Trestle Creek Falls loop
(only the lower section of the triangle are mountain bike friendly)
Trestle Creek Falls loop is the perfect hike to do in any season! You can do this loop clockwise or counter-clockwise, both has their perks. If you take the first trail that you see right after the bridge by the parking, you will end up taking the trail in a clockwise direction. I think this is how most people do it, since it is also less steep going uphill. (This is how I have described the hike below).
There is a gravel parking area on the left side of the road, right before the bridge crosses over Brice Creek, (Rd. 22 takes you farther on to the Bohemia Wilderness). In the designated parking there is room for about 8-10 cars, along with a pit toilet, which is always nice. You will cross the bridge, and start the trail here, following Brice Creek downstream. .3 miles into the hike, there is a little .6 mile out and back trail to Lower Trestle Creek Falls.
There is a gravel parking area on the left side of the road, right before the bridge crosses over Brice Creek, (Rd. 22 takes you farther on to the Bohemia Wilderness). In the designated parking there is room for about 8-10 cars, along with a pit toilet, which is always nice. You will cross the bridge, and start the trail here, following Brice Creek downstream. .3 miles into the hike, there is a little .6 mile out and back trail to Lower Trestle Creek Falls.
(Lower Trestle Creek Falls 45 ft.)
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You hike uphill until you are in a small nook in a narrow canyon where the waterfall comes down. Late in the season like August and September the water flow can be very small. After viewing Lower Trestle Creek Falls, you will hike .5 miles along Brice Creek trail, until coming to a junction. Here you can continue hiking along Brice Creek (which is more of an out and back type of hike, and popular with mountain bikers) or you can go right and go to the Upper Falls. It is only 1.1 miles to the Upper Falls, but it is fairly steep (about 1,000 ft. elevation gain). |
(Upper Trestle Creek Falls 100 ft.)
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Upper Trestle Creek Falls is 100 ft. tall and generally a roaring wall of water that you can walk behind.
The trail is very well maintained overall. The terrain is not too difficult, however if you hike here in the rain, it has the tendency to become quite muddy and slippery, especially when going uphill. At the Upper Falls, you have reached the highest part of the trail and from here it is 1.5 miles back downhill to where the parking area is. |
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(there were a lot of different kinds of mushrooms and wildflowers on this hike)
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Overall, this hike is the perfect loop for everyone! There are miles and miles of hiking trails in this general area Brice Creek area, and you can hike here at any time of the year. I do recommend having good tires if you are coming in winter because Road 22 is very narrow and can be slippery with snow and ice.
(Upper Trestle Creek Falls 100 ft.)
Approximate hike time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Suggested seasons: Spring, summer, fall, winter
(Best time to go is in March and April when everything is nice and green and waterfalls are have a lot of water).
Trail usage: Moderate
Directions: Drive Interstate 5 to Cottage Grove. Take exit 174 and follow signs to Dorena Lake. Continue on the main paved road through the towns of Culp Creek and Disston (these communities are so tiny you don't even realize you are driving through a town) a total of 21.7 miles from the freeway. A mile past the Umpqua National Forest entrance sign, where the road first bridges Brice Creek, look for a trail sign on the left marking the lower Brice Creek trail head. You would only stop here, if you chose to hike a few miles along Brice Creek. If you are wanting to hike the Trestle Creek Falls loop, continue up Road 22. After you pass Hobo Camp (don't worry, there are no actual hobos here), you will see the parking area on your left (Champion Creek trail head). If you cross Brice Creek again and it is now on your right, then you have gone too far.
Suggested seasons: Spring, summer, fall, winter
(Best time to go is in March and April when everything is nice and green and waterfalls are have a lot of water).
Trail usage: Moderate
Directions: Drive Interstate 5 to Cottage Grove. Take exit 174 and follow signs to Dorena Lake. Continue on the main paved road through the towns of Culp Creek and Disston (these communities are so tiny you don't even realize you are driving through a town) a total of 21.7 miles from the freeway. A mile past the Umpqua National Forest entrance sign, where the road first bridges Brice Creek, look for a trail sign on the left marking the lower Brice Creek trail head. You would only stop here, if you chose to hike a few miles along Brice Creek. If you are wanting to hike the Trestle Creek Falls loop, continue up Road 22. After you pass Hobo Camp (don't worry, there are no actual hobos here), you will see the parking area on your left (Champion Creek trail head). If you cross Brice Creek again and it is now on your right, then you have gone too far.
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*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer
*Disclaimer: the trail descriptions, mileage, GPS tracks and difficulty ratings depicted on this website are never 100% accurate. Always hike at your own risk, using your own knowledge, equipment and common sense. Franziska Weinheimer/Hike Oregon are not responsible if you or anyone in your party gets injured or lost while attempting one of these or any other hikes.
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