Overview

• Location: Marion County, Opal Creek Wilderness / Willamette National Forest (near Detroit/Mehama)

• Waterfall Type: Curtain

• Height: ~126 feet (38 m)

• Trail Distance: ~1.7 miles out-and-back from Henline Falls Trailhead #3348 (200 ft elevation gain)

• Difficulty: Easy

• Best Time to Visit: Spring through fall; check current closures after 2020 Beachie Creek Fire

History & Background

Henline Falls is a spectacular 126-foot curtain waterfall on Henline Creek in the Opal Creek Wilderness of the Willamette National Forest, one of the most rewarding easy waterfall hikes in the North Santiam corridor. The falls are located within the Little North Santiam Recreation Area, accessed from North Fork Road off Highway 22. Just to the right of the falls, an abandoned mine shaft — the adit of the historic Silver King Mine — burrows 1,700 feet into the solid rock, drilled during a 1930s gold-mining boom but yielding no gold. The shaft entrance is now sealed with a bat gate, protecting the colony of bats that has adopted it. The surrounding Opal Creek Wilderness, one of the last large unlogged watersheds in the western Cascades, was threatened with timber sales for decades before being formally protected in 1996. The 2020 Beachie Creek Fire burned extensively through this area — check current trail conditions before visiting, as access roads and trails may be affected.

Geology

Henline Falls spreads as a curtain across a wide basalt cliff face in the Little North Santiam watershed at approximately 1,620 feet elevation. The curtain form reflects the broad, relatively smooth cliff face over which the creek fans out while maintaining contact with the rock — filling the entire wall width with falling water. The surrounding Opal Creek Wilderness preserves old-growth forest that developed on the western Cascades volcanic geology over hundreds of years undisturbed by logging. From a vantage near the Silver King Mine adit to the falls’ right, both Henline Falls and a smaller unnamed falls on the opposite wall are visible simultaneously plunging into the same pool.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Detroit, OR (~25 miles east); Salem, OR (~40 miles west)

• Trail Information:

  • From Salem, take Highway 22 east to milepost 23 at Mehama; turn left on North Fork Road (signed Little North Santiam Recreation Area) for 17 miles; turn left on FR 2207, continue 0.25 miles to the trailhead on the left; trail #3348 follows an old road for 0.5 miles then forks left to the falls

  • A wilderness day-use permit is self-issued at the trailhead and required June 15–October 15; Northwest Forest Pass required for parking; check USFS Willamette NF for current access status after the 2020 Beachie Creek Fire

• Parking:

  • Small trailhead parking area at Henline Falls Trailhead on FR 2207; Northwest Forest Pass required

• Accessibility:

  • Not wheelchair accessible; short trail on moderate natural surfaces, though the gentle grade makes it accessible to most hikers

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Best flows; the curtain fills dramatically; the surrounding old-growth is vivid green; butterflies often visible in mid-April

• Summer: Lower flow; the shaded trail is pleasant; summer is the most popular season

• Fall: Excellent fall foliage in the canyon; flows return with October rains; quieter than summer

• Winter: High flows; trail generally accessible but check road conditions; the falls are striking in winter light

Nearby Attractions

• Opal Creek Wilderness (Jawbone Flats historic mining camp)

• Little North Santiam River (swimming holes)

• Henline Mountain Trail #3352

• Opal Creek Trail

• Detroit Lake

References

• Links:

  • USFS – Henline Falls Trail #3348

  • Oregon Hikers – Henline Falls Hike

  • Travel Oregon – Opal Creek Area

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest