Tillamook County, well-known for beaches, wild headlands, sand dunes,
fishing and dairies. Hidden away in the rugged mountains are several waterfall
gems. There are others, so keep looking.

The easiest of the Tillamook waterfalls to get to is Munson Creek Falls. A spectacular 319-foot-high cataract – rating 46.60 – sited within a State Natural Site. A “natural site” is a small-scale park without many of the trappings of the larger parks. The park is also a fairly recent addition to the State system of parks dating to only 1999. The Simpson Timber Company
sold the land around the creek and falls for half the appraised value.

A side road goes off to the east from US 101 seven miles south of Tillamook in the hamlet of Pleasant Valley. You proceed on this road, which turns to gravel near its end at about 1.5 miles. The parking lot has room for maybe ten cars. A wide trail goes to near the base of the falls in just over a half mile. You cannot get to the base itself because of storm damage, but because of the height of the falls, where you stop gives you a better perspective of the only waterfall in the Coast Range to break the 300-foot mark.

Also, like many waterfalls in Oregon, Coast Range or otherwise, this one drops to the north which makes photographing a challenge, especially in the winter or early spring when the waterfall is at its best. Come here in late August and you might be thinking, what is the big deal!

Recharging

TILLAMOOK WATERFALL DOUBLE – NIAGARA AND PHEASANT FALLS

Next on the Tillamook County waterfalls tour are two waterfalls right next to each other. Going a bit further south on US 101 to the hamlet of Beaver – ten miles further south of Munson Falls turn off. In Beaver, where the highway turns west ninety degrees, take the left onto the Upper Nestucca Road – east.

This beautiful and winding road follows the Nestucca River. Well known to local fishermen who drift the river lower down and fly fish further up. It is the basis for David James Duncan’s “The River Why“. The road eventually crosses the Coast Range, though not many follow it. Turn south a little over ten miles at the sign pointing to the “Niagara Falls Trailhead”.

You are off pavement quickly and the forest lane gains elevation quickly.  The little traffic you see on the Upper Nestucca Road becomes far less, a good thing since there is only one lane. Seven miles up, at a pass, turn right onto a road signed for the trailhead – other adventures await you if you miss the turn, but we will leave them for another day.

NIAGARA FALLS

The road to the trailhead drops steeply down to a small parking lot in about 0.75 miles big enough for five or six cars. You have actually gone far enough east here to leave Tillamook County and are in the western extremes of Yamhill County, better known for its Willamette Valley vineyards. From the trailhead, the trail to the falls descends about 440 feet – from a starting elevation of 1370 feet, the highest point on the road in was about 1670 feet – in a mile. The trail gets steeper near the bottom using switchbacks through the densely forested canyon.

Your first look at the waterfalls is a view of the nearby Pheasant Creek Falls seen just before the trail tucks back into a side canyon where Niagara Falls drops in a 134-foot horsetail. Come summer and the waterfall will be even less rated than the 37.07 it garners from the Northwest Survey. As is pointed out in the link, you could probably take a shower under it at that time.

PHEASANT CREEK FALLS

Only a hundred yards around a bend brings you to Pheasant Creek Falls. At 124-feet high – rating is 45.89 – the falls drops 18 feet in a little upper plunge before taking its big 106-foot drop into a dramatic basalt amphitheater. A picnic table invites you to tarry while taking in the
two falls. Again, ratings are subjective. Taken together and the drive up here, this is a magical area when the waterfalls are at their best.