| South Fork Alsea River | |
| Name Etymology: | Alsi, said to be a corruption of Alsea for native people who lived near the mouth of the river[1] |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Oregon |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of South Fork Alsea River in Oregon |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Oregon |
| Subdivision Type4: | County |
| Subdivision Name4: | Lane and Benton |
| Source1: | Central Oregon Coast Range |
| Source1 Location: | northeast of Horton, Lane County |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 44.2469°N -123.4289°W[2] |
| Source1 Elevation: | 1721feet[3] |
| Mouth: | Alsea River |
| Mouth Location: | near Alsea, Benton County |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 44.3761°N -123.6025°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 282feet |
The South Fork Alsea River is a tributary of the Alsea River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins at northeast of Horton on the east side of the Central Oregon Coast Range and flows generally northwest to near Alsea. There it joins the North Fork Alsea River to form the main stem.[4]
Fishing in Oregon describes the South Fork as "fair-sized" stream with an average width of 40feet. Fishing for wild cutthroat trout is "excellent", and the stream also supports a population of steelhead.[5] The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees much of the territory through which the river flows.[5]
Alsea Falls Recreation Area, managed by the BLM, is along the river. Open from May 1 through October 31, it has campsites and day-use sites with tent pads, fire rings, picnic tables, toilets, and drinking water. Hiking trails from the recreation area through the forest lead to several waterfalls. The nearby Fall Creek Trail system for mountain bikes has 6.5miles of forested routes for all skill levels.[6]
Listed from source to mouth, the named tributaries are Williams, Coleman, and Fall creeks, which enter from the left; Peak Creek, right; Blackberry and Rock creeks, left; Dubuque Creek, right; Table Creek, left; Cedar and Headrick creeks, right, and Bummer Creek, left.[4]