Hike Oregon
  • Home
  • *Store*
  • About the author
  • How to use this site
  • Resources
    • Videos
  • Best Oregon Hikes
    • Top 10 Oregon Winter Hikes
    • Sno-Parks In Central Oregon
    • Top Low Elevation Winter Hikes
    • 20 Best Oregon Waterfall Hikes
    • Top 10 Oregon Hikes for Kids
    • Top 10 Oregon Spring Hikes
    • Top One Night Backpacking Trips in Oregon
    • 5 Weekend Backpacking Trips in Oregon
    • Top 10 Swimming Spots In Oregon
    • Top 10 Oregon Summer Hikes
    • Top Fall Foliage Hikes In Oregon
    • Top 10 Oregon Fall Hikes
  • Portland
    • Hamilton Mountain
    • Dog Mountain
    • Coyote Wall
    • Mitchell Point
    • Forest Park
    • Powell Butte
    • Table Rock
    • Multnomah/Wahkeena Falls
    • Latourell Falls
    • Trillium Lake
    • East Zigzag Mountain (members only)
  • Salem
    • Abiqua Falls
    • Silver Falls State Park
    • Little North Santiam
    • Henline Falls
    • Opal Creek
    • Whetstone Mountain
    • Marion Lake to Marion Mountain
    • Jefferson Park
    • Olallie Butte (members only)
    • South Breitenbush Gorge (members only)
    • Battle Ax Mountain (members only)
    • Dome Rock and Tumble Lake (members only)
  • Sweet Home
    • Crescent Mountain
    • Iron Mountain
    • McDowell Creek Falls
    • Middle Santiam River (members only)
    • Lower Soda Creek Falls (members only)
    • Rooster Rock (members only)
  • McKenzie Bridge
    • Macduff Mountain
    • Proxy Falls
    • Clear Lake
    • Sahalie/Koosah Falls
    • Blue Pool
    • Erma Bell Lakes
    • Olallie Mountain
    • Horsepasture Mountain
    • Tidbits Mountain
    • Rainbow Falls Overlook (members only)
    • Frissell Point (members only)
    • Chucksney Mountain (members only)
    • Substitute Point (members only)
    • Castle Rock (members only)
  • Sisters/Santiam Pass
    • Coffin Mountain
    • Ray Benson Sno-Park
    • Three Creek Sno-Park
    • Maxwell Sno-Park
    • Potato Hill Sno-Park
    • Black Butte
    • Tam McArthur Rim
    • Three Sisters Loop
    • Black Crater
    • Scott Mountain
    • Obsidian Trail
    • Three Fingered Jack Loop
    • Canyon Creek Meadows
    • Patjens Lakes
    • Chush Falls (members only)
    • Rockpile Lake (members only)
    • Santiam Lake (members only)
    • Camp Lake (members only)
    • Park Meadow to Golden Lake (members only)
  • Bend/Redmond/La Pine
    • Chimney Rock
    • Tumalo State Park
    • Tumalo Falls
    • Tumalo Mountain
    • Broken Top to No Name Lake
    • Green Lakes
    • Moraine Lake
    • South Sister Summit
    • Muskrat Lake
    • Paulina Peak
    • Peter Skene Ogden Trail (members only)
  • Eugene
    • Ridgeline Trail pt. 1
    • Ridgeline Trail pt. 2
    • Mount Pisgah Summit
    • Mount Pisgah Arboretum
    • Shotgun Creek
    • Mt. June
    • Lawler
    • Tire Mountain
    • Goodman Creek
    • Brice Creek
    • Trestle Creek Falls
    • Moon Falls
    • Elijah Bristow State Park
    • South Willamette Trail (members only)
    • Eula Ridge (members only)
    • Eagle's Rest (members only)
  • Oakridge
    • Big Bunchgrass Ridge
    • Gold Lake Sno-Park
    • Deception Creek
    • North Salmon Creek
    • Salt Creek Falls
    • Waldo Lake Loop
    • Rosary Lakes
    • South Waldo Lake loop
    • Fawn Lake Loop
    • Windy Lakes
    • Divide Lake
    • Diamond Peak Summit
    • Timpanogas Lake to Cowhorn Mtn.
    • Wall Creek Warm Springs (members only)
    • Moon Point (members only)
    • The Twins (members only)
    • Bobby Lake (members only)
    • Lillian Falls (members only)
    • Middle Fork Willamette Trail (members only)
    • Pool Creek Falls (members only)
    • Flat Creek to Dead Mountain (members only)
    • Larison Creek (members only)
    • Larison Rock (members only)
    • Eddeeleo Lakes (members only)
    • Waldo Mountain Lookout (members only)
    • Blair Lake to Mule Mountain (members only)
    • Rigdon Lakes loop (members only)
  • Oregon Coast
    • Cascade Head
    • Drift Creek Falls
    • Sweet Creek Falls
    • Alsea Falls
    • Kentucky Falls
    • Marys Peak North Ridge
    • Marys Peak East Ridge
    • Hobbit Trail to Heceta Head
    • Cooks Ridge (members only)
    • Horse Creek (members only)
    • Siltcoos Lake (members only)
    • William Finley Wildlife Refuge (members only)
  • Southern Oregon
    • Fall Creek Falls
    • Watson Falls
    • Mt. Thielsen
    • The Watchman
    • Mount Scott
    • The Pinnacles
    • Lower Table Rock
    • Pilot Rock
    • Wagner Butte
    • Mt. McLoughlin
    • Fern Falls (members only)
  • Eastern Oregon
    • Painted Cove
    • Mount Howard
    • Anthony Lake Loop
    • Schneider Cabin (members only)
    • Strawberry Lake & Falls (members only)
  • Oregon PCT sections
    • PCT: Hwy. 58 to Charlton Lake
    • PCT: Santiam Pass to Rockpile Lake
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Top Tips For Hiking With Infants And Toddlers
    • Poison Oak, Ivy and Sumac
    • How to dress for cold weather hikes
    • Hiker Holiday Gift Guide 2019
    • Outdoor Holiday Gift Guide 2018
    • Hiking Holiday Gift Guide 2017
  • Reviews
    • Outdoor Herbivore Backpacking Food Review
    • Osprey Aura AG 65 Backpack review
    • Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 review
    • REI Quarter Dome 1 review
  • Adventure Stories
    • Hiking The Rae Lakes Loop
    • 110 Miles on the PCT
    • The Loop Around Three Fingered Jack
    • Jefferson Wilderness

Watson Falls

​
Watson Falls trail map
Get the printable version of this hike

Hike Details:

Mileage: 1 mile loop w/ 425 ft. elevation gain
Approximate hike time: 26 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Easy
Trail usage: High on summer weekends, medium on fall weekends, low on weekdays
General location: 61 miles east of Roseburg - Umpqua National Forest
Suggested seasons: Spring, summer, fall, early winter
(Best time to go is end of September and early October for prime fall foliage. Late March, April and early May are great for prime water flow).
Permits required: N/A
Pit toilet at trailhead: Yes
Trail allows: ​Dogs on leash
Watson Creek Oregon
(Watson Creek)

Description:

Watson Falls is Oregon's 3rd tallest known waterfall. Its impressive 294 ft. continuous drop can be seen from two viewpoints along this 1 mile, family friendly loop trail. 
Begin the hike on the south side of the large parking area. You will cross NF-37 and you will see where the trail heads into the forest. The lush understory is full of large ferns, mosses, salal, Oregon grape and vine maples. The vine maples turn golden and eventually orange and red throughout late September and into early to mid-October. Follow the trail for 0.25 miles before coming to a trail split with a sign. This is a small loop that you will take on your way back. Continue straight on the trail up the hill and cross a small bridge before coming to the lower viewpoint of Watson Falls. 
Watson Falls Trail stairs
Watson Falls
(Watson Falls from the lower viewpoint)
The lower viewpoint is spectacular and you are able to see the whole waterfall as it plunges over the basalt lava rocks. Watson Falls has flow year-round, but in spring this waterfall is the most impressive with tremendous water flow! 
Watson Falls lower viewpoint
Watson Falls Trail to upper viewpoint
Watson Falls from upper viewpoint
valley view from Watson Falls upper viewpoint
After enjoying the lower viewpoint, you can continue up the trail for another 0.25 miles to the upper viewpoint. The upper viewpoint lets you see the waterfall from about halfway up, which makes it difficult to get a picture of the entire waterfall from here. But you will be able to see the valley below, and if you come in the fall, the foliage across the hillside is stunning!
Watson Falls Trail sign
After checking out the upper viewpoint, head back down the hill to the sign. Unfortunately this sign has been completely decimated by people writing all over it, but you can still kind of make out what it says. Take the trail to the left to continue the loop 0.3 miles back to the trailhead.

Overall, Watson Falls Trail is a very easy loop that is perfect for the whole family. The trail is very well maintained and there are no loose rocks or any off camber terrain. This hike immerses you in the quintessential lush green Oregon forest and the highlight is the 294 foot Watson Falls. 
Watson Falls Loop trail

Directions:

From Roseburg
  • Drive OR-138 east for a total of 61 miles, then turn right onto NF-37 at a sign for Watson Falls and continue for 0.2 miles to the large trailhead on your right. (Total of 61.2 miles)
From Medford
  • ​Take OR-62 east towards Crater Lake for 49.5 miles then take a slight left onto OR-230 north for 23.8 miles. Near Diamond Lake turn left onto OR-138 for 21.7 miles, then turn left onto NF-37 at a sign for Watson Falls and continue for 0.2 miles to the large trailhead on your right. (Total of 102 miles).
From Bend
  • Drive US-97 south for a total of 74.5 miles, then turn right onto OR-138 west for 39.4 miles. Turn left onto NF-37 at a sign for Watson Falls and continue for 0.2 miles to the large trailhead on your right. (Total of 115 miles)
From Eugene
  • It is a total of 134 miles via Roseburg.
From Salem 
  • It is a total of 196 miles via Roseburg.
From Portland
  • ​It is a total of 238 miles via Roseburg. 
*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.

HIKED HERE RECENTLY?! PLEASE LEAVE A TRIP REPORT BELOW:

© Hike Oregon 2020
P.O. Box 41911
​Eugene, OR 97404
Proudly powered by Weebly