| Horse Creek | |
| Name Etymology: | For a team of horses lost along the creek by 19th-century emigrants[1] |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Oregon |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of Horse Creek in Oregon |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Oregon |
| Subdivision Type4: | County |
| Subdivision Name4: | Lane |
| Source1: | Cascade Range |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 43.9786°N -121.8528°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 5401feet[2] |
| Mouth: | McKenzie River |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 44.17°N -122.1747°W[3] |
| Mouth Elevation: | 1352feet |
Horse Creek is a tributary of the McKenzie River in near the unincorporated community of McKenzie Bridge in Lane County in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins in the Cascade Range in the Three Sisters Wilderness of the Willamette National Forest. Its headwaters are near the Deschutes County border and the Pacific Crest Trail. It flows generally northwest to meet the river about 65miles upstream of the McKenzie's confluence with the Willamette River.[4]
The creek flows through a series of lakes—Sunset, Horse, Middle Horse, and Lower Horse—in its upper reaches, then passes through Cedar Swamp. Named tributaries from source to mouth are Eugene, Mosquito, Pothole, Roney, Castle, Separation, Halfinger, and Spring creeks. Below that come Avenue, Cedar Swamp, Wilelada, Owl, and King creeks.[4]
Horse Creek branches into distributaries as it nears the river. The named ones are East Fork Horse Creek and West Fork Horse Creek. Two additional named tributaries, Taylor and Drury creeks, enter the West Fork before it meets the river.[4]
Horse Creek Campground along the creek's lower reaches has room for up to 60 campers and 23 vehicles. Amenities include drinking water, picnic tables, toilets, and campfire rings. The campground is open from early May to late October.[5]
The Horse Creek Bridge was a covered bridge spanning Horse Creek near McKenzie Bridge. Built in 1937, it was dismantled in 1987, and its timbers were used in two other covered bridges, one in Cottage Grove and the other in Myrtle Creek.[6]
. Lewis A. McArthur. McArthur, Lewis L. . Oregon Geographic Names, 7th ed . Oregon Historical Society Press . 2003 . 1928. Portland, Oregon . 480 . 0-87595-277-1.