Dean Creek Wildlife Viewing Area, Oregon
It is one of the most popular destinations in all of Oregon for wildlife watching – and a great place to see and learn about elk. You’ll find the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area on the banks of the Umpqua River in Reedsport, about 85 miles southwest of Eugene.
Hosting 480,000 visitors annually, it is home to a resident herd of 120 Roosevelt elk as well as a wide array of other wildlife. While popular for birds and bird watchers, since it serves as a stop along the coastal migration route, elk are the main draw.
To maintain and improve elk habitat and the overall viewing experience, RMEF supplied funding for 16 different projects dating back to 1995, ranging from seeding, fertilizing, and enhancing forage production to installing interpretative signage. Most recently, in 2022, RMEF funding helped the Bureau of Land Management with prescribed burning, mowing and invasive weed treatment to maximize forage productivity for elk, blacktail deer, wild turkey, waterfowl, birds and other wildlife. And to make it an even better place to see and appreciate elk.