| Little Luckiamute River | |
| Name Etymology: | Native American but of unknown meaning[1] |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Oregon |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of the Little Luckiamute River in Oregon |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Oregon |
| Subdivision Type4: | County |
| Subdivision Name4: | Polk |
| Length: | 24miles[2] |
| Discharge1 Location: | Helmick State Recreation Site, 13.5miles from the mouth |
| Source1: | Central Oregon Coast Range |
| Source1 Location: | near Fanno Peak |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 44.8792°N -123.6269°W[3] |
| Source1 Elevation: | 2869feet[4] |
| Mouth: | Luckiamute River |
| Mouth Location: | about 4miles upstream of Sarah Helmick State Recreation Site |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 44.7911°N -123.2881°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 203feet |
| Basin Size: | 54sqmi[5] |
The Little Luckiamute River is a stream in Polk County in the U.S. state of Oregon. It rises in the Central Oregon Coast Range near Fanno Peak and joins the Luckiamute River about 4miles upstream of the Sarah Helmick State Recreation Site southwest of Monmouth.[2]
Flowing generally east from its source near Fanno Peak, the river parallels Fanno Ridge, which is to the right. Lost Creek enters from the left at a rapids, and Camp Creek enters from the left 20.6miles from the mouth. About 0.5miles further on, the river passes over a waterfall. Approaching the unincorporated community of Black Rock, Little Luckiamute River receives Black Rock Creek from the left at river mile (RM) 17 or river kilometer (RK) 27. For several miles starting at Black Rock, the George T. Gerlinger Experimental Forest is on the river's left. Sam's Creek enters from the left about 1miles downstream of Black Rock.[2] [6]
Gerlinger County Park is on the right at RM 15 (RK 24). Dutch Creek enters from the left and Berry Creek from the right before the river reaches Falls City Falls and Falls City about 13miles from the mouth.[2] [6] At the falls, the river plunges 25feetto35feetft (toft) into a gorge within a city park.[7] Turning southeast, the river receives Waymire Creek from the left, then Teal Creek from the right, then passes under Oregon Route 223 at about RM 8 (RK 13). Fern Creek enters from the left just beyond Route 223, and Cooper Creek enters from the left about 1.5miles from the mouth. The Little Luckiamute River meets the Luckiamute River about 18miles from the larger river's confluence with the Willamette River.[2] [6]
The upper river supports catch-and-release fishing for wild coastal cutthroat trout ranging in size from 6inchesto13inchesin (toin).[8]