Overview

• Location: Lane County, Umpqua National Forest (Layng Creek watershed, near Cottage Grove)

• Waterfall Type: Horsetail

• Height: ~105 feet (32 m)

• Trail Distance: ~1 mile round-trip via easy trail from Pinard Falls Trailhead

• Difficulty: Medium

• Best Time to Visit: Spring through early summer; flows diminish in late summer

History & Background

Pinard Falls is a graceful 105-foot horsetail in the Layng Creek watershed of the Umpqua National Forest, one of three exceptional waterfalls clustered together east of Cottage Grove alongside Spirit Falls and Moon Falls. All three are accessible from the same network of forest roads in the Layng Creek Municipal Watershed — which supplies Cottage Grove’s drinking water, prohibiting camping and swimming in the watershed. The trio can be visited in a single day of unhurried driving and hiking, making this one of Oregon’s finest multi-waterfall day trips. Pinard Falls is the most directly accessible of the three, with a short trail from a well-marked trailhead. The falls drops over a smooth rounded basalt cliff, contrasting with the jagged face of nearby Moon Falls.

Geology

Pinard Falls horsetails 105 feet over a smoothly rounded oceanic basalt cliff face at approximately 1,700 feet elevation on a tributary of Layng Creek. The smooth, curved character of the basalt at Pinard — distinct from the angular, jagged face at nearby Moon Falls — creates a different aesthetic despite both falls dropping from the same geological formation. Alex Creek (Moon Falls’ stream) and the Pinard Creek tributary both originate from the forested highlands and carry strong spring and early summer flows from the substantial annual precipitation of the southern Coast Range foothills.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Cottage Grove, OR (~29 miles west via Row River Road and forest roads)

• Trail Information:

  • From Cottage Grove, take Row River Road east ~19 miles to Layng Creek Road #17; turn left and follow ~9 miles to the junction near Spirit Falls; Pinard Falls Trailhead is signed from the forest road network; 0.5-mile trail to the falls

  • No camping or swimming permitted in the Layng Creek Municipal Watershed; Spirit Falls is a short distance from the same road junction; Moon Falls is ~2.8 miles further on Road 1702; plan to visit all three in one day

• Parking:

  • Small Pinard Falls Trailhead parking area; no fee; limited to a few vehicles

• Accessibility:

  • Short, easy trail; generally accessible for most visitors

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Best flows; March through June offers the most impressive display

• Summer: Flows diminish by late July — check conditions before traveling the long access roads

• Fall: Flows return with October rains; quiet season with beautiful forest conditions

• Winter: Good flows; access roads at lower elevation stay open; check conditions on upper roads

Nearby Attractions

• Spirit Falls (nearby — same road junction)

• Moon Falls (~2.8 miles on Road 1702)

• Cottage Grove Covered Bridges

• Brice Creek waterfalls (~15 miles southwest)

• Row River Trail

References

• Links:

  • Umpqua National Forest – USFS

  • Travel Oregon – Cottage Grove Waterfall Area

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest