Ah, springtime in Oregon—a magical season when the sun teases us with its presence for exactly 3.5 minutes before disappearing behind an eternal wall of clouds. For months, you’ve been wrapped in a burrito of seasonal depression and flannel, doom-scrolling on your couch, and debating whether it’s worth it to put on real pants. But guess what? The waterfalls are roaring, the wildflowers are popping, and the vitamin D deficiency that’s had you questioning your life choices is finally fixable.
To celebrate, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best spring waterfall hikes across Oregon. These trails are so stunning, they’ll make you consider deleting your therapist’s number (please don’t). Grab your boots, a rain jacket (because obviously), and some allergy meds, and let’s hit the trails!
1. Proxy Falls – The Instagram Flex You Didn’t Know You Needed
📍 Location: Willamette National Forest
📏 Distance: 1.6 miles round trip
🥾 Difficulty: Easy
Tucked into the lush Willamette National Forest, Proxy Falls looks like something straight out of a fantasy novel. The water tumbles 226 feet down a moss-covered rock face, creating a scene so unreal you’ll assume someone photoshopped it. The trail itself is short and sweet, but be prepared for a little mud—because Oregon.
🗺 How to Get There: Take Highway 242 (McKenzie Highway) from McKenzie Bridge. The road is closed in winter but typically opens by late spring. There’s a small parking area at the trailhead.
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2. Tumalo Falls – Because Bend Needed More Things to Brag About
📍 Location: Deschutes National Forest (near Bend)
📏 Distance: 2 miles round trip
🥾 Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Tumalo Falls is the kind of place that makes you gasp the moment you see it. This 97-foot waterfall is accessible with minimal effort, making it the perfect hike for those who want maximum beauty with minimal sweat. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can continue along the Tumalo Creek Trail for more views and bonus waterfalls.
🗺 How to Get There: From Bend, take Skyliners Road west for about 12 miles to the trailhead. The parking lot can be a zoo on weekends, so arrive early or prepare to practice patience.
3. Sweet Creek Falls – Where You’ll Probably See a Gnome (Or Just a Really Short Hiker)
📍 Location: Siuslaw National Forest (near Mapleton)
📏 Distance: 2.2 miles round trip
🥾 Difficulty: Easy
This hidden gem on the Oregon Coast is waterfall paradise. The trail follows Sweet Creek through a mossy canyon, where you'll encounter a series of cascades before reaching the grand finale: Sweet Creek Falls. It’s an easy, magical walk, perfect for those who want to feel like they’ve stepped into a Tolkien novel.
🗺 How to Get There: From Florence, head east on Highway 126, then turn south onto Sweet Creek Road for about 11 miles until you reach the trailhead.
4. Toketee Falls – The One That’ll Make You Yell “HOW IS THIS REAL?!”
📍 Location: Umpqua National Forest (near Roseburg)
📏 Distance: 0.8 miles round trip
🥾 Difficulty: Easy
Toketee Falls is a masterpiece of nature, with a dramatic two-tiered drop plunging into a striking turquoise pool, framed by towering basalt cliffs. The trail is short and rewarding, leading through a lush forest before revealing the breathtaking cascade. The wooden staircase to the viewpoint adds a bit of a workout, but the view is well worth the effort—especially in spring, when the waterfall is at its most powerful.
🗺 How to Get There: From Roseburg, take Highway 138 east for about 58 miles, then follow signs for the Toketee Falls parking area.
5. Silver Falls State Park – Oregon’s Disneyland (But With Less Screaming Kids and More Waterfalls)
📍 Location: Near Silverton
📏 Distance: 7.2 miles (Trail of Ten Falls)
🥾 Difficulty: Moderate
If you want quantity and quality, Silver Falls is the jackpot. This famous “Trail of Ten Falls” takes you past (you guessed it) ten stunning waterfalls, including South Falls, where you can literally walk behind the roaring cascade like you’re in an ‘80s power ballad music video.
🗺 How to Get There: From Salem, take Highway 214 east toward Silver Falls State Park. The main parking lot is at the South Falls trailhead.
6. Watson Falls – Big, Bold, and Dramatic (Just Like Your Aunt on Facebook)
📍 Location: Umpqua National Forest
📏 Distance: 1 mile round trip
🥾 Difficulty: Easy
At 293 feet, Watson Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in Oregon and an absolute stunner in spring when the snowmelt kicks into high gear. The short trail leads you through a lush, fern-filled wonderland before delivering an up-close view of the towering cascade.
🗺 How to Get There: Take Highway 138 from Roseburg for about 60 miles, then follow signs for Watson Falls.
7. Kentucky Falls – The One Worth the Drive (and the Extra Gas Money)
📍 Location: Siuslaw National Forest (near Mapleton)
📏 Distance: 4.4 miles round trip
🥾 Difficulty: Moderate
Deep in the Coast Range, this trail rewards those willing to venture off the beaten path. You’ll pass two gorgeous waterfalls, Upper Kentucky Falls and Lower Kentucky Falls, both surrounded by towering old-growth trees. It’s the kind of place that makes you question why you ever sit inside staring at screens.
🗺 How to Get There: Take Highway 126 east from Florence, then follow signs for Kentucky Falls Trailhead. Expect a long drive on a gravel road.
8. Salt Creek Falls – No Hiking Experience Required (Just a Willingness to Drive Here)
📍 Location: Willamette National Forest
📏 Distance: 0.5 miles round trip
🥾 Difficulty: Easy
For those who love waterfalls but hate hiking, Salt Creek Falls is a dream. This 286-foot beauty is visible from the parking lot, but if you’re feeling bold, a short walk gets you to even better viewpoints. In spring, the sheer force of the water is breathtaking—just like the realization that you forgot to bring a jacket.
🗺 How to Get There: Take Highway 58 east from Eugene for about 60 miles, then follow signs for Salt Creek Falls.
9. Tamanawas Falls – A Fancy Name for a Very Pretty Waterfall
📍 Location: Mount Hood National Forest
📏 Distance: 3.8 miles round trip
🥾 Difficulty: Moderate
If you want a waterfall with a view of Mount Hood, this one’s for you. The hike takes you through a mossy forest and along a creek before ending at Tamanawas Falls, a powerful 100-foot cascade tumbling over a basalt cliff. It’s the kind of place where you half-expect a unicorn to appear.
🗺 How to Get There: From Hood River, take Highway 35 south for about 25 miles. The trailhead is just off the highway.
10. Pearsony Falls – Blink and You’ll Miss It (But Don’t Blink)
📍 Location: Southern Oregon (near Prospect)
📏 Distance: 0.5 miles round trip
🥾 Difficulty: Easy
A hidden gem in Southern Oregon, Pearsony Falls is small but ridiculously pretty. A short walk leads to a cascading, moss-covered waterfall straight out of a fairy tale. It’s not the biggest, but hey, not everything needs to be massive to be appreciated.
🗺 How to Get There: From Medford, take Highway 62 toward Prospect and follow signs for the Mill Creek Falls trailhead.
Now go touch some moss and chase some waterfalls. Your therapist would be proud.
