Overview

• Location: Douglas County, Umpqua National Forest (Little River corridor)

• Waterfall Type: Curtain

• Height: ~40 feet (12 m)

• Trail Distance: ~2–3 miles round-trip via Little River Road trail system

• Difficulty: Medium

• Best Time to Visit: Spring through early summer

History & Background

Clover Falls is a curtain waterfall on the Little River, a tributary of the North Umpqua River in Douglas County, situated within the scenic Little River corridor of the Umpqua National Forest. The Little River Road (County Road 17) is often called the ‘Waterfall Alley’ of southern Oregon, offering access to over a dozen waterfalls within a short stretch—including Hemlock Falls, Grotto Falls, Cavitt Falls, Shadow Falls, and Clover Falls. This concentration of waterfalls has made the corridor a destination for waterfall enthusiasts exploring beyond the well-known North Umpqua Highway sites. The Little River is also prized for its wild trout fishing.

Geology

Clover Falls displays the curtain form—water spreading across the full width of a wide ledge before dropping—where the Little River encounters a broad, resistant rock formation. The falls are situated within the complex geology of the Umpqua watershed, which lies in the transition zone between the southern Oregon Cascades and the Klamath Mountains geological province. The surrounding mixed conifer forest of Douglas fir, white fir, incense cedar, and sugar pine at approximately 3,576 feet elevation reflects this transitional character between the damp western Cascades and the drier Klamath ranges.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Glide, OR (~20 miles west via Little River Road); Roseburg, OR (~35 miles west)

• Trail Information:

  • Access via Little River Road (County Road 17) east of Glide; the trail follows the Little River through mixed conifer forest to the falls

  • The Little River Road corridor connects multiple waterfalls—Clover Falls can be combined with visits to Hemlock Falls, Grotto Falls, and others on the same drive and hike

• Parking:

  • Small trailhead or pullout parking along Little River Road; no formal facilities at most sites

• Accessibility:

  • Not wheelchair accessible; natural trail surfaces with some elevation change

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Best flows; the curtain spreads impressively across the ledge; surrounding forest lush

• Summer: Lower but still active flow; pleasant mixed conifer forest hiking; good for combining multiple waterfall visits

• Fall: Fall foliage from maple and vine maple; flows returning with October rains; the ‘Waterfall Alley’ quiets down

• Winter: High flows; road access typically open; the Little River corridor is scenic in winter

Nearby Attractions

• Hemlock Falls

• Grotto Falls

• Shadow Falls

• Cavitt Falls

• Little River Road ‘Waterfall Alley’

References

• Links:

  • Umpqua National Forest – USFS

  • Travel Oregon – Little River Waterfall Corridor

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest