.20528
Mouth	Pacific Ocean
- location	between Cape Blanco and Port Orford
- elevation	3 ft (1 m)
- coordinates	42°47′35″N 124°31′32″W / 42.79306°N 124.52556°W / 42.79306; -124.52556Coordinates: 42°47′35″N 124°31′32″W / 42.79306°N 124.52556°W / 42.79306; -124.52556
Length	29 mi (47 km)
Basin	92 sq mi (238 km2)
Discharge
- average	716 cu ft/s (20 m3/s)
Location of the mouth of Elk River in Oregon

The Elk River is in southwestern Oregon in the United States. About 29 miles (47 km) long, the river drains a remote 92-square-mile (240 km²) area of the Coast Range into the Pacific Ocean.

Rising in the mountains in northern Curry County, in the Siskiyou National Forest at confluence of its north and south forks, the river initially flows generally west along the south edge of the Grassy Knob Wilderness. It then flows northwest, approaching the coast north of Port Orford and entering the Pacific between Cape Blanco to the north and The Heads to the south.

From the confluence of its two forks, Elk River flows generally west and northwest for about 29 miles (47 km). All but the lowermost 10 miles (16 km) of it are in the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest. Forest Road 5325 follows the river along its left bank, becoming County Road 208 (Elk Creek Road) after leaving the national forest. County Road 208 ends when it reaches U.S. Route 101 about 3 miles (5 km) by water from the mouth of the river.

In its first stretch, Elk River receives McCurdy and Blackberry creeks from the , then Bungalow Creek from the before Milbury Creek enters from the left at river mile (RM) 26 or river kilometer (RK) 42. About 1 mile (1.6 km) further downstream, Butler Creek enters from the right at Butler Bar Campground, and the river becomes the southern border of Grassy Knob Wilderness. Over the next few miles, Lost and Panther creeks enter from the left, then Sunshine Creek from the right near Sunshine Bar Campground, 19 miles (31 km) from the river mouth. Below this, Red Cedar and Slate creeks enter from the right and Platinum Creek from the left.

After turning more sharply northwest, the river receives Bald Mountain Creek from the left, leaves the wilderness, and reaches the Elk River State Fish Hatchery. At this point, Anvil Creek enters from the right. Below the hatchery, Chapman Creek enters from the left, the river turns sharply north and meanders along the national forest border, crossing it a total of five times and leaving it on the final crossing. At this point, Rock Creek enters from the right 10 miles (16 km) from the mouth. About 4 miles (6 km) further downstream, Bagley Creek enters from the left, and below that Indian Creek enters from the right. After Elk River flows under Route 101, it meanders across the coastal flatland and turns north behind sand dunes. It enters the Pacific Ocean between Cape Blanco on the north and Port Orford on the south. In the ocean opposite the mouth are Orford Reef and a portion of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge.