Overview

• Location: Douglas County, Umpqua National Forest (North Umpqua Highway corridor)

• Waterfall Type: Cascade

• Height: ~29 feet (9 m)

• Trail Distance: Short walk from roadside pullout; less than 0.2 miles

• Difficulty: Easy

• Best Time to Visit: Year-round; best flow in spring

History & Background

Clearwater Falls is one of the easily accessible roadside waterfalls along Highway 138, the North Umpqua Highway corridor through the Umpqua National Forest in Douglas County. The North Umpqua Highway is widely recognized as one of Oregon’s most scenic drives, passing numerous waterfalls, hot springs, and access points to the famous fly-fishing waters of the North Umpqua River. Clearwater Creek, which feeds the falls, earns its name from the exceptionally clear, cold water that characterizes high-elevation streams in the North Umpqua watershed. The Umpqua National Forest was established in 1905 as one of Oregon’s original national forests.

Geology

Clearwater Falls cascades over volcanic and metamorphic basement rock in the North Umpqua watershed at approximately 4,242 feet elevation—one of the higher roadside waterfalls along Highway 138. At this elevation in the southern Oregon Cascades, the geology transitions from the older Western Cascades formation to volcanic rocks associated with more recent Cascade volcanic activity. The remarkable water clarity comes from the cold, spring-fed headwaters of Clearwater Creek, which flow through relatively undisturbed high-elevation forest with minimal sediment input.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Steamboat, OR (~25 miles west via Highway 138); Diamond Lake (~10 miles east)

• Trail Information:

  • A short, easy path from the roadside pullout on Highway 138 leads directly to the base of the falls; the walk takes just a few minutes

  • The area around the falls can be explored informally along the creek bank; the North Umpqua Highway continues east to Diamond Lake and Crater Lake

• Parking:

  • Roadside pullout directly adjacent to the falls on Highway 138; no fee

• Accessibility:

  • Short, flat path from the roadside; largely accessible for most visitors

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Strong water flow; surrounding high-elevation forest vivid green after snowmelt

• Summer: Moderate flows; a cool roadside stop during summer drives along Highway 138; busy tourist season

• Fall: Quiet season; fall foliage in the canyon; one of the last accessible falls before higher roads close for winter

• Winter: High flows after rain; road may have snow at this elevation; some roadside sections may be icy

Nearby Attractions

• Toketee Falls (~10 miles west)

• Watson Falls (~8 miles west)

• Diamond Lake

• Crater Lake National Park (~30 miles east)

• Lemolo Falls

References

• Links:

  • Umpqua National Forest – USFS

  • Travel Oregon – North Umpqua Highway

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest