I was standing on a 150-foot suspension bridge, swaying slightly in the breeze. It gave me an incredible up-close view of Drift Creek Falls. It was exploding out of a high slot in a basalt cliff, dropping 100 feet to the rocks below.

The dramatic crashing of the water in the midst of a old-growth rainforest stirred a deep sense of true wilderness.

As the crow flies, we were only eight miles from Lincoln City on the western slopes of the Coastal Mountains. The trail was less than four miles roundtrip with about 550 feet of elevation gain and very well maintained.

The return hike via the north trail was dominated with old-growth hemlock trees, many times larger than the alpine hemlocks I enjoy in the upper elevations of the Cascade Mountains. Truly a treat to see.

Drift Creek Suspension Bridge

Pleasant stretch of the Trail

Top of Drift Creek Falls and beginning of suspension bridge

Sweet Colts-foot

Drift Creek Falls

Wood Sorrel with its distinctive “shamrock” leaves

Fly taking a break

My Favorite Model by the covered Drift Creek Bridge

Top of Drift Creek Falls as seen from the suspension bridge