McDOWELL CREEK FALLS

Distance: 1.7 mile loop

Elevation Gain: 300 feet

Trailhead elevation: 816 feet

Trail high point: 1,099 feet

Season: all year

Best: February – June

Pass: None.

On the traditional lands of: the Kalapuya and Santiam peoples

Map Link: McDowell Creek Falls (Gaia) 

Directions:

• From Salem, drive south on Interstate 5 to the outskirts of Albany.

• Leave the freeway at Exit 233, signed for Lebanon and Sweet Home and turn left at the top of the exit ramp onto US 20.

• Drive 12.3 miles on US 20 into the town of Lebanon.

• Turn left onto E Grant St and drive almost a mile to a bridge over the South Santiam River.

• Cross the river and turn right on Berlin Road.

• Drive this road for 10.5 miles to a junction with McDowell Creek Road.

• Turn left and drive 3.4 miles to the first lot in the park, complete with an old wooden sign for Royal Terrace Falls.

• Trailhead: Google Maps

Hike: As I’ve frequently said, Oregon has some of the best parks, and McDowell Creek Falls County Park is no exception. This pair of gorgeous waterfalls is well worth the drive down to Sweet Home. Although this full hike is less than 2 miles, you’ll want to spend a few hours here taking pictures and taking in the scene. The best time to visit is in winter and spring, when the falls run at their fullest.

Leave the parking lot and soon cross McDowell Creek not far above Lower McDowell Falls (which, unfortunately, is quite difficult to see). Continue straight until you reach a trail junction at a set of stairs. For the recommended loop, turn right here (although you might want to see Royal Terrace Falls, which is just a few hundred feet up the trail at a bridge). To begin your loop, climb up the stone stairs to the top of Royal Terrace Falls. When you reach the top of the falls, you may notice a recent clearcut just a few hundred yards away, a sad testament to the small size of McDowell County Park and the preponderance of logging in the private land holdings in the Cascades north of Sweet Home. Cross a bridge and climb a bit more until you reach a road crossing. Cross the road and follow a trail that descends through second-growth forest to Majestic Falls’ parking lot.

Look for a trail that leaves the parking lot here and descends a set of stairs to a viewing deck at the top of Majestic Falls, then descend an impressive and elaborate set of stairs to a viewing deck face-to-face with the falls. Although the falls is only 39 feet tall, it lives up to its name and is exceptionally photogenic. From here, head downstream on a trail paralleling McDowell Creek. The trail soon crosses the park road before returning you to Royal Terrace Falls. This magnificent tiered falls is the star of the park, and is best saved for last. Here Fall Creek veils off the cliffs above in two steps for a total of 119 feet. A close look at the falls reveals holes in the rock created by erosion, where the water disappears into the rock only to reappear a bit further down. Make sure you visit in the winter or spring, as the falls runs very low in the summer and fall. From the falls, cross the bridge over Fall Creek and walk the 0.2 mile back to your car.