Umpqua National Forest: Waterfalls and Hot Springs You Can't Miss

We only had two days in Umpqua National Forest when we were driving through on our roadtrip from Seattle back down to Los Angeles this year, but we managed to squeeze in a couple truly spectacular waterfalls and hot springs.

The North Umpqua River running through southern Oregon has created a path of eighteen waterfalls through Umpqua National Forest, plus a handful of others nearby. The Umpqua Hot Springs were also at the top of our list of stops while we were in the area. In fact, we ended up driving the pothole-filled road twice to soak our tired muscles in the steaming springs.

Our Must-See Stops in Umpqua National Forest:

Toketee Falls

Toketee Falls are one of the most popular waterfalls in the area, and for good reason. The falls themselves are powerful, but their otherworldly atmosphere comes from being surrounded by towering black basalt columns and lush green moss.

It’s a very quick hike to the observation point, just 0.8 miles from the parking lot. It was a little muddy when we walked in, due to the occasional drizzle, but I suppose that’s pretty typical for the Pacific Northwest. Note: If you want to continue down to the water in front of the falls, there is some steep and slippery climbing required, including an initial scramble down while hanging onto some ropes.

Umpqua Hot Springs

The word has gotten out about these picturesque cascading hot springs, and they tend to get crowded on weekends. Still, we drove up the narrow road, slowly navigating the hundreds of potholes with our van. We hiked the muddy trail uphill with towels over our shoulders and our swimsuits underneath our clothes.

It was cold, drizzling, and miserable. Basically, the perfect weather to soak in a steaming hot springs pool of 104 degrees. The pools are varying temperatures, the closer you are to the top, the hotter the water. We played Goldilocks and jumped between pools to test out the water in each. The top pool is incredibly satisfying and too hot to stay in for long, the ones further down the mountain are too cold, and the pool under the wooden structure is just right.

Make friends with the other hot springs adventurers. They’ve usually got some fun stories.

Watson Falls

Watson Falls are the highest of the waterfalls in the area, nearly 300 feet high. It’s a quick hike, only 0.4 miles, which will take you across a bridge that spans the falls.

If you want to get closer, keep hiking down the trail and you can get near the foot of the falls. Be prepared for some powerful sprays of water though, I was pretty nearly soaked from standing there for just a few minutes.

Where to Stay:

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, I’d definitely recommend Umpqua’s Last Resort, just a short drive from all the falls and the hot springs. We booked it through Hipcamp and were thrilled with the hot showers and wi-fi. They have tent sites as well as a whole suite of different cabins.

If you haven’t booked through Hipcamp before, use this link for $20 off your first booking!