Drift Creek Falls, Otis Oregon

The Drift Creek Falls Trail descends through the Coast Range Forest to the picturesque Drift Creek Falls and the 240-foot-long suspension bridge. It is one of my top ten hikes in Oregon, and I have done this trail several times.

This hike offers everyone a waterfall, a massive suspension bridge, and a lush experience of the Coast Range Forest. The trail, completed in 1997, is broad and well-maintained. The only flaw may be that its elevation gain is backward. You have a pleasant stroll down, and then you must climb back out, although the well-graded trail makes the climb easy. This 3-mile out-and-back trail is located near Otis, Oregon. It is a little over a mile to the bridge.

After a mile, the trail passes the creek over a footbridge, and soon, you can hear waterfall sounds. The remaining quarter-mile path runs along the creek. Eventually, you will arrive at the largest pedestrian suspension bridge in Oregon and Washington—an alternate 3-mile trail known as the Northern Loop starts and ends at the Drift Creek Trail.

Here are some pictures of the trail for the hike, and you can see it is well-maintained.

The bridge is bustling later in the day, and getting a perfect picture is impossible because many people take selfies. This bottleneck also makes the hike longer than it should be because of the wait to get across the bridge. Come early if you want to get a great picture. It would generally take about an hour and a half to complete the hike, depending on the time of day you get here.

The bridge is sturdy enough to carry you but does sway a bit as you cross; it can be intimidating to those uncomfortable with heights. There is a clearing that serves as a picnic area, but the best view of the falls is about a quarter mile further, where the trail switches down once to a photogenic view of Drift Creek Falls. A bench is here, and boulders along the stream make for a good resting spot. In 2010, a large chunk of the cliff beside the falls peeled off and crashed into the creek.

From the bridge, the trail continues the next 0.25 miles downhill to the waterfall's base. This last section of the trail is steep, muddy, and slippery, so be very careful. Many people have slipped and been hurt.

Things to consider:

• This is a popular trail for bird watching, running, and wildflowers.

• Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash. I emphasize this because there are many people on this trail with dogs, and many of them are not on a leash. Having your dog on a leash helps protect the wildlife, and it's not about the dog.

• This hike is kid-friendly, but little ones should not attempt to go to the bottom of the falls.

• In the springtime, there can be a lot of bugs, so you may want to have repellant.

• Bring water and carry out what you carry in.

• The trail leading down to the falls is very muddy and wet.

• Always let someone know where you are.