Drift Creek Falls is one of the better inland excursions from Lincoln City, reached by a forest trail through the Coast Range. The route is best known for its long suspension bridge, which crosses high above the creek before the path drops toward the waterfall viewpoint.
The hike is short enough for a half-day outing but feels far removed from the beaches and highway towns of the central Oregon coast. It is especially good after rain, when the forest is wet and green and the falls have more force, though the trail can be muddy in the same conditions.