Gales Creek (Oregon)

Gales Creek
Gales Creek near intersection of Oregon Route 8 and Oregon Route 6
Name origin: Joseph Gale, a pioneer member of the Provisional Government of Oregon who settled for a while near the creek
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Washington County
Source	near Round Top
- location	Northern Oregon Coast Range
- elevation	2,387 ft (728 m)
- coordinates	45°40′57″N 123°21′49″W / 45.68250°N 123.36361°W / 45.68250; -123.36361
Mouth	Tualatin River
- location	1.6 miles (2.6 km) south of Forest Grove
- elevation	154 ft (47 m)
- coordinates	45°29′29″N 123°06′08″W / 45.49139°N 123.10222°W / 45.49139; -123.10222Coordinates: 45°29′29″N 123°06′08″W / 45.49139°N 123.10222°W / 45.49139; -123.10222
Length	23.5 mi (38 km)
Basin	77.9 sq mi (202 km2)
Discharge	for Route 47 bridge at Forest Grove; 2.36 miles (3.80 km) from the mouth
- average	202 cu ft/s (6 m3/s)
- max	1,880 cu ft/s (53 m3/s)
- min	6.4 cu ft/s (0 m3/s)
Location of the mouth of Gales Creek in Oregon

Gales Creek, is a tributary, 23.5 miles (37.8 km) long, of the Tualatin River in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The headwaters of Gales Creek are on the north side of the mountain Round Top in the Northern Oregon Coast Range. The community of Gales Creek, Oregon, is near the creek, which further downstream forms the southwest border of the city of Forest Grove.

Gales Creek arises at an elevation of 2,387 feet (728 m) above sea level and falls 2,233 feet (681 m) between source and mouth to an elevation of 154 feet (47 m). The stream begins at river mile (RM) 23.5 or river kilometer (RK) 37.8 on the north side of Round Top, a mountain in the Northern Oregon Coast Range. Lying entirely within Washington County, the creek at first flows west, then south, then east just before reaching Gales Creek Forest Park, on the , and receiving Low Divide Creek from the at RM 22.76 (RK 36.63). Downstream of the park, Oregon Route 6 is on the right as the stream receives North Fork Gales Creek from the left and shortly thereafter South Fork Gales Creek from the right 20.70 miles (33.31 km) from the mouth.

Finger Creek and Coffee Creek enter in quick succession before Gales Creek passes under Route 6 and flows by Gales Creek Children's Camp, passes under Route 6 again and then County Road 374 before reaching the community of Glenwood and receiving Beaver Creek from the left 18 miles (29 km) from the mouth. Turning south, the creek receives Bateman Creek from the right about 2 miles (3.2 km) below Glenwood. Gales Creek turns to the southeast, and Lyda Creek enters from the right before Gales Creek passes under Route 6 for the third time and receives White Creek from the right. At this point, Gales Creek is flowing parallel to Oregon Route 8, which is on the stream's right.

Passing under Parson Road Bridge, the creek receives Little Beaver Creek from the left before passing under Clapshaw Hill Road Bridge and receiving Fir Creek from the right and passing under Route 8 at the community of Gales Creek. Here Iller Creek enters from the right at RM 11.44 (RK 18.41). Flowing south, Gales Creek receives Clear Creek from the right, Kelley Creek from the left, and Godfrey Creek from the right in quick succession. It then passes under Roderick Road Bridge and receives Roderick Creek from the right 7.70 miles (12.39 km) from the mouth.