Overview

• Location: Douglas County, Umpqua National Forest (Steamboat Creek, near Steamboat)

• Waterfall Type: Horsetail

• Height: ~20 feet (6 m)

• Trail Distance: Short walk from roadside; approximately 0.1 miles

• Difficulty: Easy

• Best Time to Visit: Year-round

History & Background

Steamboat Falls is a 20-foot horsetail on Steamboat Creek near the community of Steamboat in Douglas County, one of the most accessible falls on the celebrated North Umpqua Highway. The falls include a fish ladder on one side, built to allow salmon and steelhead to bypass the falls on their upstream migration — a visible reminder of both the exceptional fish habitat of Steamboat Creek and the modern management efforts to maintain it. Steamboat Creek is one of Oregon’s most prized wild steelhead streams, and access to its fishing beats is tightly regulated through a reservation system. The community of Steamboat, anchored by the legendary Steamboat Inn, has been a destination for world-class fly fishers for generations. The falls viewing area provides a platform where visitors can often observe salmon and steelhead resting below the falls before ascending the fish ladder.

Geology

Steamboat Falls drops 20 feet as a broad horsetail over a basalt ledge on Steamboat Creek at approximately 1,400 feet elevation where the creek descends through the North Umpqua highland terrain toward its confluence with the North Umpqua River. The surrounding old-growth Douglas fir and incense cedar forest represents some of the finest timber stands in the Umpqua National Forest. The creek’s cold, clear water — maintained by the intact forested watershed and springs — creates the exceptional fish habitat that makes Steamboat Creek so prized.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Steamboat, OR (~1 mile east); Roseburg, OR (~50 miles west via Hwy 138)

• Trail Information:

  • From Highway 138, turn north on Steamboat Creek Road (NF-38) and follow approximately 2 miles to the Steamboat Falls parking and viewing area; a short paved path leads to the falls overlook and fish ladder

  • The viewing platform allows excellent observation of fish congregating below the falls during salmon and steelhead migration seasons; the Steamboat Inn nearby is a legendary fly-fishing lodge welcoming day visitors for meals

• Parking:

  • Small parking area at the Steamboat Falls viewing area; no fee

• Accessibility:

  • Paved path to the viewing platform; generally accessible for most visitors

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Spring Chinook begin staging below the falls; full flows

• Summer: Excellent summer steelhead season on Steamboat Creek; falls running moderately

• Fall: Fall Chinook and winter steelhead stacking up below the falls — best time for fish viewing

• Winter: Full flows; winter steelhead active; the viewing platform gives excellent fish observation

Nearby Attractions

• Steamboat Inn (legendary fly-fishing lodge)

• North Umpqua River (world-class wild steelhead fishing)

• Susan Creek Falls (~10 miles west)

• Toketee Falls (~30 miles east)

• Umpqua Hot Springs (~30 miles east)

References

• Links:

  • Umpqua National Forest – USFS

  • Travel Oregon – North Umpqua Highway

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest