Post - The UV Life Magazine

Also known as Hwy. 138, Douglas County’s Highway of Waterfalls offers enthusiasts convenient access to some of the most majestic cascades in Oregon.

Story by Dick Baltus Photos by Tim Stephanos

A waterfall is a magnificent force of nature, what one poet called “a serene beauty roaring with power.”

Whether it is the beauty, the power, an excuse to get back to nature or all of the above, waterfalls are a main attraction of the Umpqua Valley. According to a representative of AHM Brands, the agency that created the tourism-focused The Umpqua Life campaign a few years ago, the waterfall section of the campaign website was by far the most frequently visited link.

For enthusiasts whose goal is to visit as many sites as possible in a short period of time, the Highway of Waterfalls is tailor-made. Otherwise known as Hwy 138 and the North Umpqua River Scenic Byway, the Highway of Waterfalls stretches east from Roseburg past Diamond Lake and Crater Lake and covers some of the most beautiful terrain in America.

If you are local, of course, you know all this. But if you haven’t taken the time to visit falls that require just a bit more of a trek off the highway than, say, Watson Falls, here’s hoping these beautiful photos, taken by Tim Stephanos, a retired social worker, motivate you to see up close what you’ve been missing.

Along the Umpqua River portion of the Highway of Waterfalls (which also extends to the Rogue), you’ll find 10 waterfalls, many within a short walk or drive from the highway.

Travel time from the first waterfall to the last is only about 90 minutes, but you’ll need much more time than that to get back to the falls, enjoy the scenery, eat your picnic and commune with nature. So plan to make a day of it.

On your way upriver, stop in Glide for provisions and to take in another whitewater wonder. At the entrance to town, just off the highway, pull into the Colliding Rivers Viewpoint, where you can witness the North Umpqua and Little River converging almost head-on.

The chaotic churn will serve as the perfect appetizer for the eye feast that lies ahead.

On your trip, the best-known of the falls you will encounter is Toketee Falls, about 58 miles east of Roseburg.

Named for Chinook Jargon that means “pretty” or “graceful,” Toketee drops about 120 feet in two tiers. It flows from the North Umpqua River, so it avoids seasonal fluctuations, making it a popular year-round destination for waterfall enthusiasts.

It is difficult-to-impossible to get down to the falls, but a viewing platform provides a spectacular vantage point.

While it is the most famous of the area’s waterfalls, Toketee isn’t the first stop on an eastbound tour up Hwy 138. You’ll first encounter Deadline Falls, a short but powerful fall where you might be able to see steelhead or salmon jumping en route from the Pacific Ocean..

Olivia Marley poses for her grandfather in front of Susan Creek Falls.

Next up is Susan Creek Falls, a 50-foot fan-type waterfall with an easy access trail, then Fall Creek Falls, a two-tiered fall that drops a total of 85 feet and is a little more difficult to reach.

Just six miles away, Steamboat Falls is about five miles off the highway, but features an easy trail in. From now through October, steelhead are often seen attempting to jump to the top of the 25-foot fall.

Toketee comes next, then it’s just two miles to Watson Falls, the highest waterfall in southwest Oregon and third-highest in Oregon. Pull off Hwy 138 and into the parking lot, and you’ll catch a glimpse of the top of the elegant 272-foot falls. A bridge over Watson Creek offers excellent viewing.

Whitehorse Falls is a 15-foot punch bowl type fall, while Clearwater Falls drops 30 feet into a pool and is a short walk from Clearwater Falls campground.

Next, Warm Springs Falls is a block-type fall that drops 70 feet into the pool below. The trail ends above the falls, providing a spectacular viewpoint.

Your final stop is Lemolo Falls, a powerful 165-foot fall. Lemolo is another Chinook Jargon word meaning “wild” or “untamed.” Enough said.

While we focused on the waterfalls along the North Umpqua River, there are more than 80 waterfalls throughout Douglas County. For more information on them, visit experienceroseburg.com.