Profile

Overview

Location: Tillamook County (Yamhill County border), Siuslaw National Forest (near Beaver)
Waterfall Type: Horsetail
Height: ~134 feet (41 m) — named for Niagara Point above, not for Niagara Falls, New York
Trail Distance: ~1.6 miles round-trip via Niagara Falls Trail #1379 (472 ft elevation gain — all uphill on return)
Difficulty: Medium
Best Time to Visit: Winter and spring; flows diminish significantly by summer

History & Background

Oregon’s Niagara Falls is a 134-foot horsetail cascading down a dark basalt cliff deep in the Siuslaw National Forest — a serene and remote experience that bears no resemblance whatsoever to its famous New York namesake. Despite sharing a name, Oregon’s Niagara was named not for the iconic Canadian-American cataract but for nearby Niagara Point, the 1,724-foot summit from whose steep slopes the falls descend. Long-standing naming confusion surrounded this trail because a second significant waterfall — Pheasant Creek Falls, a dramatic 112–124-foot plunge — lies just a quarter mile further and was for many years mistakenly labeled as Niagara Falls on guidebook maps and Forest Service materials. The Siuslaw National Forest has since clarified the naming, though misinformation persists online. The trail reaches both waterfalls and ends at a picnic area beside Pheasant Creek Falls, making this one of the Oregon Coast Range’s finest double-waterfall hikes. The remote forest road access, winding through dense secondary-growth Coast Range hills above the Nestucca River valley, keeps crowds minimal.

Geology

Niagara Falls descends 134 feet over a dark basalt escarpment at approximately 1,150 feet elevation in the Siuslaw National Forest, fed by an unnamed stream draining from Niagara Point. The falls spray across the basalt face in a wide horsetail, covering the rock in a perpetual dripping moss ecosystem. The small stream has limited watershed area, causing flows to diminish substantially by late summer. The surrounding forest of second-growth Douglas fir — recovering from historical logging — features large snags often capped with salal, and a lush understory of vine maple, sword fern, and in spring, trillium.

Directions & Access

Nearest City: Tillamook, OR (~20 miles northwest via Hwy 101 and Blaine Road); Beaver, OR (~11 miles northwest)
Trail Information:
- From Tillamook, drive south on Hwy 101 to Beaver; turn east on Blaine Road for 6 miles to Blaine Junction; continue east on Upper Nestucca River Road 5.8 miles to Forest Road 8533; go south 4.3 miles to FR 8533-131; turn right 0.7 miles to the trailhead; from Sheridan the approach is more direct — confirm current road conditions with the Hebo Ranger District
- Trail descends all the way to the falls — the return is entirely uphill; Northwest Forest Pass required; Niagara Falls is encountered first (at ~1 mile), then Pheasant Creek Falls (0.25 miles further) at a picnic table viewpoint
Parking:
- Small trailhead parking area at the end of FR 8533-131; Northwest Forest Pass required; limited to a few vehicles; the narrow forest access road may have ruts and fallen trees — high clearance recommended
Accessibility:
- Not wheelchair accessible; steep return trail and rough access road

Best Time to Visit

Spring: Best flows and most rewarding visit; trillium blooms along the trail in spring; the mossy basalt cliff is vivid and dripping
Summer: Flows diminish significantly by July — reduced to a trickle by August; still a beautiful forest hike
Fall: Flows returning with October rains; the secondary-growth forest is beautiful in fall light
Winter: Peak flows; the highest rainfall season in the Coast Range; bring rain gear; both falls at their most dramatic

Nearby Attractions

Pheasant Creek Falls (112–124 ft, same trail — 0.25 miles past Niagara)
Beaver, Oregon
Cape Lookout State Park (~15 miles west)
Tillamook Forest Center (Hwy 6)
Hebo Lake Campground

References

Links:
Books:
- Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb
- Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest

Niagara Falls