Overview

• Location: Douglas County, Umpqua National Forest (near Lemolo Lake)

• Waterfall Type: Horsetail

• Height: ~165 feet (50 m) — USFS lists 102 ft; Northwest Waterfall Survey measures 165 ft

• Trail Distance: ~1 mile out-and-back via Lemolo Falls Trail #1468 (steep south bank approach); or ~3.4 miles via North Umpqua Trail north bank approach

• Difficulty: Medium

• Best Time to Visit: Year-round; best flow late winter through spring

History & Background

Lemolo Falls is the tallest waterfall on the North Umpqua River, plunging in a dramatic horsetail over a volcanic cliff at the head of the wild North Umpqua canyon. The name Lemolo comes from the Chinook jargon word for ‘wild’ or ‘untamed’ — an apt description for a waterfall and river corridor that remain among Oregon’s most spectacular. A critical piece of history: before the construction of Lemolo Dam upstream in the 1950s, the falls conveyed several times more water than they do today. Pacific Power’s hydroelectric facility on Lemolo Lake diverts a significant portion of the North Umpqua’s flow, meaning present-day visitors see a diminished version of the thundering natural falls that existed for millennia. Despite this reduction, Lemolo Falls remains an impressive destination — set in a wild canyon accessible via the North Umpqua Trail or a steep south-bank spur — and the broader North Umpqua Trail corridor passing through the ‘Dread and Terror Segment’ is among the finest river canyon hiking in Oregon.

Geology

Lemolo Falls drops over a sheer volcanic cliff in the upper North Umpqua watershed at approximately 4,237 feet elevation, where the river makes a dramatic plunge into the steep-walled North Umpqua canyon. The falls occur where the river crosses a resistant basalt ledge — the same type of formation that creates waterfalls throughout the Umpqua National Forest. Below the falls, the canyon walls display spectacular columnar basalt formations. The surrounding subalpine forest of mountain hemlock, Shasta red fir, and old-growth Douglas fir reflects the high-elevation character of this upper Umpqua drainage.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Lemolo Lake Resort (~3 miles); Roseburg, OR (~75 miles west via Highway 138)

• Trail Information:

  • South Bank (steeper, closer view): From Highway 138 east of Steamboat, turn onto Lemolo Lake Road #2610 and bear left after 4.3 miles onto Thorn Prairie Road #3401; go 0.4 miles, turn right onto Lemolo Falls Road #3401/800 for 1.8 miles to the trailhead; Trail #1468 drops steeply ~1 mile to the base of the falls

  • North Bank (gentler, more scenic): From the White Mule Trailhead on the North Umpqua Trail, hike downstream approximately 1.7 miles to a viewpoint across the canyon from the falls — this route passes multiple smaller cascades and 800-year-old Douglas firs

• Parking:

  • Small trailhead parking area at the end of Lemolo Falls Road for the south bank trail; no formal facilities; North Umpqua Trail parking at White Mule Trailhead

• Accessibility:

  • Not wheelchair accessible; both approaches involve significant terrain challenges — the south bank trail is very steep

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Best water volume; the falls run most powerfully after winter snowmelt; the North Umpqua Trail corridor is at its greenest

• Summer: Lower flow (Lemolo Dam diversion reduces this further); mosquitoes present near the trailhead; still scenic

• Fall: Excellent conditions; North Umpqua Trail offers stunning fall color; fewer visitors than summer

• Winter: High flows; road to south bank trailhead may be snowy; North Umpqua Trail accessible most winters

Nearby Attractions

• Lemolo Lake (resort, campgrounds)

• Toketee Falls (~10 miles west)

• Watson Falls (~15 miles west)

• Umpqua Hot Springs (~20 miles west)

• Diamond Lake (~10 miles east)

References

• Links:

  • Umpqua National Forest – USFS

  • Oregon Hikers – Lemolo Falls via North Umpqua Trail

  • Travel Oregon – North Umpqua Highway

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest