Overview

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

• Waterfall Type: Cascade

• Height: ~30 feet (3 m)

• Trail Distance: ~0.5 miles round-trip from the Trestle Creek Falls Trailhead

• Difficulty: Medium

• Best Time to Visit: Spring through fall

History & Background

Upper Trestle Creek Falls is a 30-foot cascade on Trestle Creek near the upper trailhead for the Trestle Creek Falls area in the Umpqua National Forest east of Cottage Grove. While the designation ‘upper’ might suggest it is harder to reach, it is in fact the most accessible of the Trestle Creek waterfalls — situated close to the parking area at the upper trailhead. The larger Trestle Creek Falls (60 ft) and Lower Trestle Creek Falls (45 ft) are downstream. Together the three falls form a complete waterfall corridor in this southern Lane County forest, named for the historic railroad trestles used to haul timber out of the hills during the logging era. The Brice Creek Road waterfall corridor nearby — with Blue Hole, Evergreen, Parker, and Smith Falls — makes this an exceptionally waterfall-rich area for a day trip from Cottage Grove or Eugene.

Geology

Upper Trestle Creek Falls cascades 30 feet over a Western Cascades volcanic basalt ledge at approximately 1,900 feet elevation in the Trestle Creek drainage. Trestle Creek flows through the older, eroded volcanic geology of the southern Lane County hills before joining Brice Creek. The surrounding forest of Douglas fir, western red cedar, and bigleaf maple creates the lush, moist corridor typical of the western Oregon Cascades foothills.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Cottage Grove, OR (~15 miles northwest)

• Trail Information:

  • From the upper Trestle Creek Falls Trailhead east of Cottage Grove, a very short walk leads to Upper Trestle Creek Falls; the trail continues downstream to Trestle Creek Falls (60 ft) and Lower Trestle Creek Falls (45 ft)

  • All three Trestle Creek falls can be visited on a single out-and-back hike of approximately 2 miles; the trailhead also provides access to the upper Brice Creek Road waterfall network

• Parking:

  • Trestle Creek Falls Trailhead parking area; Northwest Forest Pass or day-use fee may apply

• Accessibility:

  • Very short walk from the parking area; generally accessible for most visitors

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Best flows; the 30-foot cascade is most active; surrounding forest vivid green

• Summer: Lower flows; cool shaded forest; combined well with Brice Creek swimming holes

• Fall: Flows return with October rains; fall foliage from maple and alder

• Winter: High flows; road generally accessible

Nearby Attractions

• Trestle Creek Falls (60 ft, same trail — downstream)

• Lower Trestle Creek Falls (45 ft)

• Brice Creek waterfall corridor

• Cottage Grove Covered Bridges

• Row River Trail

References

• Links:

  • Umpqua National Forest – USFS

  • Travel Oregon – Cottage Grove

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest