WATERFALLS

Southern Oregon Guide

KLAMATH COUNTY WATERFALLS
Lemolo Lake, Crater Lake heading SE to Klamath Falls

waterfall

Vidae Falls
Elevation: 6715 feet
Latitude: 42.88442 N
Longitude: 122.1001 W
USGS: Crater Lake 7 1/2
Height: 115'  Width: 10'
Type: Tiered - 3 Drops
Source: Springs
Stream: Vidae Creek
Watershed: Klamath River
Best Flows: Spring-Fall

Facilities:
* Roadside Access

Information
This is the only publicized of the three waterfalls in Crater Lake National Park. Vidae Creek drains a very small area near the rim of the Crater Lake caldera but is also fed by a very consistent albeit somewhat low volume spring. Thanks to the high elevation of the source there is always ample flow in the creek to make the falls presentable. The falls splash over a three-stepped bluff, dropping 115 feet before cascading down a steep talus slope and flowing under the Crater Rim drive. There is said to be another waterfall less than half a mile downstream as well, but accessing it would be an entirely off-trail endeavor.

Location
Drive to Crater Lake National Park, and proceed towards the park headquarters along the Rim Drive. If you are coming from SR 62, turn onto SR 209 and drive 3 1/2 miles to the headquarters, then proceed along the rim drive for 3 more miles to the falls. If you are coming from the north, all you have to do is pretty much drive around the lake, and you'll pass the falls.
Photo/Info: Permission of Northwest Waterfall Survey

waterfall

Plaikni Falls
Elevation: 6656 feet
Latitude: 42.90939 N.
Longitude: 122.04912 W
USGS: Crater Lake 7 1/2
Height- Width: Unknown
Falls Type: Unknown
Source: Springs
Stream: Sand Creek
Watershed: Klamath River
Best Flows: Spring-Fall

Facilities:

Information
Plaikni Falls located on the East Rim drive of Crater Lake. Photo taken from the sign at the trail head - Plaikni Falls Trail: This route winds through old-growth fir and hemlock forest, past a series of rugged bluffs, to the base of Plaikni Falls. Plaikni, a Klamath Indian word meaning from the high country reflects the origin of the falls high on the slopes of the volcano. The high country receives an average yearly snowfall of 44 feet. Melting snow percolates through loose volcanic soil, hits an impermeable layer, and surfaces as a spring. One spring forms the origin of Sand Creek, which cascades down as Plaikni Falls. In this lush environment, mosses and wildflowers thrive.

Location
Drive to Crater Lake National Park, and proceed towards the park headquarters along the Rim Drive. If you are coming from SR 62, turn onto SR 209 and drive 3 1/2 miles to the headquarters, then proceed along the rim drive for 3 more miles to the falls. If  coming from north, drive around the lake to falls.
Photo by Francie S and Info by Northwest Waterfall Survey

waterfall

Duwee Falls
Elevation: 5950 feet
Latitude: 42.86445 N
Longitude: 122.14725 W
USGS: Union Peak 7 1/2
Height: 100' Width: 15'
Type: Tiered - 4 Drops
Source: Springs
Stream: Munson Creek
Watershed: Klamath River
Best Flows: Spring-Fall

Facilities:

Information
Duwee Falls is the largest of the three officially named waterfalls in Crater Lake National Park and it just might be the best waterfall in the park altogether. The challenge, however, remains actually seeing the falls to determine the accuracy of this suspicion. The falls occur as Munson Creek snakes its way down the side of Mount Mazama, cutting deeper and deeper into a thick layer of petrified volcanic ash, finally giving way as it reaches the head of Godfrey Glen. The falls start off with plunges of about 15 and 40 feet, then appear to cascade down two additional tiers of about 25 feet each. And even though a wide, accessible trail passes within yards of the top of the falls, nearly nothing can be seen due to the narrow, twisted shape of the canyon. The best view is actually a distant perspective from a pullout along Highway 62 near Mazama Village. Should access to the base of the falls prove viable (it looked dicey if at all possible), this might prove to be a very interesting waterfall.

Duwee is an adaptation of the Klamath Indian word "ti-wi", meaning the sound of a rushing cascade or stream. The original english spelling was Duwie, but when the name was adopted by the USBGN, it was changed to Duwee.

Location
Duwee Falls is located near Mazama Village in Crater Lake National Park. The best view is from a pullout along Highway 62 about a mile south of the entrance station at Mazama Village. The Godfrey Glen trail also provides fleeting glimpses of the falls - the trailhead for which can be found 1 3/4 miles north of the entrance station (you will need to pay the entrance fee to access this trail).
Photo/Info: Permission of Northwest Waterfall Survey

waterfall

Annie Falls
Elevation: 5100 feet
Latitude: 42.81748 N
Lng: 122.11403 W
USGS: Maklaks Crater
Height: 53'  Width: 20'
Falls Type: ?
Source: Springs
Stream: Annie Creek
Watershed: Klamath River
Best Flows: Year Round
Facilities: See Info.

