Little River (North Umpqua River) - Course

Course

Little River begins north of Quartz Mountain and east of Hemlock Lake in the Umpqua National Forest of southwestern Oregon. Flowing north for about 3 miles (5 km), it turns west before plunging over Yakso Falls. Beyond the falls, it receives Hemlock Creek from the left and then Junction and Pinnacle creeks from the right. Cedar Creek enters from the right about 24 miles (39 km) from the mouth. Over the next 4 miles (6 km), Taft Creek enters from the right and then Clover and Black creeks from the left.

Downstream of Black Creek, the Little River turns northwest and receives Little Taft and Poore creeks from the right and White Creek from the left. White Creek Campground is on the left at the mouth of White Creek. Below this, Negro Creek enters from the left, and Cool Water Campground is on the right at river mile (RM) 17. About 2 miles (3 km) later, the river arrives at Emile Creek Campground. Over the next stretch, Little River receives Emile and Shivigny creeks from the right before passing by Wolf Creek Campground. The river then receives Little Creek from the right, Wolf Creek from the left, and Greenman Creek from the right.

Boundary Creek enters from the right at about RM 9. Slightly more than a mile later, Bond Creek enters from the right, then Cavitt Creek and Jim Creek from the left at RM 7. At this point, Cavitt Creek County Park is on the left, and the river passes under a covered bridge. Beyond the bridge, the river turns north and over the next 2 miles (3 km) receives Eagles Creek and Rattlesnake Creek, both from the right. Turning west again, the river receives Williams Creek from the right and Falls Creek from the left before heading north and northwest for the final 2 miles (3 km). Little River passes under Oregon Route 138 and meets the North Umpqua River near Glide, 29 miles (47 km) from the larger stream's confluence with the South Umpqua River.

For much of its length, Little River is paralleled by Forest Road 27, which is gravel along the upstream stretches but becomes paved for the lowermost 2 miles (3 km). Below that, it is known as County Road 17 (Little River Road), a paved highway that follows the river all the way to Route 138 and the river mouth.