Overview

• Location: Douglas County, BLM Roseburg District Swiftwater Field Office (North Umpqua River, near Idleyld Park)

• Waterfall Type: Horsetail

• Height: ~35 feet (11 m)

• Trail Distance: ~1 mile round-trip from Susan Creek Day-Use Area

• Difficulty: Easy

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

History & Background

Susan Creek Falls is an easy 35-foot horsetail accessible from the Susan Creek Day-Use Area on the North Umpqua River near Idleyld Park — the first significant waterfall destination encountered when driving east from Roseburg on Highway 138. The falls and the surrounding Indian Mounds area preserve the remains of an important archaeological site — earthen mounds created by Indigenous peoples who inhabited this North Umpqua valley. A short loop trail from the falls continues to the Indian Mounds viewpoint, making Susan Creek one of the most culturally enriched short hikes in the region. The North Umpqua River here is one of Oregon’s most celebrated wild steelhead streams, and the day-use area provides river access along with the falls trail. Together with the Indian Mounds, the falls form part of the BLM’s Swiftwater recreation corridor.

Geology

Susan Creek Falls drops 35 feet as a broad horsetail over a mossy basalt cliff at approximately 940 feet elevation on a small tributary of the North Umpqua River. The creek drains from the forested hillside above Highway 138 and drops steeply through the basaltic terrain of the western North Umpqua watershed. The surrounding old-growth Douglas fir forest with an understory of sword fern and Oregon grape reflects the exceptionally lush character of the lower North Umpqua corridor, which receives substantially more rainfall than the upper portions of the highway.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Idleyld Park, OR (~1 mile west); Roseburg, OR (~30 miles west via Hwy 138)

• Trail Information:

  • From Highway 138, turn north into the Susan Creek Day-Use Area (~30 miles east of Roseburg); a well-maintained BLM trail leads 0.5 miles through old-growth Douglas fir to the falls, with an optional extension to the Indian Mounds viewpoint

  • The full Susan Creek loop including the Indian Mounds is approximately 2.4 miles; the BLM day-use area has picnic tables and restrooms; North Umpqua River access is available in the same day-use area

• Parking:

  • Susan Creek Day-Use Area parking; BLM day-use fee

• Accessibility:

  • The trail to the falls is relatively flat and well-maintained; generally accessible for most visitors

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Best flows; the North Umpqua corridor is spectacularly green; spring steelhead season

• Summer: Lower flows but still attractive; the shaded old-growth forest is cool on hot days; popular picnic destination

• Fall: Flows return with October rains; fall color from bigleaf maple; quieter season

• Winter: Full flows; trail accessible year-round at this low elevation; winter steelhead fishing on the North Umpqua

Nearby Attractions

• Susan Creek Indian Mounds (archaeological site, same loop)

• North Umpqua River (fly fishing)

• Shadow Falls (~5 miles west)

• Toketee Falls (~40 miles east)

• Roseburg (~30 miles west)

References

• Links:

  • BLM – Roseburg District, Susan Creek

  • Travel Oregon – North Umpqua Highway

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest