| Ritner Creek | |
| Name Etymology: | For Sebastian Ritner, a settler whose donation land claim was along the creek[1] |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Oregon |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of Ritner Creek in Oregon |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Oregon |
| Subdivision Type4: | County |
| Subdivision Name4: | Polk |
| Source1: | Central Oregon Coast Range |
| Source1 Location: | near Bald Mountain |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 44.7742°N -123.5414°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 1292feet[2] |
| Mouth: | Luckiamute River |
| Mouth Location: | south of Pedee |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 44.7286°N -123.4433°W[3] |
| Mouth Elevation: | 279feet |
Ritner Creek is a tributary of the Luckiamute River in Polk County in the U.S. state of Oregon.[4] The creek begins near Bald Mountain in the Central Oregon Coast Range and flows generally southeast to meet the Luckiamute southwest of Pedee and north of Kings Valley. The confluence is 31miles upstream of the Luckiamute's mouth on the Willamette River.[4] Named tributaries of Ritner Creek from source to mouth are Sheythe, Love, Clayton, and Kinsey creeks.[4]
Ritner Creek passes under Oregon Route 223 just before entering the river. The Ritner Creek Bridge, a 75feet covered bridge, carried the highway over the creek until 1976. Replaced by a concrete span, it was the last covered bridge on an Oregon state highway.[5]
The creek was named for Sebastian Ritner, who emigrated to Oregon in 1845. His donation land claim included part of the creek. A railroad station named Ritner was part of the Valley and Siletz Railroad. It was along the line about 2miles north of Kings Valley.[1]
The covered bridge was saved and moved to an adjacent site that doubles as a small county park, the Minnie Ritner Ruiter Wayside. The park, open all year during daylight hours, has picnic tables and a portable restroom.[6]
Further upstream along Gage Road and Ritner Creek is Ritner Creek Park, another county recreation site. Amenities include fire pits, picnic tables, walking trails, and a restroom. This park is also open all year between sunrise and a half-hour after sunset.[7]