Easy, 1.24 mi out and back
289 ft elevation gain
Hiked 3/9/24
A short hike taking you to the third tallest waterfall in Oregon, at 272 ft. Trail ends at the bottom of the falls, giving you a great view of the plunge into the surrounding bowl. When I hiked it in March of 2024, it was just after a nice snowfall, adding to its beauty. One of several great falls in area.
A view through the pines towards the falls. Patches of snow may be seen piled up on nearby rocks and trees.
A snow covered bridge walk over the smallish creek, surrounded by pines.
Another view of Watson Falls in freefall. The bowl underneath covered in snow, with a pathway of the creek seen clearing the snow from center to lower left.
I've seen many waterfalls over the years, but never really a Gorge waterfall such as this until a few weeks ago. I got there right after a well-below freezing cold snap, so it was surreal to see the snowy buildup on the water where the fall spray was re-precipitating. It gave a real Tomb Raider feel. I gotta find more gorges
Yeah, it's crazy some of the micro-climate effects that can get into play in these gorges. Sounds awesome!