SALT CREEK FALLS - WATERFALL HIKING WITH KIDS
When I researched hiking to Salt Creek Falls we planned on hiking a round trip moderate, loop hike of 5.4 miles. Our plan was to hike the trio of Spirit, Pinard and Moon Falls and then head over to Salt Creek Falls to hike for about four hours and view Diamond Falls as well. Honestly we were pretty tired from driving and getting hungry so we decided that we would just do an out and back to Salt Creek Falls and hope that it wasn’t too far in.
When we got there we were pleasantly surprised to find that just to view Salt Creek Falls wasn’t a hike at all but less than a ¼ mile walk to the viewpoint and it was completely paved, making it ADA accessible as well! We didn’t realize that it was such a destination spot, as it had interpretive signs speaking to the history of the area and the falls.
If you want to get the base of the falls there is a one mile round trip hike. Some of the trail had been washed out due to a mudslide so it was very slippery with shale and soft dirt about ¼ of the way from the bottom. There were signs stressing caution and alerting us to the risk but we cautiously shimmied down a little further to get to a point that gave us a pretty good view. We decided against going all of the way to bottom for safety's sake but sat there for a bit taking the beauty in.
Salt Creek Falls is the second tallest waterfall in Oregon, the first being Multnomah Falls. It plunges down into a gorgeous canyon into the Middle Fork Willamette River. In early July there were wildflowers growing everywhere including on the canyon wall.
When we headed back up we continued on the walkway by the viewpoint and to where the falls fed in. We followed the trail to the picnic area where the trail into Diamond Falls ended up being. There are actually multiple waterfalls on the hike to Diamond Falls we definitely plan on going back to complete the hike!
If you want to go it is only a 3 hour drive from Medford taking you through Union Creek, so that you can hit Mill Creek and Pearsony Falls along the way to make a day of it. There are multiple campgrounds nearby including the Blue Pool (not Tamolitch Blue Pool) and Princess Creek campgrounds! There is a day use fee of $5 at Salt Creek Falls but if you have the Interagency Annual Pass or the FREE Annual 4th Grade Pass you will be covered. We highly suggest getting one if you visit national parks, it’s only $80 a year and saves you a lot of money since national parks are now charging per person in a car.
See more photos from this waterfall adventure in our photo gallery HERE
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