Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

The next time you want to feed a waterfall fix in Oregon, forget the Columbia River Gorge and head to the Coast Range instead.



When Oregonians think of waterfalls, we tend to think of the Columbia River Gorge, home to at least a dozen of our state's most famous plunges. We often overlook the many incredible waterfalls in the mountain range just west of the Willamette Valley.



While they tend to run dry in the summer, waterfalls of Oregon's coastal mountains roar in the winter and spring, fed by storms that roll in off the Pacific. Found in forested canyons and amphitheaters forged of volcanic rock, waterfalls rank among the most scenic destinations in the region.



Unlike in the Columbia River Gorge, no single highway leads to all these falls. Finding them requires hours of driving along the many winding highways and forest roads that cross the mountains.



PEAK NORTHWEST PODCAST: Chasing down the Coast Range waterfalls



There are dozens upon dozens of waterfalls in Oregon's northern Coast Range, but only a small portion are easy and safe to access. Diehard waterfall hunters may be willing to bushwhack through the forest to find them, but we've decided to stick with the falls found on trails or the side of the road.



These 12 represent the best of the best, the Coast Range waterfalls worth chasing down on your next journey out to the coast.

Don't Edit

WHAT IS THE NORTH COAST RANGE?

The Coast Range is the mountain range between the Willamette Valley and the Oregon Coast, running south to the Middle Fork of the Coquille River and north to the Olympic Peninsula. For this story, we’re considering the “north Coast Range” to be the portion that runs from the Columbia River to U.S. Route 20.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

12. Fern Rock Falls

One of the easiest Coast Range waterfalls to access, Fern Rock Falls is found at a pull-out on the side of Oregon 6 in the Tillamook State Forest. Standing at 35 feet tall over two drops, it’s a lovely little waterfall, notable as a passing attraction as you make your way across the mountains.

Don't Edit

To find Fern Rock Falls, take Oregon 6 to a pull-out on the south side of the highway between mile markers 29 and 30, about 22 miles west of U.S. 26.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

11. Kilchis Falls

Kilchis Falls is a tall, misty waterfall, found on the winding back roads of the Tillamook State Forest. While it stands at an impressive 100 feet tall, it’s not a particularly strong waterfall, flowing lightly even in winter. The drive to get there requires navigating several steep, bumpy forest roads that won’t be kind to every car.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

To reach Kilchis Falls, take Oregon 6 to Jones Creek Road, looking for signs for Jones Creek Campground. In 1.3 miles, stay right onto Cedar Creek Road. In 5.3 miles, turn left, then turn right in .2 miles. In 2 miles, look for the waterfall on the left side of the road.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

10. Bridge Creek Falls

Bridge Creek Falls is a perfectly lovely 35-foot waterfall, cascading down a rocky cliff as Bridge Creek crosses under Oregon 6 through the Tillamook State Forest. Moss-covered stone steps give the waterfall an ornate look that adds handcrafted beauty to the experience. The only problem – and it’s a pretty big problem – is that the waterfall is only accessible by scampering across the often-busy highway.

Don't Edit

To reach Bridge Creek Falls, take Oregon 6 west to the Footbridge Trailhead, 2.3 miles west of the Tillamook Forest Center. Follow the trail out of the parking lot to the highway, and at the guardrail, carefully and quickly cross the road. You'll see a wooden sign beside the steps to the falls.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

9. University Falls

Nestled into a small, forested canyon in the Tillamook State Forest, University Falls is a beautiful little waterfall found at the end of a remote trail. Signage is sparse on the trail to the waterfall, but the quick hike is less than .5 miles each way. University Falls can run dry in the summer, though during winter and spring its flow is plenty strong.

Don't Edit

To find University Falls, take Oregon 6 west and turn left onto Beaver Dam Road, following a sign for Rogers Camp Trailhead. Make the first right to stay on Beaver Dam Road, and in .7 miles turn right onto University Falls Road. Follow the gravel road for 2.6 miles to the University Falls Trailhead. From the trailhead sign, go left and then right to go into the forest. Stay straight across two gravel roads, and look for a colorful, painted sign for University Falls. Go left at the sign and follow it to the waterfall.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

8. Fishhawk Falls

There's something inexplicably beautiful about Fishhawk Falls, a waterfall neither tall nor dramatic that simply exudes a sense of calm. The waterfall is the main attraction of Lee Wooden Fishhawk Falls Park, a small natural area near the tiny community of Jewell. It's a perfect spot for a picnic lunch or a moment of quiet reflection. Cars passing on the road nearby offer a momentary disruption that the cascading water seems to quickly soothe away.

Don't Edit

To reach Lee Wooden Fishhawk Falls Park, take U.S. 26 to Oregon 103 North. Follow the highway for 9 miles, then turn left onto Oregon 202. In about 4 miles, look for the park entrance on the left. Follow the trail from the parking lot a short way to the waterfall.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

7. Pheasant Creek Falls

Found just up the trail from the popular Niagara Falls in the Siuslaw National Forest, Pheasant Creek Falls is perfectly impressive in its own right, a horsetail style waterfall that runs down a slanted canyon wall. You can soak it all in – quite literally – from a footbridge on the trail at the base of the falls.

