Overview

• Location: Tillamook State Forest, Oregon Coast
• Waterfall Type: Horsetail
• Height: ~118 feet (36 m)
• Trail Distance: ~2–3 miles round-trip via forest trail
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best Time to Visit: Year-round; best flow in winter and spring

History & Background

Bridge Creek Falls is a tall and photogenic horsetail waterfall deep within the Tillamook State Forest, one of Oregon’s most storied public forests. The Tillamook Forest was devastated by a series of catastrophic wildfires between 1933 and 1951 collectively known as the Tillamook Burn, which destroyed nearly 360,000 acres of old-growth timber and became one of the largest wildfire disasters in Pacific Northwest history. In a remarkable conservation effort, the state organized a massive replanting campaign beginning in the 1940s in which millions of trees were planted by hand, largely by school children and volunteers. Today the forest has largely recovered and is managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry.

Geology

Bridge Creek Falls plunges over a sheer basalt wall in the Coast Range, dropping nearly 118 feet in a classic horsetail formation where the water maintains contact with the cliff face throughout its descent. The Tillamook Coast Range receives among the highest rainfall in Oregon—over 100 inches annually at higher elevations—which feeds the numerous streams and waterfalls throughout the forest. The basaltic geology of the northern Coast Range creates ideal conditions for dramatic vertical falls where hard volcanic rock resists erosion.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Tillamook, OR (~20 miles west)
• Trail Information:
  • Trail begins at a Tillamook State Forest trailhead and follows Bridge Creek through second-growth and recovering forest for approximately 1–1.5 miles to the base of the falls
  • Trail surfaces are natural and may be muddy in wet weather; the surrounding forest shows visible signs of regrowth from the historic Tillamook Burn fires
• Parking:
  • Tillamook State Forest trailhead parking area; Oregon State Park day-use fees or a parking permit may be required
• Accessibility:
  • Not wheelchair accessible; natural trail surfaces

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Peak water flow; the full height of the falls is impressive; surrounding forest is vivid green
• Summer: Reduced flow; cool coastal forest temperatures; a pleasant escape from summer heat
• Fall: Flow returns with fall rains; fall foliage of alder and maple; quieter season
• Winter: Highest flows; dramatic conditions; trail may be muddy but remains hikeable

Nearby Attractions

• Tillamook Forest Center
• Wilson River Trail
• Munson Creek Falls
• Tillamook (cheese factory, air museum)
• Pacific City and the Oregon Coast

References

• Links:
  • Oregon Department of Forestry – Tillamook State Forest
  • Tillamook Forest Center
  • Travel Oregon – Oregon Coast
• Books:
  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb
  • Waterfall Lover’s Guide: Pacific Northwest