Overview

• Location: Josephine County, Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest (near Cave Junction)
• Waterfall Type: Cascade; very small outside of spring
• Height: ~15 feet (5 m)
• Trail Distance: ~0.8 miles round-trip via difficult trail in the Siskiyou National Forest
• Difficulty: Difficult, steep but short 0.8 mile loop
• Best Time to Visit: Spring through early summer; best for swimming, waterfall is unimpressive

History & Background

Little Illinois River Falls is a modest cascade on the Little Illinois River in the Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest near Cave Junction, set within one of the most botanically extraordinary landscapes in North America. The Little Illinois River is a tributary of the Illinois River, which flows through the heart of the Klamath-Siskiyou region — a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot where the convergence of three mountain ranges and a unique mix of ancient geological terranes has produced an unparalleled concentration of rare and endemic plant species. The Siskiyou National Forest lands here support the Kalmiopsis Wilderness, named for the rare Kalmiopsis leachiana shrub (a primitive relative of rhododendrons) found almost exclusively in this corner of Oregon and named for Lilla Leach, a Portland botanist who discovered the species in 1930.

Geology

Little Illinois River Falls cascades over ancient ultramafic and metamorphic rocks of the Klamath Mountains — some of the oldest geological terranes in Oregon — at approximately 1,194 feet elevation. The extraordinary botanical diversity of the surrounding landscape is directly tied to the unusual chemistry of serpentine soils derived from the ultramafic bedrock, which stresses most plants but allows highly adapted endemics to thrive without competition. The creek flows through a canyon of this ancient rock, maintaining cold, clear water prized for fishing and swimming.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Cave Junction, OR (~10 miles north near Wilderville/Selma area)
• Trail Information:
  • Access via trail in the Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest from a forest road near the Illinois River in the Wilderville/Selma area (Eight Dollar Mountain corridor)
  • Short 0.8 mile hike loop starting from the Little Falls Campground,
• Parking:
  • Park at Little Falls Campground parking lot
• Accessibility:
  • Not wheelchair accessible; difficult terrain in remote Siskiyou country

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Best flows; Klamath-Siskiyou wildflowers are extraordinary in April–May; one of North America’s finest wildflower shows
• Summer: Lower flows; hot and dry; excellent for swimming in the Illinois River pools below
• Fall: Very low flow; beautiful dry landscape; quieter conditions
• Winter: Some winter flow; mild Josephine County winters allow limited access

Nearby Attractions

• Eight Dollar Mountain (rare botanical area)
• Illinois River Valley
• Kalmiopsis Wilderness (~20 miles west)
• Oregon Caves National Monument (~25 miles southeast)
• Cave Junction

References

• Links:
  • All Trails Little Illinois Falls Loop
  • Oregon Hikers, Little Illinois River Hike
• Books:
  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb
  • Waterfall Lover’s Guide: Pacific Northwest