Pistol River

Pistol River
At the river mouth
The Pistol River watershed
Location of the mouth of the Pistol River in Oregon
Etymology	A pistol lost in the river in 1853[2]
Location
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Curry
Physical characteristics
Source	near Sugarloaf Mountain
• location	Siskiyou National Forest, Southern Oregon Coast Range
• coordinates	42°24′10″N 124°12′25″W / 42.40278°N 124.20694°W / 42.40278; -124.20694[1]
• elevation	3,179 ft (969 m)[3]
Mouth	Pacific Ocean
• location	Pistol River State Scenic Viewpoint, near Pistol River
• coordinates	42°16′46″N 124°24′27″W / 42.27944°N 124.40750°W / 42.27944; -124.40750[1]
• elevation	7 ft (2.1 m)[1]
Length	21 mi (34 km)[4]
Basin size	105.1 sq mi (272 km2)[5][6]
Discharge
• minimum	1 cu ft/s (0.028 m3/s)

The Pistol River is a coastal stream that meanders for 21 miles (34 km)^[4] through the Southern Oregon Coast Range to the Pacific Ocean near the unincorporated community of Pistol River in the U.S. state of Oregon. Flowing generally southwest from its origin near Sugarloaf Mountain in the Siskiyou National Forest, the river enters the sea at Pistol River State Scenic Viewpoint,^[7] 10 miles (16 km) south of Gold Beach.^[8] The river received its name after pioneer James Mace lost his pistol in it in 1853.^[2][9]

The Pistol River supports populations of chinook salmon, threatened coho salmon, steelhead, and coastal cutthroat trout. The river flows generally through forests where logging has damaged the fish habitat. Work to restore the habitat is ongoing.^[10][11]