Eagle Creek is a tributary, 41 miles (66 km) long, of the Powder River in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. Beginning at Eagle Lake in the Wallowa Mountains, the creek flows generally southwest and then southeast to meet the river near the small city of Richland. The creek's headwaters are in the Eagle Cap Wilderness within the Wallowa–Whitman National Forest.[4] The upper 28.9 miles (46.5 km) of the creek, from Eagle Lake to the national forest boundary at Skull Creek, are part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.[5]
| Eagle Creek | |
|---|---|
  Location of the mouth of Eagle Creek in Oregon | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Union County, Baker County |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Eagle Lake |
| • location | Eagle Cap Wilderness, Wallowa Mountains, Union County |
| • coordinates | 45°07′30″N 117°20′19″W / 45.12500°N 117.33861°W[1] |
| • elevation | 7,847 ft (2,392 m)[2] |
| Mouth | Powder River |
• location | near Richland, Baker County |
• coordinates | 44°44′45″N 117°10′21″W / 44.74583°N 117.17250°W[1] |
• elevation | 2,106 ft (642 m)[1] |
| Length | 41 mi (66 km)[3] |
| Basin size | 196 sq mi (510 km2)[3] |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 316 cu ft/s (8.9 m3/s)[3] |
| Type | Wild, Scenic, Recreational |
| Designated | October 28, 1988 |
Recreation
editCamping and hiking
editThe Main Eagle Trailhead, adjacent to the creek near its confluence with Boulder Creek, provides access to an extensive system of trails for hiking and horse riding in the wilderness. It is at the north end of Forest Road 7755, about 45 miles (72 km) north of Baker City. Amenities include parking, an interpretive site, and a vault toilet.[6]
Along Forest Road 7755 slightly downstream of the Main Eagle Trailhead is the Boulder Park Campground with seven sites for tent or trailer camping. Amenities include picnic tables, a vault toilet, and a loading ramp and bunk feeder for pack and riding animals. Water for the animals is available from the creek.[7]
Two Color Campground, 3 miles (5 km) downstream of the Main Eagle Trailhead and near the confluence with Two Color Creek, has 11 sites for tent and trailer camping, picnic tables, and vault toilets.[8] Near the campground is the Two Color Guard Station, a rental cabin with accommodations for up to 12 people. Amenities include parking, a vault toilet, propane lights, a cook stove and oven, a propane heater, and a horse corral. No smoking or pets are allowed inside the cabin. The site has no water for drinking, cooking, or washing.[9]
Tamarack Campground, near the confluence of Eagle Creek with West Eagle Creek, is along Forest Road 77. It has room for 12 tents or small trailers; amenities include toilets, picnic tables, and drinking water.[10]
Eagle Fork Campground, along Forest Road 7735, is near the confluence of Eagle Creek with Little Eagle Creek. With room for seven tents or trailers, it has amenities including picnic tables, toilets, and drinking water.[11] The campground is adjacent to the Eagle Forks Trailhead, with access to Martin Bridge Trail along the creek.[12]
Fishing
editEagle Creek supports a population of wild as well as stocked rainbow trout up to 12 inches (30 cm) long. Anglers can reach the lower river by road and the upper river along trails.[13]
Tributaries
editNamed tributaries of Eagle Creek from source to mouth are Cached Creek and Bench Canyon, then Copper, Boulder, Little Boulder, Two Color, West Eagle, and Skookum creeks, followed by Excelsior Gulch. Then Dixie, Bennet, O'Brien, Bradley, and East Fork Eagle creeks, followed by Blue Canyon and Twilight Gulch.[4]
Further downstream come Paddy Creek and Empire Gulch followed by Basin, Dempsey, Puzzle, and Shanghai creeks. Then Six Dollar Gulch and Holcolmb, Little Eagle, and Trouble creeks, followed by Town Gulch. Then Skull, Barnard, and Summit creeks.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Eagle Creek". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
- ^ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
- ^ a b c Palmer, Tim (2014). Field Guide to Oregon Rivers. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press. p. 278. ISBN 978-0-87071-627-0.
- ^ a b c "United States Topographic Map". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved January 5, 2016 – via Acme Mapper.
- ^ "Eagle Creek, Oregon". National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
- ^ "Main Eagle Trailhead". United States Forest Service. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
- ^ "Boulder Park Campground". United States Forest Service. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
- ^ "Two Color Campground". United States Forest Service. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
- ^ "Two Color Guard Station". United States Forest Service. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
- ^ "Tamarack Campground". United States Forest Service. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
- ^ "Eagle Fork Campground". United States Forest Service. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
- ^ "Eagle Forks Trailhead". United States Forest Service. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
- ^ Sheehan, Madelynne Diness (2005). Fishing in Oregon: The Complete Oregon Fishing Guide (10th ed.). Scappoose, Oregon: Flying Pencil Publications. p. 269. ISBN 0-916473-15-5.