The Elk River is one of three world-class salmon, cutthroat and steelhead trout fishing rivers in the Port Orford area. It rises approximately 25 miles into the Coastal Range of mountains of northern Curry County in the Siskiyou National Forest. Generally speaking it flows in a westerly direction through Grassy Knob Wilderness, when it reaches Port Orford it generally flows northwest, and drains into the Pacific just south of Cape Blanco.
The Elk River watershed is representative of the old-growth ecosystems along the southern Oregon coast. The scenic quality in the river corridor is a result of a combination of the geology, land forms, water and vegetation features. The lower section of the river flows through a steep canyon with exposed rock surfaces, forming an inner-gorge environment. Upstream, the gorge widens slightly, but the corridor remains very steep.
The combination of water, color, exposed rock surfaces, dynamic flow, and relatively undisturbed environment creates an interesting and beautiful landscape throughout the year. The scenic quality of the river corridor draws on these features to create a significant value within the federally protected corridor.
The Elk River was designated "Wild and Scenic" on the 28 October 1988 and given two classifications:
- "Recreational" for the 17-mile segment from the confluence of the North and South Forks of the Elk River to Anvil Creek.
- "Wild" for the 2-mile segment of the North Fork Elk River from the falls to its confluence with the South Fork Elk River.
The Elk and the Sixes Rivers are often called sister rivers due to their close proximity.
The upper Middle Fork of the Sixes River and the North Fork of the Elk River are under consideration for wilderness designation as part of the 13,700 acre Copper Salmon Wilderness area to protect one of the nation's largest remaining stands of low-elevation old-growth forest and one of the healthiest salmon, steelhead, and cutthroat trout runs in the continental United States as well as stands of vulnerable Port Orford Cedar and endangered birds like the marbled murrelet and the northern spotted owl.
Elk River not far from the mouth
Old Growth Port Orford Cedar
Copper Mountain
Camp Grounds
There are three developed campgrounds within the Elk river corridor; two sites are located along the river, Butler Bar and Sunshine Bar, and the third campground is Laird Lake. None of these sites currently charge a fee, with Butler Bar providing water service on a seasonal basis. The river itself provides many pools and swimming areas, and there are several dispersed sites along the river corridor. The main attraction to the area is fishing, which is restricted to the first two miles of river corridor.
