The spectacular North Umpqua River Waterfalls

Toketee Falls

Perhaps no other stretch of highway in southern Oregon can boast so many waterfalls as route 138 east from Roseburg Oregon to Diamond Lake at the top of the Cascade Mountains.  while there are many waterfalls off the main route, many still lie within a short distance from 138.

As you drive east from Roseburg, you'll first encounter rolling hills and farmlands.  about 20 miles from Roseburg, you'll cross the Little River.  This confluence of the Little River and the North Umpqua is known as Colliding Rivers, the only place in the world where two rivers meet head-on.  There is a good deal of interesting information at the Forest Service station here, revealing some startling facts about flood events during the past century.  The kiosks also serve up lots of information about the native peoples that lived in the area.
But our interest today is in the waterfalls east of Glide.  The first encounter is Susan Creek Falls.  The trail to the falls is on the north side of the highway and a turnout to a small parking area is convenient if you happen to be amenable to hiking the 1-mile trail to the falls.  The path is gentle and is ADA accessible.

Susan Creek Falls

The falls drops some 50 feet into a cool, clear pool below.  Best viewing times are early or later in the afternoon, for some special lighting effects on the falling water.

Trail to Fall Creek Falls

Not far east of Susan Creek is Fall Creek Falls, a double-tiered falls of approximately the same height.  One interesting feature of this trail, which is slightly more difficult than Susan Creek, is the huge rocks  near the bottom of the trail.  There is also a small parking area here, and during busy times, it may be difficult to find parking.

Fall Creek Falls

At the beginning of the trail is a small footbridge across Fall Creek and the hiker can find restroom facilities here.  Two other features of this area are the Devil's Post Pile, a lava formation on the right side of the trail about 2/3 of the way to the top, and an archeological site above Susan Creek Falls.  The trail continues beyond the falls and on up the mountainside to an area where Earlier Americans paid tribute to their fallen.

Watson Falls

Between Fall Creek and the top of the Cascades ore several more waterfalls.  The more spectacular is Toketee, but Watson Falls is the highest in Southern Oregon.  The trail is a short 1/4 mile from the parking area and follows both sides of the stream.  When the hiker is nearly at the top, a footbridge connects the two sides and continues on to the base of the 276-ft falls. 
Approximately 66 miles from Roseburg is Whitehorse Falls, the shortest of the group along this stretch.  It is not far off the highway, and there is parking within a short distance from the falls. A word of caution here.  Take and use insect repellent here, you're going to need it.

Whitehorse Falls

Further on up the highway, you'll encounter Clearwater Falls, which is the purest water cascading over lava boulders into a crystal clear stream.  Here there is camping and restroom facilities.  The falls is visible from the parking area.
Two more falls are located off the highway near Lemolo Lake but the hike is further and we'll cover those on another day.
Hope you enjoyed this adventure and I appreciate you letting me do the driving.
For more adventures into the wilds of Oregon, check out my website at http://www.rmkproductions.org/ and follow some of the hiking trails around the State of Oregon at http://oregonstrails.blogspot.com/

Columbia Gorge waterfalls

Multnomah Falls

Oregon's Coilumbia Gorge has some 90 waterfalls within a short distance along the Columbia River Scenic Highway, extending from the Deschutes River in the east to the City of Portland in the west.  This area is like no other.

Hiking trails abound throughout the area, including one from the valley floor to the very top of Multnomah Falls.  This falls is 620 feet, the tallest in Oregon and the second highest in the United States.  It is two tiered and a bridge spans the creek just above the lower falls.  the trail continues to the top and even further for the adventurous hiker.

At the base of the falls is a gift shop/restaurant with souvenirs to send home as a memento of the spectacular view.

Vista House

Near the western end of the gorge is the famous Vista House, shown here during a period of reconstruction.  built during the period of 1916-1918, it is as the name implies, a great place to stop for a photo of the Gorge.

Oneonta Gorge

As mentioned, there are at least 90 waterfalls along the route and they are all worth the time to stop for photos.   There are also many other features, such as the beautiful Oneonta Gorge, where a creek runs between sheer rock walls, perhaps hundreds of feet high.

The original highway had tunnels, but since the Interstate has replaced the scenic road, those have been abandoned.  The old highway is still maintained, and is a pleasure to drive.  Please drive slowly, especially in areas where the road is narrow.
To get to the Columbia River Highway, enter in the west near Troutdale and in the east near The Dalles.
While in the area, from near Corbett and the Vista House, take the Larch Mountain Road to the top of Larch Mountain for a view of the Columbia that is simply breathtaking.  From the parking area walk the trail out to the viewing area, cross over a short bridge to a lava outcropping and the world is literally at your feet. 
Thanks for joining me on this adventure and for letting me do the driving.
RMK

Wild as the wind in Oregon

With 8,000 miles of ocean to the west, there is little to slow the winds that buffet the Oregon Coast.  Strong surges create dramatic waves that slam into the coastline. Funny how nasty weather brings out people.

Streets of Gold

California Gold was not the only treasure fueling the rush to the west during the 1800s.  Oregon had a gold rush of her own with strikes in Southern Oregon (Jacksonville), near the Willamette Valley (Quartzville, twice) and many areas of the north eastern part of the state.  One of those areas was in the Elkhorn Mountains at the boom town of Sumpter

This huge dredge worked in the creeks throughout the area, drawing water as it made its own pond and tapping electrical power from a dam several miles upstream.

These huge buckets literally ripped up land by the ton and worked it through the sluice boxes and deposited the tailings out the back end.  The process went on for many years--until it no longer was profitable to mine gold this way. 

 

For years, the dredge lay half submerged in a lake of its own making.  A pile of stones it's legacy, it lay in disrepair until a group of dedicated folks raised her and restored what they could of the aging hulk.  If you look closely, you'll note the waterline from where she had sunk to the bottom.  

The Sumpter Dredge is now an Oregon State Park and tours are given each day during summer months.  The town of Sumpter, isn't much of its former self either, but there are a few shops and lodging is available.  Some of the older homes remain, but fire has destroyed many of the early structures.

Dispite her age, the Dredge--and Sumpter--are worth the trip.  Sumpter is located not far off State Highway 7 on the Sumpter Valley Highway (state highway 220) at the southern edge of the Elkhorn Mountains.  An interesting view is the satellite view of Sumpter on Google Maps.  From there you get a bird's-eye view of the dredging scars that remain on the valley to this day.

Check this out to see what an 80.4 OZ nugget looks like.

Thanks  for letting me do the driving.