How to find Oregon’s hidden waterfall corridor, tucked away deep in the Cascade Mountains
Susan Creek Falls is found at the end of a short trail off the North Umpqua River in Oregons south central Cascade Mountains.
Waterfalls can feel like a dime a dozen in Oregon, where hundreds of documented plunges and multiple “waterfall corridors” are found in the Columbia River Gorge, Willamette Valley, Coast Range and, naturally, the Cascade Mountains.
That makes finding a new waterfall spot all the more exciting.
Far from the well-trod paths of places like the Historic Columbia River Highway and Silver Falls State Park, beyond even the relatively obscure waterfalls of the McKenzie River, is the North Umpqua River waterfall corridor. Here, the towering falls seem to emerge out of nowhere, huge plunging mirages in the evergreen forests of Oregon’s southern Cascade Mountains.
The lower tier of Fall Creek Falls, found just off the North Umpqua River in Oregons south central Cascade Mountains.
How out of the way is the North Umpqua River waterfall corridor? Just try explaining to someone where you’re going. If “kind of on the way to the north entrance of Crater Lake” doesn’t paint a clear enough picture, you’re left with “the mountains east of Roseburg.”
Most people visit the area for Umpqua Hot Springs, to go fly fishing or on a slightly longer drive to Crater Lake National Park. Those who have time usually tack on a visit to one or two of the bigger waterfalls along Oregon 138, the highway that follows the river across the mountains — the rest are only for the most dedicated waterfall chasers.
Getting there requires not only time but some advance preparation as well. Make sure you pack the 10 essentials as well as a pair of waterproof hiking boots if you’re going in or around the rainy season. Consider writing down directions to trailheads ahead of time, in case you lose service in the mountains. Google or Apple maps will do well for some of the main destinations, but the in-app navigation will lead you astray for some of the smaller spots.
Slide Creek Falls cascades into a peaceful grotto, found just off the North Umpqua River in Oregons south central Cascade Mountains.
For those dedicated waterfall explorers (or anyone who wants to see some pretty scenery in the mountains) here are the best plunges in Oregon’s hidden waterfall corridor, and how to find them.
Toketee Falls
Hiking distance: .8 miles, out and back
Difficulty: moderately easy
Warm Springs Falls cascades from a cliff just off the North Umpqua River in the Umpqua National Forest.
This 89-foot plunge is easily the most picturesque and perhaps the most popular waterfall in the corridor. A sizable parking lot just off Oregon 138 gives access to the short hiking trail, which winds through the forest, climbing up and down a series of staircases, ending at a platform with an incredible view of Toketee Falls. The two-tiered waterfall pours out of an opening in the columnar basalt cliff into a moss-rimmed pool on the river. All of it can be seen on a moderately easy .8-mile hike.
Lemolo Falls pours off the North Umpqua River in Oregons south central Cascade Mountains. The waterfall is accessed by a hike along the North Umpqua Trail in the Umpqua National Forest.
Watson Falls
Distance: .8 miles, out and back
Difficulty: moderately easy
A small, breathtaking hike leads to Watson Falls, a 293-foot plunge that ranks among the tallest in Oregon. Signs in a large parking area on the side of Oregon 138 (where there’s also a vault toilet) point hikers across a small road to a dirt trail that winds up along Watson Creek, past several bubbling rapids and mossy rocks, leading to a rocky amphitheater at the base of the falls. The trail continues uphill a short way to a viewpoint at the top of the waterfall, where hikers are bathed in mist when the flow is really strong. All of it can be seen on a .8-mile out-and-back hike.
Watson Falls cascades from a tall cliff in the Umpqua National Forest in Oregons south central Cascade Mountains.
Lemolo Falls
Distance: 3.5 miles, out and back
Difficulty: moderate
More adventurous travelers can step off the beaten path to find Lemolo Falls, a 165-foot horsetail waterfall found deeper in the Cascade Mountains. Hikers can see the waterfall from either side of the North Umpqua River, but the better hike is along the North Umpqua Trail, starting at the White Mule Trailhead just north of Lemolo Lake. A 3.5-mile out-and-back hike leads to a viewpoint above Lemolo Falls, with some smaller, unnamed falls and river views along the way.
Toketee Falls pours off the North Umpqua River in Oregons south central Cascade Mountains.
Warm Springs Falls
Distance: .6 miles, out and back
Difficulty: easy
You’d be excused if you felt like Warm Springs Falls wasn’t worth the effort to get there. The 60-foot waterfall is certainly beautiful, pouring from a columnar basalt shelf high in the mountains, and the hike to a viewpoint is quick and easy — it’s just the drive that could turn people off. The Warm Springs Falls trailhead is found on a remote forest road beside a hydroelectric project on the North Umpqua River. Signage is nonexistent, and the roads, a mix of public and private, can be confusing. Google Maps may tell you to drive along a large pipeline, which is ... not advisable. You can still use an online map (like Google or Apple), but make sure to navigate the roads yourself, and consider writing directions down ahead of time. Those dedicated to seeing all the best falls in the area should still make the trek, but casual waterfall chasers might want to pass.
Slide Creek Falls cascades into a peaceful grotto, found just off the North Umpqua River in Oregons south central Cascade Mountains.
Slide Creek Falls
Distance: 0 miles
Difficulty: easy
Slide Creek Falls is the easiest waterfall in the corridor to see, in that there is no hike necessary to see it. But, like Warm Springs Falls, the drive is a bit confusing. The 137-foot plunge is a seasonal waterfall, usually drying out by the end of the summer. In the thrust of spring, however, it’s a beautiful scene, found in a magical forested setting not far from Oregon 138. Getting there requires navigating a short tangle of back roads around a hydroelectric facility (again, don’t rely on app navigation for this one), but the way is clear for anyone using an online map. A small pull-out allows visitors to step out into a view of the falls.
Fall Creek Falls
Distance: 2.2 miles
Difficulty: moderate
Wildfire damage is clear at Fall Creek Falls. Blackened snags and wide-open views surround the 120-foot four-tiered waterfall (one of nearly two dozen in Oregon by the same name), found on a short trail that starts on the side of Oregon 138. While not exactly strenuous, the hike crosses some tricky terrain, including loose rock on the edge of some steep drops down to Fall Creek. After about three-quarters of a mile, the trail reaches the lower bowl of Fall Creek Falls, a beautiful place to take in the spray and sunshine. Continue hiking for another quarter mile to the upper viewpoint, a fenced-in gander at the top tier of the falls.
Susan Creek Falls
Distance: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: easy
An easy hike to a pretty waterfall, Susan Creek Falls is a good entry point to this area, located on the far western side of the North Umpqua waterfall corridor. While the 1.5-mile out-and-back hike was once known as a cool, forested respite, it’s now a fire-ravaged landscape that’s in the early stages of growth. The trail leads to a small viewpoint at the center of the 35-foot waterfall, with a picnic table nearby. The forest may be gone, but this is a great spot to see wildflowers in the spring.
NOTE: As of spring 2025, the trail remained closed Monday-Friday due to construction.
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