Oregon's Second Highest Single Drop Waterfall Is An Enchanting Site With Scenic Hiking Trails

When it comes to outdoor bliss, Oregon seemingly has it all. From rugged peaks to deep forests, hidden beaches, high-desert canyons, and the deepest lake in America, the Beaver State boasts natural attractions that draw visitors from far and wide.

Oregon is especially blessed with waterfalls. Due to its mountainous terrain, deep snowpack, and plentiful rainfall, Oregon is home to over a thousand flowing cascades, the most famous of which — Multnomah Falls — can be seen on this Western U.S. road trip.

Nestled in the foothills of the Cascades 64 miles west of Eugene — one of the country's best college towns — is Salt Creek Falls. At 286 feet, Salt Creek Falls is Oregon's second-highest single-drop waterfall (first place goes to Multnomah Falls) and is a terrific spot for a day-hike and a picnic. The surrounding Willamette National Forest also offers plenty of opportunity for outdoor recreation, making it possible to visit the stunning cascade while also getting down with deeper exploration.

Plunging from the thick Pacific Northwest forest into a deep canyon below, Salt Creek Falls is a soul-stirring sight. Not only is it an impressively high waterfall, but also one of Oregon's most powerful, with 50,000 gallons of pristine river water per minute gushing over the rock. The misty, otherworldly landscape it creates looks like a scene from a fantasy movie that may have you looking over your shoulder for elves, dragons, and other mythical beings.

The U.S. Forest Service maintains a day-use area around the falls, with a parking lot, fully-equipped restrooms (with flush toilets), hiking paths, a picnic area, and an observation deck that sits just fifty yards from the parking lot. The deck is wheelchair accessible and offers clear sightlines for anyone sitting or standing.

A loop gravel trail offers vistas of the canyon, where there is also a trail that leads down into the canyon to the base of the falls. This is not wheelchair accessible and can get muddy and slick in spots, so make sure to wear sturdy footwear. And while facilities at the day-use site are closed during winter, the area is perfect for snowshoeing, with the falls creating a perfect backdrop for a frozen wonderland. To get to Salt Creek Falls, take Highway 58 from Eugene. The falls are 23 miles southeast of the town of Oakridge, right off Forest Service Road 5893, about five miles west of Willamette Pass. There is a $5 per-vehicle use fee, or you can purchase a recreation pass at the Vistor Information Center in Eugene.

Salt Creek Falls sits within the boundaries of the 1,675,407-acre Willamette National Forest, which occupies a massive swath of the Cascades. This area is home to deep forests, 375 lakes, over 1,500 miles of river, and some of the Cascade's tallest volcanic rises, including Three Sisters and Mt. Jefferson, which, at 10,495 feet, is Oregon's second-highest peak. You can also find eight wilderness areas in the reserve totaling over 380,000 acres.

The Willamette National Forest offers seemingly endless opportunities for recreation, including hiking, camping, fishing, mountain biking, OHV, and more. The forest hosts more than 70 developed campgrounds and 1,700 miles of trails that snake along its valleys and ridges. It also has some of the best fishing in the region, with rivers and placid alpine lakes home to sizable populations of trout and salmon.

During cold months, the forest becomes blanketed in snow and draws visitors keen on winter recreation. Some hit the slopes at the Hoodoo or Willamette Pass Ski Areas, while others head to a number of sno-parks throughout for snowshoeing, cross country skiing, or snowmobiling. For more of Oregon's outdoor wonder, check out this state park brimming with deep scenic canyons.