Information
Annie Falls is one of three named waterfalls in Crater Lake National Park. The falls cascade 53 feet down a sloped step in Annie Creek Canyon, surrounded by walls of petrified volcanic ash from the long since gutted Mount Mazama. The falls are viewed from the Annie Falls picnic area, but a grove of trees at the bottom of the canyon obstruct the falls from view from pretty much every angle in some way or another, and as a result, are not a widely known or sought out attraction within Crater Lake National Park. Do not try to approach the falls closely - the canyon walls are extremely crumbly and unstable, and a mis-step would almost certainly lead to serious injury or worse.

Location
The Annie Falls picnic area is 4 1/2 miles north of the south entrance to Crater Lake National Park, along Highway 62, or 4 1/2 miles south of the entrance station at Mazama Village.
Photo/Info: Permission of Northwest Waterfall Survey

waterfall

Stuart Falls
Elevation: 5457 feet
Latitude: 42.79907 N
Longitude: 122.21276 W
USGS: Union Peak 7 1/2
Height-Width: Unknown
Falls Type: Unknown
Source: Springs
Stream: Red Blanket Crk
Watershed: Rogue River
Best Flows: Spring-fall
Facilities: Unknown

Information
Photo taken on June 8, 2013 of Stuart Falls. Looking for more Information

Location
Sky Lakes Wilderness
Photo by Francie S.

waterfall

Red Blanket Falls
Elevation: 5002 feet
Latitude: 42.79306 N
Longitude: 122.22861 W
USGS: Union Peak 7 1/2
Height-Width: Unknown
Falls Type: Punch Bowl
Source: Springs
Stream: Red Blanket Crk
Watershed: Rogue River
Best Flows: Unknown
Access: See Info.

Information
Red Blanket Creek tumbles out of the Sky Lakes Wilderness and flows west along the southern boundary of Crater Lake National Park. A trail along the north bank of the creek passes through stands of Douglas fir and grand fir on its way to two named waterfalls & several smaller unnamed.
 
Several factors combine to make the Red Blanket Creek Trail refreshingly cool even on summer's hottest days. The trail starts at an elevation of 3,900 feet, which guarantees that the temperature will be at least 10 degrees cooler than the valley floor. Dense tree cover keeps the sunshine off the trail, holding down the temperature, and the chilly waters of the creek itself cool the air too.
 
The trees along Red Blanket Creek are notable enough to have earned mention in "Best Old-Growth Forest Hikes, Washington & Oregon Cascades," (Mountaineers Books, by John and Dianne Cissel.) The Cissel's book has been described as the "definitive guide" for finding outstanding old growth forests in the Cascades by professor Jerry Franklin, an expert on old-growth ecosystems.

Location
The trail begins just outside the Sky Lakes Wilderness and climbs steadily for 2.9 miles to Red Blanket Falls, the first of two named waterfalls on the 4.3-mile (one way) trail. Red Blanket is a waterfall in the punchbowl style, where the water descends through a constricted passage to a pool.

People who are content with a six-mile outing may call it a day at Red Blanket Falls, but there's another waterfall farther up the trail for those who are willing to add another 2.5 miles to their trek. The trail continues past Red Blanket Falls to Stuart Falls, where the creek spreads across an old lava flow in a 40-50 foot fan. At this elevation hikers can see tree species such as Engelmann spruce, western white pine and mountain hemlock. Note: Mosquitoes can be a problem in July.
 
To reach trailhead, take Highway 62 east from Medford for 45 miles to Prospect. Turn right to "downtown" Prospect and turn onto the Prospect-Butte Falls Highway at the Prospect Hotel. Go one mile and turn left onto Red Blanket Road; follow  11 miles to its end, where the trail begins.
Photo by Francie S and Info by Northwest Waterfall Survey

waterfall

Klamath Falls
The Falls no longer exist.
Previous Info:
Elevation: 4111 feet
Latitude: 42.23 N
Lng: 121.79917 W

Information
The actual Klamath Falls no longer exist. They use to be located on the Klamath River between Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna.

waterfall

A Bonus Picture!
Deep Creek Falls
In Lake County


Elevation: 5457 feet
Latitude: 42.79907 N
Lng: 122.21276 W
USGS: Union Peak 71/2
Height-Width: Unknown
Falls Type: Unknown
Source: Unknown
Stream: Unknown
Best Flows: Unknown

Information
As you travel through the Warner Mountains from Lakeview to Adel, you will drive by Deep Creek Falls. It is a beautiful picture in winter as the water turns to ice. Some caution is needed when stopping to observe the falls, which is located on a curvy road with limited roadside shoulder for parking.

Photo: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives

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Note: SouthernOrenon.com does not provide any other specific directions or information by phone about these Waterfalls or Parks, other than what is shown on the pages.

This Waterfall page is used for general informative purposes only. Visitors should verify these locations, facilities and amenities before driving to these remote region. This information on is provided to users on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranty of any kind either express or implied. We are not responsible for any diving misdirections or info, if any, on this page. See terms page if needed.