WOLF CREEK FALLS - HIKING OREGON WATERFALLS
NORTH UMPQUA, OREGON
70 FOOT DOUBLE FALL
1.2 MILE HIKE, OUT & BACK
KID-FRIENDLY
If you are in Douglas County, then a visit to Wolf Creek Falls should be added to your list of must do’s. As you drive up Little Creek Drive you will see the Wolf Creek Falls trailhead about eleven miles up the road on your right. It’s the first of the six falls that can be found off of Little Creek Drive.
Right at the trailhead there is a beautiful boulder covered in neon green moss as you cross the bridge. There’s a trail right below the boulder that seems to take you along the creek but we didn’t venture too far as it was pouring and we wanted to get to the waterfall. As we headed up the main trail I was instantly enchanted and started to immediately look for fairy haunts so I had stories to bring back for our Olivia.
One thing that I truly love about hiking in the North Umpqua is how emerald green it’s forests are. Even mid-summer they glisten with rain forest-like moisture that seems to be almost constant. As we hiked we got distracted by a large log that our teenage Ilias would have balanced across, so of course I had to walk it in honor of him. We took the small offshoot trail that took us to a picnic table and a really cool fallen tree.
When we got back on the trail it wasn’t far until we reached my favorite part. The creek forked off and it was so full that our path narrowed and THEN we reached what I have dubbed the fairy mansion; I literally gasped when I saw it! My pictures can’t do justice to the beauty as rocks were covered in hanging greenery dripping with diamonds and little hollows for about 20 feet or so. I just sat there taking it all in. This is a part that you have to be really careful because you are literally walking on slippery rock (I’m highly suggesting hiking boots with a good tread for this area especially)
After the fairy mansion is probably the hardest part of the trail as you hit a spot that has a pretty steep incline. You cross a couple more bridges and creeks and the sound of the bigger creek to keep you company most of the way. Gary and I walked in silence most of the time just enjoying the serenity of having the trail all to ourselves; a big benefit to hiking in the rain.
As you hit one more small incline that is when you catch your first glimpse of the falls. I didn’t read up too much on the fall so was surprised when I saw that it was a double. Go all the way to the top to reach the viewpoint where you get multiple different views of it. There is a rustic staircase and a safety fence. It was flowing really well, better than any pictures I’ve ever seen, so we were so glad that we didn’t let the rain deter us.
It’s an out and back, so we headed back to our car after getting pictures of the falls. Perfect for when you want to just get out for a quick hike.
If you want to hit some more waterfalls that day the Grotto Falls trail is not far up the road and very much worth it as it’s the only waterfall in southern Oregon that you can walk behind. We can’t wait to take our kids back to check this waterfall out!
TIPS: If there isn’t parking right at the trailhead there is extra parking up the left side. PLEASE Leave No Trace! I was so bummed to see a can that had just been chucked down into the green and Gary was able to get down into the area where it had been thrown. Just please don’t!
Have you done this hike? What’s your favorite season to visit? Leave a comment below!