| Cow Creek | |
| Map: | Umpqua River watershed.png |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Oregon |
| Length: | 44miles, East-west |
| Discharge1 Min: | 7.4cuft/s |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 856cuft/s |
| Discharge1 Max: | 38400cuft/s |
| Source1: | South Fork Cow Creek |
| Source1 Location: | A mile north of Round Top, Jackson County, Umpqua National Forest |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 42.7261°N -122.9956°W[1] |
| Source1 Elevation: | 4000feet |
| Source2: | East Fork Cow Creek |
| Source2 Location: | Richter Mountain, Umpqua National Forest |
| Source2 Coordinates: | 42.7672°N -122.9314°W[2] |
| Source2 Elevation: | 4500feet |
| Source Confluence: | About 3miles east-southeast of Devils Flat |
| Source Confluence Location: | Umpqua National Forest, Douglas County |
| Source Confluence Coordinates: | 42.8017°N -122.9906°W[3] |
| Source Confluence Elevation: | 2402feet |
| Mouth: | South Umpqua River |
| Mouth Location: | Canyonville, Douglas County |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 42.9469°N -123.3378°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 636feet |
| River System: | South Umpqua River |
| Basin Size: | 456sqmi[4] |
Cow Creek is a medium-sized river in southwestern Oregon, a tributary of the South Umpqua River. It drains an area of over 400mi2 on the western foothills of the Cascade Range and within the Oregon Coast Range. Although the vast majority of the basin is within Douglas County, a tiny portion in the southeast extends into northern Jackson County.
The stream rises in the Umpqua National Forest at the confluence of South Fork Cow Creek and East Fork Cow Creek. The south fork, which is much larger, is sometimes considered the main stem. In its first few miles the creek flows west through an agricultural valley and through Galesville Reservoir. Cow Creek runs alongside Interstate 5 for several miles and receives Windy Creek from the right at Glendale, Oregon. The stream then bends northwest into a canyon, receiving West Fork Cow Creek on the left and Middle Creek from the right. It then continues northwards, bending steadily eastwards and doubling back on its former course. The river emerges from the mountains near Riddle, and bends sharply south around a ridge, joining the South Umpqua about 2miles west of Canyonville.[5]