Thundering Waters

Today was cooler but very sunny. We don't think the temperature exceeded 60F, and it was 34F when we woke up this morning!  Fall is definitely in the air, and we can smell and see the colors of autumn leaves as they start to drift to the ground around us.

We decided to tour some of the local waterfalls in the Umpqua National Forest, which are accessible from the Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway, which is Route 138 in our area. The forest contains 24 scenic waterfalls, which the forest calls "Thundering Waters."

According to the booklet, waterfalls can be classified into any of several different types based on their structure. We'll explain the classification of each falls as we describe it.

Toketee Falls

When we pulled into the parking lot at the trailhead for Toketee Falls, our curiosity was piqued by the following structure:

A sign at the trailhead explained things.  Waters from the North Umpqua River and Rogue River and their tributaries have been diverted through canals, pipes and other types of viaducts.  In this case, the structure is a redwood stave pipe, constructed much like a water barrel, through which the water courses on its way to a hydroelectric dam.

We started up the trails, along the North Umpqua River, working our way downstream to the falls. The trail was highly improved, with stone steps and catwalks made of steel and wood. Here's a photo of Kathy at the observation point, taken from earlier on the trail above her:

The falls themselves were pretty awesome:

The Chinook name, "Toketee" means "pretty" or "graceful," which certainly seemed the case for these falls. They are classified as tiered falls, which means that they descend in a distinct series of separate falls.

Watson Falls

The second falls we visited were Watson Falls, located on Watson Creek. The falls plunge 272 feet over the edge of a basalt lava flow: 

Watson Falls is classified as plunge falls, which descend vertically, losing contact with the bedrock surfaces.  This was certainly the case, as the spray of water shot out away from the lava rock.  If we had been able to get down to the base of the falls, we could have walked behind them.  This photo gives you a better idea of the scale of these falls, which are the tallest falls in Southwest Oregon:

Whitehorse Falls

Next, it was on to Whitehorse Falls, on the Clearwater River. While only 15 feet in height, the falls carries an impressive volume of water in a great roar over its edge:

Whitehorse Falls is classified as a punchbowl falls, because it descends from the constricted width of a stream into a pool below.

Clearwater Falls

Clearwater Falls, a 30 foot falls also located on the Clearwater River, is classified as a segmented falls, because, as it descends, it diverges into 2 or more parts:

Warm Springs Falls

Warm Springs Falls, located on Warm Springs Creek, plunges 70 feet over columns of basalt into the pool below.  It is classified as a block falls because it descends straight down from a wide stream:

Our hike in to Warm Springs Falls was through a beautiful old growth cedar forest.  The floor was soft and damp underfoot, composed of fir needles and humus that had been moistened in last night's rain. This made it an extra pleasure to hike to see the falls.

On our drive back from Warm Springs Falls, we passed Lemolo Canal No. 1, which funnels water from Lemolo Lake to a hydroelectric power plant downstream.  This section of the canal is an example of a second type of waterway constructed by the power company:  an open canal, crossed by occasional overpasses which serve either as land bridges for wildlife or as stream crossings for natural creeks whose natural flow is in a different direction.

The water in the canal comes from Lemolo Lake, which was created by damming the North Umpqua River.  It's a great recreation site, much like Diamond Lake, with campgrounds, boat ramps, a resort, fishing and the like.  Here is a photo of Lemolo Lake from where the North Umpqua River emerges, with Mount Thielsen the dominant, point-spired peak in the distance:

There are many more waterfalls in the area, but we had to limit ourselves somehow, so we contented ourselves with visiting these five waterfalls in our immediate vicinity.  It made us aware, however, of the many other attractions further down the North Umpqua River and on the Rogue River south of us.