Butte Creek Falls Loop Hike

Overview

NOTICE: Trails in this area were affected by the 2020 Beachie Creek Fire. Please check on current closures with the Oregon Department of Forestry before planning an outing. About 90 minutes from Portland, this short hike will take you to two beautiful waterfalls in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Note that, as of 2018, Weyerhaeuser has closed off the former access route to vehicles and the way to the falls involves a longer drive. Approach roads may be closed to the public in times of bad weather and during logging operations. From the trailhead, take the right hand trail that starts down near the restrooms. The wide, well maintained trail drops fairly steeply for 100 yards or so and then levels out. You'll come to an unmarked trail junction in about 0.2 miles. Turn sharp right below a wood retaining wall, and head down a short spur to Upper Butte Creek Falls. Here the water has carved a cavern beneath the basalt, and it's usually possible to walk behind the waterfall. The trail leads to the edge of Butte Creek here, with opportunities for kids to safely explore in the shallows. Return to the unmarked trail junction and continue on the loop trail. In just a few yards, you'll come to another, currently unmarked, junction. Continue straight (right) here, and once again head downhill. This trail winds through beautiful rainforest, passes above Butte Creek Falls, crosses a log footbridge then ends on top of a precipitous rock bluff overlooking the falls. Keep an eye on your kids here. There's plenty of room to safely enjoy the view, but a fall from the cliffs could be fatal. This is a great place for a picnic or just a relaxing session staring at the waterfall. There's a rough use path from here to the base of the waterfall, but it is quite dangerous, especially when wet, and is not recommended. Return to the loop trail, and turn right (uphill) at the second unmarked junction, passing a set of stone steps before climbing gently through a beautiful forest of vine maple and Douglas fir to the trailhead

Trail Stats

Photos

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