Overview

• Location: Lane County, Umpqua National Forest (Layng Creek watershed, near Cottage Grove)

• Waterfall Type: Horsetail

• Height: ~190 feet (58 m) — appears shorter due to foreshortening from the trail viewpoint

• Trail Distance: ~1.2 miles out-and-back via Moon Falls Trail #1423 (124 ft elevation gain)

• Difficulty: Easy

• Best Time to Visit: Spring through early summer; flows diminish significantly by late summer

History & Background

Moon Falls is a spectacular 190-foot horsetail cascading down jagged blocks of basalt on Alex Creek in the Layng Creek watershed of the Umpqua National Forest — one of the largest waterfalls in the Lane County Coast Range foothills. The falls are part of a remarkable trio of waterfalls in close proximity: Spirit Falls (downstream) and Pinard Falls can all be visited in the same day from the same road network east of Cottage Grove, making this one of Oregon’s most rewarding multi-waterfall day-trip destinations. The Layng Creek watershed serves as the municipal water supply for Cottage Grove, which is why overnight camping and swimming are prohibited in the watershed. Despite its impressive height, Moon Falls appears somewhat shorter than its actual 190 feet from the trail viewpoint due to foreshortening — the slightly pitched face of the cliff causes significant foreshortening when viewed from directly below.

Geology

Moon Falls veils 190 feet over a sharp, jagged wall of volcanic basalt at approximately 2,500 feet elevation on Alex Creek. Unlike the smoothly rounded basalt cliff of nearby Spirit Falls, Moon Falls drops over an angular, fractured face that fans the water into a wide, veiling horsetail as it descends. Alex Creek is a small tributary of Layng Creek and its flow can fluctuate dramatically through the year — strong in winter and spring but reduced to a trickle by late summer. The surrounding forest of Douglas fir, western red cedar, and bigleaf maple reflects the moist western Cascade foothills environment.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Cottage Grove, OR (~31 miles west via Row River Road and forest roads)

• Trail Information:

  • From Cottage Grove, take Row River Road east ~19 miles to Layng Creek Road #17; turn left and follow for ~9 miles; at the junction continue past Spirit Falls trailhead, turn left on Road 1702 for 2.75 miles, then right on Road 1702-728 for 0.3 miles, then left on spur Road 1702-203 to road’s end; follow Moon Falls Trail 0.6 miles to the base of the falls

  • Google Maps directions may be inaccurate — search specifically for ‘Moon Falls Trailhead’; trailhead has room for only 3–4 vehicles; no camping or swimming permitted in the Layng Creek Municipal Watershed; Spirit Falls and Pinard Falls are nearby and recommended as same-day additions

• Parking:

  • Small trailhead parking area at the end of spur road 1702-203; space for 3–4 vehicles; no facilities; no fee

• Accessibility:

  • Relatively easy short trail with modest elevation change; not wheelchair accessible on natural surfaces

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Peak flows; the full 190-foot height is most impressive; Alex Creek running well through June

• Summer: Flow diminishes significantly by July and may reduce to a trickle by August — check conditions before making the long drive

• Fall: Flows return with October rains; the forested approach is beautiful in fall light; quiet season

• Winter: Good flows; the approach roads at lower elevations are accessible; avoid the Oakridge route in winter due to snow at elevation

Nearby Attractions

• Spirit Falls (~0.5 miles from Moon Falls trailhead)

• Pinard Falls (nearby on the same road system)

• Cottage Grove Covered Bridges

• Brice Creek Falls corridor (~15 miles southwest)

• Row River Trail

References

• Links:

  • USFS – Moon Falls Trail #1423

  • Northwest Waterfall Survey – Moon Falls

  • AllTrails – Moon Falls Trail

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest