North Umpqua to Mount Thielsen Trail

Toketee Falls is one of the most famous waterfalls in all of Oregon, renowned for the graceful columnar basalt formation framing the two-stepped falls. The North Umpqua River has carved a sinuous gorge out of the lava flow, resulting in a waterfall of 113 feet in height - a 28 foot upper tier which plunges into a pool flanked by a deep alcove, followed by an 85 foot plunge into a large pool. At...

Watson Falls hurtles over a cathedral amphitheater wall of basalt, crashing into a long talus slope covered in moss and vine maple. At 272 feet, Watson Falls is the 3rd tallest waterfall in Oregon.We actually stumbled upon Watson Falls driving back from Toketee Falls. The parking area is about 500 feet south of Highway 138 on the right side. The trail crosses Road 37 and climbs 0.33 miles up to...

When you arrive at the hot springs you'll see a bathroom and large dumpster in a small gravel parking lot. From the parking lot you'll see a bridge which leads to the trail up to the springs. Its a 0.25 mile walk up to seven different pools, sitting 150ft. above the North Umpqua River. All the hot springs set the perfect soaking vibe with a variety of sizes, temperatures and an excellent view. ...

In June of 2015, I visited as many remote waterfall locations in Oregon as I could find. Whitehorse Falls, located along the Clearwater River in Douglas County, was one of those on my list. It's a small waterfall that is just off highway 138 (about 4.5 miles east of Toketee Falls) in Central Oregon. It's a true hidden gem that doesn't get a lot of visitors or attention. But it should. It's a wo...

Toketee Falls is a sight to see, but unless you're from the area, it can be quite the drive for such a short hike. Fortunately, there are plenty of great camping spots not too far from the falls to turn this sightseeing trip into a full-on adventure.Boulder Flat is my favorite of the campgrounds along 138. For one, it opens earlier than the others, making it one of the only places to camp in ea...

This has to be one of the most overlooked waterfalls in Oregon. It doesn't get a lot of publicity, and it's tucked away in south-central Oregon. As such, many people don't pay it much attention. That's too bad.Clearwater Falls can be found just off Highway 138, near mile marker 69. Clearwater Falls is easily accessed from a nearby parking lot. The path from the parking lot is well developed and...