Siletz River

Siletz River
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Polk and Lincoln
Source	Confluence of north and south forks
- location	near Valsetz, Polk County
- elevation	708 ft (216 m)
- coordinates	44°52′48″N 123°42′40″W / 44.88000°N 123.71111°W / 44.88000; -123.71111
Mouth	Siletz Bay
- location	near Lincoln City, Lincoln County
- elevation	0 ft (0 m)
- coordinates	44°54′12″N 124°00′41″W / 44.90333°N 124.01139°W / 44.90333; -124.01139Coordinates: 44°54′12″N 124°00′41″W / 44.90333°N 124.01139°W / 44.90333; -124.01139
Length	67.5 mi (109 km)
Basin	373 sq mi (966 km2)
Discharge	for 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Siletz; 42.6 miles (68.6 km) from the mouth
- average	1,500 cu ft/s (42 m3/s)
- max	53,800 cu ft/s (1,523 m3/s)
- min	42 cu ft/s (1 m3/s)
Location of the mouth of the Siletz River in Oregon

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.

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 about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) further on. Flowing generally southwest, the river receives Elk and then Holman creeks from the , 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.

Turning southwest and then south, the Siletz receives Palmer Creek from the right, flows by Moonshine County Park, then receives Baker Creek and Mill Creek from the left before reaching Logsden, about 47 miles (76 km) from the mouth. Passing under Rock Creek Road and receiving Rock Creek from the left, the river turns west again and soon receives Scott Creek from the right, Sam Creek from the left, and Bentilla and Baker creeks, both from the right. Continuing south and then west parallel to Upper Siletz Road, the river passes a United States Geological Survey (USGS) stream gauge and reaches Siletz at about RM 41 (RK 66). At Siletz, the river receives Mill and Dewey creeks from the left. Following a series of meanders that carry it under Oregon Route 229 twice and almost completely around the city of Siletz, the river heads north, roughly parallel to Route 229, which runs near it all the way to Siletz Bay. In the next stretch, the river receives Tangerman, Spencer. and Thompson creeks, all from the right.