| West Fork Millicoma River | |
| Name Etymology: | Possibly the Coos people's name for the river[1] |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Oregon |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of the West Fork Millicoma River in Oregon |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Oregon |
| Subdivision Type4: | County |
| Subdivision Name4: | Coos |
| Length: | 34miles[2] |
| Discharge1 Min: | 1cuft/s |
| Source1: | near Elk Peak |
| Source1 Location: | northeastern Coos County, Southern Oregon Coast Range |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 43.5522°N -123.8881°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 1519feet[3] |
| Mouth: | Millicoma River |
| Mouth Location: | Allegany |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 43.4242°N -124.03°W[4] |
| Mouth Elevation: | 23feet |
The West Fork Millicoma River is a tributary, about 34miles long, of the Millicoma River in the U.S. state of Oregon. Rising in northeastern Coos County near the Douglas County line, it flows generally southwest through the Elliott State Forest of the Southern Oregon Coast Range to the community of Allegany. There it joins the East Fork Millicoma River to form the Millicoma. In turn, the Millicoma, which is only about 9miles long, joins the South Fork Coos River to form the Coos River. The Coos River, itself only about 5miles long, empties into the eastern end of Coos Bay, which connects to the Pacific Ocean.[2]
Beginning northeast of Elk Peak, the river flows generally north parallel to Umpcoos Ridge before turning west and receiving Cougar Creek from the right and then Kelly Creek from the right about 32miles from the mouth. Over the next 6miles, Panther Creek enters from the left, Fish Creek from the right, Elk Creek from the left, and Knife, Deer, and Otter creeks from the right. The river turns south, and Joes Creek enters from the right at about river mile (RM) 24.5 or river kilometer (RK) 39.4. About 1.5miles further downstream, Buck Creek enters from the right. The next named tributary to enter the river is Trout Creek, which comes in from the right at about RM 19 (RK 31).[2] [5]
About 17miles from the mouth, the river turns west and a mile later descends Stulls Falls and turns south once more. Turning west near RM 14 (RK 23), the river goes over Henrys Falls, meandering generally south-southwest thereafter. Schumacher Creek enters from the right before the river passes over Pidgeon Falls and receives Totten and Daggett creeks from the right about 7miles from the mouth.[2] [5] The river then flows by a stream gauge maintained by the Coos Watershed Association.[6] Turning south once again, the river flows around Devils Elbow and receives Rainy Creek from the left before meeting the East Fork Millicoma River at Allegany.[2] [5] The West Fork Millicoma Road runs roughly parallel to the river from Allegany to Stalls Falls, and logging roads reach the headwaters.[7]
The river supports a steelhead fishery as well as good coastal cutthroat trout fishing near the headwaters. A hatchery about 9miles upstream of Allegany releases juvenile steelhead to the lower river, but it is difficult to fish downstream of the hatchery because of limited bank access and the dangers of boating through rapids. However, the hatchery site itself offers bank access. The site also includes an interpretive center that is open to the public.[7]
Whitewater enthusiasts sometimes run a stretch of the river, about 6to long, that begins upstream of Henry's Falls. Obstacles like the falls, a 10feet drop, are generally scouted before running and often portaged.[8]