Don't Edit

To reach the Niagara Falls Trailhead, take U.S. 101 south of Tillamook. At the community of Beaver, turn left onto Blaine Road. After 6.6 miles, stay right onto Upper Nestucca River Road. In 5 miles, turn right onto Niagara Road, following a sign for the Niagara Falls Trail. Follow the forest road south for about 3.8 miles, then turn right at a signed junction toward Niagara Falls. In .5 miles, look for the trailhead on the left.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

6. Youngs River Falls

Popularized in movies like “Free Willy 2,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III” and “Benji the Hunted,” Youngs River Falls has had its share of attention over the years – and for good reason. While only 54 feet tall, the waterfall can gush at the same volume as Multnomah Falls. Some overuse and litter make it less desirable as a destination, but the waterfall, managed by Astoria Parks and Recreation, is certainly impressive.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

To reach Youngs River Falls from Astoria, take 16th Street south and turn right on Jerome Avenue, then turn left on 15th Street. Turn left on Niagara Avenue, then turn right onto 16th Street and continue onto Williamsport Road. In 1 mile, turn left onto Oregon 202, and follow it for 6.8 miles. Turn right onto Youngs River Road, and in 4 miles turn left onto Youngs River Falls Road. Look for a small parking area on your left and a sign pointing you to the short trail to the falls.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

5. Munson Creek Falls

Munson Creek Falls is the tallest waterfall in the Coast Range, measuring an impressive 319 feet tall over three drops. The waterfall is part of an Oregon state park site, where a short trail leads from the parking and picnic areas to a viewpoint of the waterfall. The end of the trail is sometimes closed, but it's a tall enough waterfall to afford good views from afar.

Don't Edit

To reach Munson Creek Falls, take U.S. Route 101 south from Tillamook for 6.5 miles, then turn left onto Munson Creek Road. Follow the road for 1.2 miles, then stay right to enter the state park site.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

4. Umbrella Falls

Umbrella Falls might just be the prettiest little waterfall in Oregon. The 35-foot plunge is found on a bend in the North Fork Nehalem River, surrounded by moss-covered trees and a quiet riverbank. The waterfall is at the North Nehalem Fish Hatchery, and is a popular fishing spot.

Don't Edit

Find the North Nehalem Fish Hatchery at 36751 Fish Hatchery Lane in Nehalem. From the visitor parking area, follow signs to Umbrella Falls, found at the end of a short walk through the forest.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

3. Niagara Falls

Much smaller than the famous Niagara Falls, Oregon's waterfall by the same name is found at the end of an easy hike in the Siuslaw National Forest, where it stands just beside neighboring Pheasant Creek Falls. Niagara Falls isn't particularly tall, but it's a perfectly beautiful plunge in a quiet setting, complete with a picnic table where you can sit down and soak it all in.

Don't Edit

To reach the Niagara Falls Trailhead, take U.S. 101 south of Tillamook. At the community of Beaver, turn left onto Blaine Road. After 6.6 miles, stay right onto Upper Nestucca River Road. In 5 miles, turn right onto Niagara Road, following a sign for the Niagara Falls Trail. Follow the forest road south for about 3.8 miles, then turn right at a signed junction toward Niagara Falls. In .5 miles, look for the trailhead on the left.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

2. Beaver Falls

A spectacular slice of paradise between Portland and the Oregon coast, Beaver Falls is a 48-foot plunge in a beautiful stone amphitheater near Clatskanie. Beaver Falls lies outside the more mountainous part of the Coast Range, found on one of the many small tributaries of the Columbia River. With no proper signage to speak of, the waterfall has remained under the radar for many years.

Don't Edit

To reach the Beaver Falls Trailhead from Clatskanie, turn north off U.S. 30 onto North Nehalem Street downtown. In .2 miles, make a slight left onto Northwest Fifth Street, and in half a mile, continue onto Beaver Falls Road. Follow Beaver Falls Road for 5.6 miles, then look for a large pull-out on the right. Find the trailhead at the far east side of the parking area, beside a wooden post with faded red letters that read “BFTH.”

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

1. Drift Creek Falls

Drift Creek Falls is relatively small compared with other waterfalls in Oregon, measuring only 66 feet tall, but the Siuslaw National Forest attraction is easily one of the most dramatic in the state. Visitors first lay eyes on the waterfall from above, as the trail crosses over a 240-foot suspension bridge hanging 100 feet above the canyon floor. Show up in the winter or early spring to catch Drift Creek Falls at its best, as water roars over the jagged basalt cliff.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

To reach the Drift Creek Falls trailhead from Lincoln City, take U.S. 101 south to Cutler City, then turn left onto Drift Creek Road. In 2 miles, make a slight left onto Forest Road 17, at a small sign for Drift Creek Falls. Continue on the road for about 10 miles, following signs for Drift Creek Falls. The trailhead parking lot will be on the right. Parking is $5, or display a valid forest pass. There are vault toilets, but no water at the trailhead.

--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB

Don't Edit