Although TLC advised against chasing waterfalls, I have found that it’s all I want to do in my spare time. Luckily, Oregon has over 300 waterfalls waiting to be chased.

In the course of the last couple of months, I have hunted down close to 15 waterfalls, a few of which are in the same area which makes it easy to get in multiple in one round. Every single one has left me in awe at how magical this state truly is. It doesn’t matter if it’s cloudless day or if it’s raining cats and dogs, there is something about seeing a waterfall that takes me out of my current mood and makes it sparkle.

In this Chasing Waterfalls series, I’m going to introduce my (current) favorite waterfalls I’ve been able to chase down.

NUMBER 3: HENLINE FALLS

This waterfall holds a special place in my heart, so it naturally had to be apart of this list. I have visited this location on multiple occasions because it’s relatively close to home and the trail is extremely easy for all people. My favorite part about this waterfall is that it’s tucked in a corner with logs all around to sit back, eat some snacks and relax.

Be sure to fill out a parking permit a few miles before the trailhead.

The trailhead for Henline Falls is off of North Fork Rd SE, heading towards Opal Creek. The road eventually turns into an uneven gravel road, so take caution with smaller cars.

The parking area is very small, allowing maybe four cars max at a time, and easy to miss if you aren’t looking for it. I suggest going before noon if you want a guaranteed parking spot.

Once on the trail, to get to this little gem, just follow for about a mile. The trail is covered in thick forest the whole time. Enjoy the relatively short trail by admiring the trees and the life that grows all around.

NUMBER 2: ABIQUA FALLS

This trail is not for the faint hearted or for those who like to stay clean. But that’s what makes this view that much more worth it. After reaching this spot, I never wanted to leave. I felt that at any moment, prehistoric creatures were going to come through. This waterfall is an absolute must for those up to the challenge course.

DO NOT TAKE DOGS ON THIS TRAIL

The trailhead is off of Crooked Finger Rd, which eventually turns into gravel. This road is very uneven and is recommended to park farther up the road. Once parked, walk down road until you locate a sign on the lefthand side to access the trail.

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Walk past the sign until you reach a fork in the trail where a fallen tree lies. Keep to the right of the trail. Soon, you will reach the challenging part. Challenging why, you ask? Because it is straight down an unpredictable path that requires the rope tied to trees to get down. Take your time getting down.

After surviving the climb down and getting your hands a little dirty, make your way to the left, up the stream. Waterproof shoes are lovely in this area for safety reasons, but also to avoid soggy socks.

Eventually make your way to the lefthand side of the stream. Keep following this until you make your way around the corner to view this magical place. This sight catches your breath, so be sure to remember to keep breathing.

NUMBER 1: TOKETEE FALLS

It is going to be terribly difficult to find a waterfall that tops this one. The pictures online do not do it justice. Maybe it the exclusivity of being down in the water that makes it so special. Or how the way the sun reflected off of the moving water that it literally glimmered. It’s even possible that it was the adrenaline high I got from scaling down to get to this spot. Regardless, this is the best waterfall to visit in Oregon.

Getting to this waterfall takes some commitment. From Salem, it’s three and a half hours southeast. Head south down I-5 to Roseberg and then follow the signs to Crater Lake, heading East. It’s about another hour drive until you reach the Toketee Falls sign.

The trail to the falls is reliable and is kid, elder, and dog friendly. If you stay on the path, it’s less than a mile to get to the lookout for the waterfall. Naturally, I always want to see what is not on the trail.

The trail brings you to a an end at the waterfall lookout. It’s a beautiful sight, but I wanted to get up close and personal with the waterfall. At first it appeared that there was no way to get down. Then, spotted the access point: A small hole in the bottom of the fence.

Challenge accepted.

This off the trail course is NOT for inexperienced hikers. To say it is steep is an understatement. However, I didn’t drive three in a half hours to not get dirty and take the risk. Luckily the steep hike down isn’t very long.

There aren’t words to capture just how I felt being surrounded by Toketee’s home. The basalt cliffs that frame the powerful waterfall left me in awe.

Chasing Waterfalls Pt. 2 coming soon…