Redwood Creek (Humboldt County)
| Redwood Creek | |
| River | |
 Redwood Creek seen with a herd of Roosevelt Elk on its banks
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| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | California |
| Region | Humboldt County |
| Tributaries | |
| - left | Noisy Creek (Redwood Creek), Lupton Creek, Devils Creek, Bridge Creek (Redwood Creek) |
| - right | Bradford Creek, Minor Creek, Lacks Creek, Prairie Creek (California) |
| City | Orick |
| Source | Board Camp Mountain |
| - location | Redwood National Park |
| - elevation | 4,400 ft (1,341 m) |
| - coordinates | 40°42′21″N 123°42′14″W / 40.70583°N 123.70389°W |
| Mouth | Pacific Ocean |
| - location | Orick |
| - elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| - coordinates | 41°17′32″N 124°05′31″W / 41.29222°N 124.09194°WCoordinates: 41°17′32″N 124°05′31″W / 41.29222°N 124.09194°W |
| Length | 61.8 mi (99 km), South-north |
| Basin | 279 sq mi (723 km2) |
| Discharge | for Orick, CA |
| - average | 1,006 cu ft/s (28 m3/s) |
| - max | 50,500 cu ft/s (1,430 m3/s) |
| - min | 2.1 cu ft/s (0 m3/s) |
 Map of Redwood Creek basin
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Redwood Creek (Yurok: 'O'rekw 'We-Roy ) is a 61.8-mile (99.5 km) river in Humboldt County, California. The river's headwaters are in the Coast Range at about 5,000 feet (1,500 m) and it flows roughly northwest until it empties into the Pacific Ocean near the small town of Orick, the only development in the 280-square-mile (730 km2)-watershed.
Redwood Creek begins near Board Camp Mountain in the Coast Ranges near Dinsmores. The stream's headwaters lie at about 4,400 feet (1,300 m) above sea level, in a network of small unnamed streams along the north sides of a ridge abutting the Mad River valley to the south. It flows north through a deep forested valley, receiving many small tributaries including Minor and Lacks creeks from the right. About 15 miles (24 km) downstream of the source, the creek crosses under State Route 299.
Slightly less than 20 miles (32 km) from the mouth, the river passes the southern boundary of Redwood National Park. It then receives Bridge Creek from the left, before winding through several groves of Sequoia sempervirens, more commonly known as redwood trees, from which the stream takes its name. Several of the tallest redwoods in the world are near the creeks banks. Near the small town of Orick it curves west, and receives Prairie Creek, its largest tributary, from the right. It empties into the Pacific Ocean about 30 miles (48 km) north of Eureka and 27 miles (43 km) south of Crescent City.
The long, narrow Redwood Creek drainage basin encompasses 280 square miles (730 km2) on the western slopes of the California Coast Ranges, entirely within Humboldt County. It stretches about 56 kilometres (35 mi) from north to south and ranges from 4.5 to 7 miles (7.2 to 11.3 km) wide. Most of the stream flows in a broad, 1,500-foot (460 m)-deep valley sandwiched between the Mad River basin to the west, and the Klamath River drainage to the east. Elevations range from over 5,000 feet (1,500 m) on higher peaks of the mountains near the headwaters to sea level at the creek's mouth at the Pacific. The small town of Orick and the narrow strip of surrounding farmland are the only significant development in the entire basin. The river is free flowing and has no dams, only a few agricultural diversions in the last 3 miles (4.8 km) above the mouth.
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Wikipedia