French Pete Creek

French Pete Creek is a tributary of the South Fork McKenzie River in Lane County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. It flows generally west through the Three Sisters Wilderness to the south end of Cougar Reservoir, about 11 miles (18 km) from the larger river's confluence with the McKenzie River. The creek has two named tributaries—Olallie Creek and, further downstream, Pat Creek—both of which enter from the right.[3]

French Pete Creek
French Pete Creek
Location of the mouth of French Pete Creek in Oregon
EtymologyShepherd who grazed his flock along the creek
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyLane
Physical characteristics
SourceThree Sisters Wilderness
 • locationCascade Range
 • coordinates43°59′11″N 122°00′13″W[1]
 • elevation4,823 ft (1,470 m)[2]
MouthSouth Fork McKenzie River
 • location
French Pete Campground, Cougar Reservoir
 • coordinates
44°02′28″N 122°12′27″W[1]
 • elevation
1,791 ft (546 m)[1]

The stream derives its name from an early-day shepherd who grazed his flock along the valley.[4] The shepherd's last name is unknown.[5]

French Pete Trail, which crosses the stream twice, runs along the creek's valley.[6] The trail begins near French Creek Campground, at the confluence of the creek with the river. Campground amenities include 17 tent, car, and trailer sites, picnic tables, vault toilets, and drinking water. The campground is generally open from early April to mid-September.[7]

In the 1970s, environmentalists and timber interests clashed over a "substantial stand of young timber with a high potential value at maturity" along the creek, according to Oregon Geographic Names.[5] In 1978, most of the French Pete Creek valley was added to the Three Sisters Wilderness.[5]

See also

References
  1. "French Pete Creek". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  2. Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  3. "United States Topographic Map". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 19, 2015 – via ACME Mapper.
  4. Newman, Doug (July 17, 1988). "Climb Lamb Butte for Shear Enjoyment". Eugene Register-Guard. p. 2G. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  5. McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 384. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.
  6. "French Pete Creek Trail #3311". United States Forest Service. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  7. "French Pete Campground". U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
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