Overview

• Location: Tillamook County, Oregon Coast Range (near Lincoln City)

• Waterfall Type: Plunge

• Height: ~40 feet (12 m)

• Trail Distance: ~2–3 miles round-trip via forest trail

• Difficulty: Medium

• Best Time to Visit: Fall through spring

History & Background

Chitwood Falls is a plunge waterfall on Chitwood Creek in Tillamook County, flowing through the forested hills of the northern Oregon Coast Range near the community of Chitwood and the Highway 20 corridor between Lincoln City and Corvallis. The surrounding land is managed in part by the U.S. Forest Service and has been subject to historical timber harvesting in the Coast Range. Chitwood and its small rural community reflect the agricultural and timber heritage of the Oregon Coast Range valleys, and the falls are a lesser-known destination for hikers exploring the diverse landscapes of the northern coast.

Geology

Chitwood Falls plunges over the basaltic geology of the Oregon Coast Range, a terrane of oceanic basalt accreted onto the North American continent during the Eocene epoch. The northern Coast Range receives abundant annual precipitation from Pacific weather systems—often well over 80 inches per year in higher terrain—which drives strong year-round stream flows in creeks like Chitwood. The surrounding forest of Sitka spruce, western hemlock, Douglas fir, and red alder with a lush understory of ferns and oxalis reflects the cool, moist coastal climate.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Lincoln City, OR (~15 miles west); Corvallis, OR (~35 miles east)

• Trail Information:

  • Access via a forest trail in the Tillamook County/Coast Range foothills; the route follows Chitwood Creek through dense coastal forest to the base of the falls

  • Trail surfaces are natural and often wet; the creek drainage can be muddy in winter and spring; waterproof footwear strongly recommended

• Parking:

  • Limited trailhead or roadside parking near the forest access point; no formal facilities

• Accessibility:

  • Not wheelchair accessible; natural wet trail surfaces with moderate terrain

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Strong flows; lush coastal forest; ideal conditions for waterfall photography

• Summer: Lower flows; coastal temperatures remain mild; a pleasant escape from inland heat

• Fall: Flow returns with coastal rains by October; fall foliage on the alder-lined creek

• Winter: Highest flows; trail can be very muddy; the forest takes on a dramatic misty quality

Nearby Attractions

• Lincoln City (Oregon Coast)

• Cascade Head Preserve

• Siuslaw National Forest

• Highway 20 Scenic Corridor

• Alsea Falls (~30 miles south)

References

• Links:

  • Siuslaw National Forest – USFS

  • Travel Oregon – Oregon Coast

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest