Overview

• Location: Washington County, Tualatin River watershed (near Sheridan)

• Waterfall Type: Cascade

• Height: ~20 feet (6 m)

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

• Difficulty: Easy

• Best Time to Visit: Fall through spring

History & Background

Lee Falls is a small roadside cascade on a tributary of the Tualatin River in Washington County near Sheridan, on the western edge of the greater Tualatin Valley. The Tualatin River watershed is one of the most significant in the Portland metropolitan region — its basin drains much of Washington County’s farmland, wine country, and urban areas before joining the Willamette River at West Linn. Lee Falls flows in a modest Coast Range tributary in the rural area between Sheridan and the Coast Range proper, a landscape of mixed forest, farmland, and wine-growing country where the Willamette Valley transitions to the Coast Range foothills. The falls are a quick roadside stop for travelers exploring the backroads of Washington County’s wine country.

Geology

Lee Falls cascades over a basaltic ledge in the Tualatin River watershed at approximately 700 feet elevation in the Washington County Coast Range foothills. The surrounding landscape transitions from the agricultural Willamette Valley floor to the forested Coast Range hills, with the creek reflecting the substantial rainfall that falls on the western foothills — typically 60–80 inches annually. The creek corridor supports riparian forest of red alder and bigleaf maple with Douglas fir on the hillsides.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Sheridan, OR (~5 miles east); McMinnville, OR (~15 miles northeast)

• Trail Information:

  • Very short path from a roadside pullout near Sheridan leads directly to the falls; the walk takes just a minute or two

  • The surrounding area can be explored on informal creek-side paths; the falls are a pleasant quick stop on drives through the Washington County wine country

• Parking:

  • Roadside pullout near the falls; no fee

• Accessibility:

  • Short, essentially flat access from the roadside; generally accessible for most visitors

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Best flows from winter and spring rains; the riparian forest is vivid green

• Summer: Reduced flow; a pleasant roadside stop on wine country drives

• Fall: Flows return with October rains; the Yamhill-Washington wine harvest is active; fall color on maple

• Winter: Highest flows; road access always open at this low elevation

Nearby Attractions

• Sheridan, Oregon

• Yamhill County wine country (Pinot Noir)

• McMinnville

• Willamina

• Grand Ronde Tribe (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde)

References

• Links:

  • Travel Oregon – Willamette Valley Wine Country

  • Tualatin Riverkeepers

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest