Posted in Oregon Nature, Waterfalls March 30, 2022 by

Take A Scenic Drive On Oregon’s One And Only Highway Of Waterfalls For An Unforgettable Adventure

There’s nothing like taking a long, scenic drive past some of Oregon’s most beautiful waterfalls. Lovingly called the Highway of Waterfalls, Highway 138 is a gorgeous road that winds alongside the North Umpqua River past tons of amazing waterfalls, hiking trails, campgrounds, and more. A scenic drive on this beautiful highway will lead you on an unforgettable Oregon adventure. Check it out:

Known as the Highway of Waterfalls, the scenic Highway 138 weaves through south-central Oregon along the North Umpqua River.
flickr/ Oregon Department of Transportation
Between Roseburg and Diamond Lake, this beautiful section of the Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway passes numerous waterfalls, campgrounds, and hiking trails.
flickr/ afletch4141
Along the route you'll have access to Whitehorse Falls, Toketee Falls, Watson Falls, Clearwater Falls, Susan Creek Falls, Fall Creek Falls, and more.
As you cruise along the road, keep an eye out for trailheads and waterfall parking lots where you can pull over and explore at your own pace.
flickr/ Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington
One of the most amazing waterfalls you'll find along the route is Toketee Falls, which cascades 120 feet into a gorgeous blue basin. A short, easy walk leads to a viewing platform overlooking the falls.
flickr/ LDELD
You can also make a stop at the 272-foot Watson Falls, just a couple of miles down the road.
flickr/ Brian
Another great hidden gem is Susan Creek Falls, a magical cascade located at the end of an easy 0.75-mile walk.
flickr/ icetsarina
Heading east, you'll eventually reach Diamond Lake, a stunning alpine lake offering amazing views of Mt. Theilson and Mt. Bailey. It's a wonderful place for swimming, fishing, boating, picnicking, or just relaxing on the shore.
If you'd like, you can extend your excursion to include the legendary Crater Lake. This stunning mountaintop lake is the deepest in the country, and it's easily one of Oregon's most breathtaking attractions.
flickr/ Scott Smithson
Want to spread the trip out over a couple of days? There are numerous camping spots along the route, including the Clearwater Falls Campground which offers easy access to the lovely spring-fed waterfall it's named after, and the four campgrounds at Diamond Lake.
flickr/ Bo Nielsen
When you're feeling adventurous, a scenic drive along the gorgeous Highway of Waterfalls in Oregon is perfect for an unforgettable day trip or weekend getaway.
flickr/ Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington

Are you a helpless waterfall chaser like us, who’s always wondering about “waterfalls near me” in Oregon? You’re in luck! Find out about more beautiful waterfalls to visit in Oregon in this article.

Have you ever driven Highway 138 or the Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway? What a marvelous and scenic road trip in Oregon. Tell us about your experience traversing these beautiful roads in the comments below.

Address: Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway, Roseburg, OR, USA
Address: Oregon 138, OR-138, Roseburg, OR, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center

Waterfalls near me

April 04, 2022
Sarah M.

Are there any waterfall day trips in Oregon?

If you enjoyed the above excursion along Oregon’s Highway of Waterfalls, you’ll definitely want to check out this epic waterfall road trip. Oregon is full of majestic waterfalls just waiting to be discovered. We’ve mapped out a scenic road trip that visits some of the best Oregon waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls, Salt Creek Falls, Ramona Falls, and more. From hidden forest cascades to roaring natural wonders, these majestic waterfalls will make you fall head-over-heels for Oregon.

For a waterfall day trip in and of itself, you must check out Multnomah Falls, Oregon’s tallest waterfall and the second tallest in the country. Multnomah Falls is a true natural wonder: a 620-foot-tall, roaring, awe-inspiring, cascade of icy water. You can hike all the way to the top, or you can simply explore the area and get an up-close view of the falls from the charming pedestrian bridge. There’s also a lodge at the bottom where you can grab a coffee, a bite to eat, or a souvenir, making it an amazing waterfall day trip in Oregon!

The Columbia River Gorge in general is an amazing place to go waterfall chasing, offering adventure seekers some 90 falls to explore on the Oregon side of this natural wonder! Some of our favorites (in addition to Multnomah)? Latourell Falls is one of the finest in the Gorge, and the hike to access these falls is a dream. The Latourell Falls Loop Trail boasts four different wooden bridges, making for a marvelous and charming afternoon adventure. You’ll find the trailhead just off the Historic Columbia River Highway. And beautiful Bridal Veil Falls is the perfect destination for beginner waterfall chasers; the hike to this falls is just a half mile long and is well-paved and easy to navigate. The falls themselves are nothing short of fantastic: there are two drops, and the entire waterfall is about 118 feet. While Bridal Veil isn’t the tallest in the Gorge, we think the payoff for such a short hike is pretty extraordinary!

Address: Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway, Roseburg, OR, USA
Address: Oregon 138, OR-138, Roseburg, OR, USA