Oregon · Hiking

Watson Falls West

Watson Falls WestPhoto: randallagordon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.3 mi
distance
79 ft
climb
2,920 ft
high point
Lollipop
route
Jun, Aug–Oct
best months

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is marginal · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 10 h ago

Is Watson Falls West open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Diamond Lake Ranger District.

As of · Source: USFS · Diamond Lake Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Watson Falls West is a short, easy hike in the Diamond Lake Ranger District of Oregon's Umpqua National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is 0.27 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 79 feet, and it rises from about 2,814 feet to about 2,920 feet. The route is natural-surfaced and allows bikes, and it is not an accessible trail. It works well as a quick stop or a way to stretch your legs before or after a longer outing in the area. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Toketee Falls weather station show July and August highs around 85 to 86°F with only about three wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the low 40s and frequent rain. The hike sits close to several other destinations. The Clearwater River is about half a mile away, and the Pig Iron hike is about a mile off. Clearwater #2 Forbay Forest Camp is about 1.5 miles away, and the North Umpqua Trail: Hot Springs is about 1.9 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun, Aug–Oct

    Best time to visit Watson Falls West

    Best months: June and August–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      42° / 31°

      18 wet · 3 snow

    2. Feb

      47° / 32°

      16 wet · 2 snow

    3. Mar

      53° / 34°

      18 wet · 1 snow

    4. Apr

      60° / 37°

      17 wet

    5. May

      70° / 43°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      76° / 47°

      8 wet

    7. Jul

      86° / 52°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      85° / 51°

      3 wet

    9. Sep

      76° / 46°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      60° / 39°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      47° / 34°

      17 wet · 1 snow

    12. Dec

      40° / 31°

      19 wet · 2 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Toketee Falls, OR, 3.6 mi away at 2,060 ft. The station sits about 900 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Clearwater RiverPhoto: randallagordon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Clearwater River

Next door

3.40-mile out-and-back trail along Clearwater River in Oregon

Umpqua Hot SpringsPhoto: OregonDOT — CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Umpqua Hot Springs

~6 min drive

1.12-mile lollipop trail to Umpqua Hot Springs with 527 ft gain

North Umpqua Trail: Deer LeapPhoto: Oregon Department of Transportation, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

North Umpqua Trail: Deer Leap

~12 min drive

17.18-mile out-and-back trail on the North Umpqua Trail with 5,614 ft elevation gain and loss.

Pig IronPhoto: randallagordon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pig Iron

~2 min drive

5-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,943 ft elevation gain.

North Umpqua Trail: Hot SpringsPhoto: Alexlockhart, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

North Umpqua Trail: Hot Springs

~3 min drive

3.34-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,877 ft gain and 2,715 ft max elevation.

Soda SpringsPhoto: Oregon Department of Transportation, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Soda Springs

~12 min drive

0.20-mile lollipop trail at Soda Springs in Oregon with 259 ft gain.

North Umpqua Trail: Jessie WrightPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

North Umpqua Trail: Jessie Wright

~16 min drive

5.98-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 4,566 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Dread & Terror Trail #1461

~12 min drive

8.14-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 3,489 ft elevation gain

BradleyPhoto: Oregon Department of Transportation, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Bradley

~11 min drive

4.40-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,628 ft elevation gain

Illahee FlatPhoto: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Illahee Flat

~17 min drive

2.60-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 626 ft gain.