Overview

• Location: Clackamas County, Mount Hood National Forest (Eagle Creek, near Estacada)

• Waterfall Type: Horsetail

• Height: ~21 feet (6 m)

• Trail Distance: Short walk from roadside; approximately 0.1 miles

• Difficulty: Easy

• Best Time to Visit: Year-round

History & Background

Pegleg Falls is a small roadside horsetail on Eagle Creek (Clackamas County) within the Mount Hood National Forest east of Estacada, near the Eagle Creek National Fish Hatchery. This Eagle Creek — distinct from the famous Eagle Creek that flows through the Columbia River Gorge — is a tributary of the Clackamas River in the western Cascade foothills. Pegleg Falls is a quick roadside discovery for visitors driving up the Eagle Creek Road toward the upper Clackamas River area, and makes a pleasant brief stop before or after visiting the fish hatchery nearby. The name ‘Pegleg’ likely refers to a colorful early settler or local character of the area, a common naming convention in Oregon’s Cascade foothills.

Geology

Pegleg Falls horsetails 21 feet over a volcanic basalt ledge on Eagle Creek (Clackamas County) at approximately 950 feet elevation. The creek flows through the western Cascade foothills volcanic geology typical of the Clackamas watershed, with the surrounding Douglas fir and bigleaf maple forest reflecting the moist, mid-elevation western Oregon Cascades environment. The falls maintain good winter and spring flows before diminishing in the dry summer months.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Estacada, OR (~8 miles west)

• Trail Information:

  • Very short walk from a roadside pullout on Eagle Creek Road leads directly to the falls viewpoint

  • Pegleg Falls can be combined with a visit to the Eagle Creek National Fish Hatchery and Middle Falls on the same road for a complete Eagle Creek (Clackamas) waterfall outing

• Parking:

  • Roadside pullout near the falls; Mount Hood NF; no fee at this roadside stop

• Accessibility:

  • Short, essentially flat access from the roadside; generally accessible for most visitors

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Best flows; a vivid small horsetail; the Eagle Creek corridor is lush in spring

• Summer: Lower flow; a quick scenic stop on drives up Eagle Creek Road

• Fall: Flows returning with rains; fall foliage along the creek

• Winter: Full flows; road generally accessible year-round

Nearby Attractions

• Eagle Creek National Fish Hatchery (USFWS)

• Middle Falls (same road)

• Estacada

• Clackamas River (fishing, rafting)

• Timothy Lake (~20 miles east)

References

• Links:

  • Mt. Hood National Forest – USFS

  • Travel Oregon – Clackamas River Area

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest