Willamette Valley Life: Everything Great About The Willamette Valley
Favorite Swimming Holes, Waterfalls, and Beautiful Pools
Near Eugene
by Camille Gullickson
With spring in full swing and temperatures climbing, now is the perfect time to enjoy one of the many natural waterparks in the Willamette Valley, and these are six of my favorite family-friendly excursions all less than a 1.5-hour drive from centrally located Eugene, Oregon.
Know before you go! All the areas mentioned are tourist attractions and/or local favorites, meaning the trails can be heavily trafficked during the peak months. To improve social distancing, consider taking excursions during midweek or in less favorable weather. Also, as with all travel during the pandemic, make sure to check individual websites for updates prior to visiting and bring all your necessities for the day. This includes a picnic lunch and snacks, plenty of drinking water, face masks, sanitizer and possibly even bathroom kits.
Dorena Lake (Cottage Grove, OR)
Lovely Dorena Lake (recreation.gov/camping/gateways/236) offers boating, sailing, swimming, fishing and other water-sports. It also features a small playground and plenty of picnicking spots to enjoy. If you wander a bit farther down the trail from the main entrance, you’ll find secluded picnic spots right along the lake. Dorena Lake is about a 30-minute drive from Eugene via Interstate 5 South and Row River Road. It is also located near the popular multi-use Row River Trail (blm.gov/visit/row-river-trail).
Brice Creek and Trestle Creek Falls (Dorena, OR)
Brice Creek Trail (fs.usda.gov/recarea/umpqua/recarea/?recid=63402) features several short, family-friendly hikes to lovely swimming holes just perfect for a dip. The trail meanders along the creek through a shady canyon. If you want a longer hike, you can choose from two additional trails: Trestle Creek Trail (fs.usda.gov/recarea/umpqua/recreation/recarea/?recid=63446) and Upper Trestle Creek Trail (fs.usda.gov/recarea/umpqua/recreation/recarea/?recid=63448). The trails are occasionally blocked by downed trees, so check the website for the most up-to-date information. In the springtime, my family has experienced a stunning variety of wildflowers along the trails, so bring your wildflower identification book. The Brice Creek Trail is located just under an hour from Eugene off I-5 South and Row River Road near Cottage Grove.
Tamolitch Falls (near Blue River, OR)
Beautiful Tamolitch Falls (fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recarea/?recid=82063), also known as Blue Pool, offers moderate hikes to one of the most photogenic pools in the state (3.3 miles from Carmen Smith Reservoir and 2.1 miles from Trailbridge Reservoir). This heavily trafficked hotspot is located 1 hour, 15 minutes from Eugene traveling east on state Highway 126 East, or 1 hour, 14 minutes from Bend via U.S. Highway 20 West and state Highway 126. Because of its popularity, I would not personally visit it on the weekend in the summer; instead, pick an off-peak time. Due to the depth and temperature of the water, this is not a place for a family swim, but it is breathtaking to experience.
Sweet Creek Falls (Mapleton, OR)
At just 1.8 miles, the Sweet Creek Falls Trail (fs.usda.gov/recarea/siuslaw/recarea/?recid=42667) is a great length for a family hike or a casual stroll. The trailhead is located about 1 hour, 15 minutes from Eugene off state Highway 126 West on the way to Florence, and is a popular scenic hike. With wooden bridges to scamper over, natural pools, waterfalls and plenty of picnicking spots, it’s a great place to visit on the way to the coast or for a stand-alone day trip.
Proxy Falls Loop Trail (near McKenzie Bridge, OR)
Stunning Proxy Falls Loop Trail (fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recreation/recarea/?recid=4458) features a short (1.6-mile) hike through a lava flow with a magical waterfall at the end. The falls are located about 1 hour, 16 minutes from Eugene traveling east via state Highway 126 East, or 1 hour, 20 minutes from Bend traveling west via U.S. Highway 20 West and state Highway 126. There are two views of the waterfall – upper and lower – and it is possible to scramble down in and around the falls if you take care of the slippery rocks. The refreshing mist will cool you off and collect stunning photos to bring home. We last visited the falls last November. Driving through the region devastated by the Holiday Farm fire was a sobering but important experience.
Sahalie and Koosah Falls (near McKenzie Bridge, OR)
Picturesque Sahalie and Koosah Falls (fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recarea/?recid=4404) make a popular stop traveling to or from central Oregon. The falls are located about 1 hour, 23 minutes from Eugene via state Highway 126 East, or 1 hour, 10 minutes from Bend via U.S. Highway 20 West and state Highway 126 West. The 2.2-mile loop trail offers numerous beautiful viewpoints of the waterfalls, meanders through old-growth forest and eventually drops down to a striking blue pool. The trail can be heavily trafficked, so keep this in mind as you plan your stop.
There are so many wonderful, natural water features to visit in Oregon and now’s a perfect time. Grab a picnic and swimsuit, and go!
Favorite Swimming Holes, Waterfalls, and Beautiful Pools
Near Eugene
by Camille Gullickson
With spring in full swing and temperatures climbing, now is the perfect time to enjoy one of the many natural waterparks in the Willamette Valley, and these are six of my favorite family-friendly excursions all less than a 1.5-hour drive from centrally located Eugene, Oregon.
Know before you go! All the areas mentioned are tourist attractions and/or local favorites, meaning the trails can be heavily trafficked during the peak months. To improve social distancing, consider taking excursions during midweek or in less favorable weather. Also, as with all travel during the pandemic, make sure to check individual websites for updates prior to visiting and bring all your necessities for the day. This includes a picnic lunch and snacks, plenty of drinking water, face masks, sanitizer and possibly even bathroom kits.
Dorena Lake (Cottage Grove, OR)
Lovely Dorena Lake (recreation.gov/camping/gateways/236) offers boating, sailing, swimming, fishing and other water-sports. It also features a small playground and plenty of picnicking spots to enjoy. If you wander a bit farther down the trail from the main entrance, you’ll find secluded picnic spots right along the lake. Dorena Lake is about a 30-minute drive from Eugene via Interstate 5 South and Row River Road. It is also located near the popular multi-use Row River Trail (blm.gov/visit/row-river-trail).
Brice Creek and Trestle Creek Falls (Dorena, OR)
Brice Creek Trail (fs.usda.gov/recarea/umpqua/recarea/?recid=63402) features several short, family-friendly hikes to lovely swimming holes just perfect for a dip. The trail meanders along the creek through a shady canyon. If you want a longer hike, you can choose from two additional trails: Trestle Creek Trail (fs.usda.gov/recarea/umpqua/recreation/recarea/?recid=63446) and Upper Trestle Creek Trail (fs.usda.gov/recarea/umpqua/recreation/recarea/?recid=63448). The trails are occasionally blocked by downed trees, so check the website for the most up-to-date information. In the springtime, my family has experienced a stunning variety of wildflowers along the trails, so bring your wildflower identification book. The Brice Creek Trail is located just under an hour from Eugene off I-5 South and Row River Road near Cottage Grove.
Tamolitch Falls (near Blue River, OR)
Beautiful Tamolitch Falls (fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recarea/?recid=82063), also known as Blue Pool, offers moderate hikes to one of the most photogenic pools in the state (3.3 miles from Carmen Smith Reservoir and 2.1 miles from Trailbridge Reservoir). This heavily trafficked hotspot is located 1 hour, 15 minutes from Eugene traveling east on state Highway 126 East, or 1 hour, 14 minutes from Bend via U.S. Highway 20 West and state Highway 126. Because of its popularity, I would not personally visit it on the weekend in the summer; instead, pick an off-peak time. Due to the depth and temperature of the water, this is not a place for a family swim, but it is breathtaking to experience.
Sweet Creek Falls (Mapleton, OR)
At just 1.8 miles, the Sweet Creek Falls Trail (fs.usda.gov/recarea/siuslaw/recarea/?recid=42667) is a great length for a family hike or a casual stroll. The trailhead is located about 1 hour, 15 minutes from Eugene off state Highway 126 West on the way to Florence, and is a popular scenic hike. With wooden bridges to scamper over, natural pools, waterfalls and plenty of picnicking spots, it’s a great place to visit on the way to the coast or for a stand-alone day trip.
Proxy Falls Loop Trail (near McKenzie Bridge, OR)
Stunning Proxy Falls Loop Trail (fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recreation/recarea/?recid=4458) features a short (1.6-mile) hike through a lava flow with a magical waterfall at the end. The falls are located about 1 hour, 16 minutes from Eugene traveling east via state Highway 126 East, or 1 hour, 20 minutes from Bend traveling west via U.S. Highway 20 West and state Highway 126. There are two views of the waterfall – upper and lower – and it is possible to scramble down in and around the falls if you take care of the slippery rocks. The refreshing mist will cool you off and collect stunning photos to bring home. We last visited the falls last November. Driving through the region devastated by the Holiday Farm fire was a sobering but important experience.
Sahalie and Koosah Falls (near McKenzie Bridge, OR)
Picturesque Sahalie and Koosah Falls (fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recarea/?recid=4404) make a popular stop traveling to or from central Oregon. The falls are located about 1 hour, 23 minutes from Eugene via state Highway 126 East, or 1 hour, 10 minutes from Bend via U.S. Highway 20 West and state Highway 126 West. The 2.2-mile loop trail offers numerous beautiful viewpoints of the waterfalls, meanders through old-growth forest and eventually drops down to a striking blue pool. The trail can be heavily trafficked, so keep this in mind as you plan your stop.
There are so many wonderful, natural water features to visit in Oregon and now’s a perfect time. Grab a picnic and swimsuit, and go!