Overview

• Location: Klamath County, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (near Prospect)

• Waterfall Type: Plunge

• Height: ~70 feet (21 m)

• Trail Distance: ~10–11 miles round-trip via Stuart Falls Trail from the Crater Lake rim area

• Difficulty: Difficult

• Best Time to Visit: July through September

History & Background

Stuart Falls is a remote 70-foot plunge waterfall in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, nestled in the volcanic highlands southeast of Crater Lake near Prospect. The falls flow on Stuart Fork — a small stream draining the southern slopes of the Crater Lake caldera rim — and drop into a forested canyon at the edge of the Pumice Desert, one of the most otherworldly landscapes in Oregon. The trail to Stuart Falls begins near the Rim Drive at Crater Lake and descends through pumice flats and subalpine forest, making it a rewarding objective for visitors spending multiple days in the Crater Lake area. The surrounding landscape is dominated by the aftermath of Mount Mazama’s catastrophic eruption 7,700 years ago, and the falls themselves flow over volcanic rock laid down by that event.

Geology

Stuart Falls plunges 70 feet over volcanic rock at approximately 6,200 feet elevation in the pumice-blanketed volcanic highlands south of Crater Lake. The Pumice Desert that the trail traverses en route to the falls is one of the most dramatic landscapes in Oregon — a near-flat expanse of pumice and volcanic ash deposited by the Mazama eruption that has been so inhospitable to plant establishment that it still appears nearly barren 7,700 years later. The high-elevation subalpine forest of mountain hemlock and whitebark pine surrounding the falls reflects the extreme volcanic environment of the Crater Lake highlands.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Prospect, OR (~25 miles west); Crater Lake (~10 miles north via Rim Drive)

• Trail Information:

  • Access via trail from the south rim of Crater Lake National Park (near the Pumice Desert overlook) or from a trailhead on the Rogue River-Siskiyou NF access roads south of the rim; the route traverses pumice flats and descends through subalpine forest to the falls

  • The long, difficult round-trip makes this a destination for committed hikers; the surreal pumice landscape en route is as remarkable as the falls themselves; a Crater Lake NP entrance fee applies if accessing from the park side

• Parking:

  • Trailhead parking on the south rim of Crater Lake or from a Rogue River-Siskiyou NF road; Crater Lake NP entrance fee required from the park side

• Accessibility:

  • Not wheelchair accessible; long, difficult trail at high elevation on volcanic terrain

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Snow covers the area through June or even July; accessible only after snowmelt

• Summer: July through September is the only practical season; the pumice landscape is best in warm, clear conditions

• Fall: Excellent conditions in September; Crater Lake area spectacular in early fall

• Winter: Deep snow; completely inaccessible

Nearby Attractions

• Crater Lake National Park (~10 miles north)

• Pumice Desert (volcanic landscape)

• Natural Bridge (~15 miles west)

• Union Creek Resort

• Rogue River headwaters

References

• Links:

  • Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

  • Crater Lake National Park – NPS

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest