Watson Falls

Idleyld Park, Oregon

4.3/5
based on 6 reviews

Details

Distance

0.54 miles

Elevation Gain

515 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Eric Johnson

Watson Falls is the 3rd largest waterfall in Oregon and is easily accessible with a 0.6-mile roundtrip hike.

Watson Falls hurtles over a cathedral amphitheater wall of basalt, crashing into a long talus slope covered in moss and vine maple. At 272 feet, Watson Falls is the 3rd tallest waterfall in Oregon.

We actually stumbled upon Watson Falls driving back from Toketee Falls. The parking area is about 500 feet south of Highway 138 on the right side. The trail crosses Road 37 and climbs 0.33 miles up to the base of the falls. After that the trail continues up the mossy hill on the right leading to a look out point with a wooden bench to rest at before the trek back down.

Read More

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app
Download GPX File

Features

Photography
Hiking
Bathrooms
Dog Friendly
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Forest
River
Romantic
Scenic
Waterfalls

Watson Falls Reviews

Great hike with beautiful views of the water! Not hard but definitely not easy if your not in shape. Either way worth it once your up there

We went camping for a few days in this area and checked out The other waterfalls nearby. This is a short hike and very different falls than the other one nearby. Oregon is a beautiful place!

Explorer

07/14/16

Watson Falls may not be the tallest, but in my opinion it was the most spectacular. The hike is easy and it wasn't crowded at noon on a Saturday. You can also hike right to the falls with zero red tape. I haven't seen all of Oregon's waterfalls, but Watson Falls is better than the others that get all the hype.

I visited Watson falls in early spring and the falls were in prime conditions! They are easy to find and located close to the road. After a short hike you are treated with a surprisingly awe inspiring waterfall that will not disappoint in its unique setting. Watson falls makes a great quick stop to stretch your legs and grab some stunning photos as you travel north or south on a road trip.

This is definitely a tall falls but you'll still have to hike up to it to see most of it. The hike is short and nice, not as crowded as other nearby spots. It's not the most interesting photographically speaking but still worth grabbing a shot if you're nearby.

Came here mid August after coming from Crater Lake while heading over to Silver Falls SP. Besides a few people leaving as we showed up, and a few people walking up as we left, this place was empty. That was just one of the many advantages of this place. It was quiet and peaceful so that you could spend time getting extremely close to the falls without feeling in the way of someone taking a photo of listening to anyone chattering away. This fall was on par with (if not even better than) the waterfalls along the Columbia Gorge, but luckily it had less traffic, parking struggles, human noise, and overall clutter. The trail up and down is beautiful and follows the water that crashes down from the falls to become a creek. The falls are pretty cold as you get up to them so you might want to bring a sweater or waterproof jacket!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Toketee Falls

Umpqua Hot Springs

Whitehorse Falls

Clearwater Falls

Muir Creek Falls

Mt. Bailey and Hemlock Butte Cabin