South Fork Coquille River Area
Oregon is truly a playground for the outdoor enthusiast and adventurer. The less populated and more rustic sibling of its Northern brother, Washington, Oregon boasts both the Cascade and Coast Ranges along with thousands of waterfalls and breathtaking coastlines extending just over 360 miles. In addition to the most famous areas such as the Columbia River Valley and Mt. Hood, Oregon has a multitude of hot springs and lesser known gems reaching far and wide within its borders.
One such area we recently explored on a beautiful Saturday was the Rogue River - Siskiyou National Forest, particularly the mid-Northern section of the area. Lying just south of the small town of Powers, route NF-33 takes you out of civilization into a natural paradise as you head into the forest along the South Fork Coquille River. Fall is one of the best seasons to drive this route as the large, golden-yellow, big leaf maple leaves rain down around you as your drive the winding roads.
The first stop just inside the National Forest is Elk Creek Falls, a beautifully set 80 foot falls within a moss covered gorge. The trailhead lies on the East side of the road and this five minute hike is a great introduction to this beautiful area. This is a very easy hike on a well maintained path, perfect for bringing the family or dogs along! There is one picnic table and a standalone bench at the end of the trail to stop and enjoy the views. For photographers and adventure seekers, there are many slippery moss covered rocks to climb down to get a closer look at the falls.
Elk Creek Falls
As the adventure continues South along NF-33, numerous tree tunnels and beautiful areas adorn the river bank. The National Forest also offers multiple campgrounds along the road for anyone looking to extend their stay in this superb area.
The next set of waterfalls, and one of the main attractions of the area, is the Coquille River Falls on the side road NF-3348. Just before the turn off of NF-33, public restroom facilities are available at the exact middle of a 180 degree switchback in the road. (42.719585,-124.035743) These are the last restroom facilities before turning onto NF-3348. The restrooms were clean, but having a spare roll in your vehicle is always a good idea when heading out into the wilderness.
Coquille River Falls is only 12 miles South of Elk Creek Falls, but between the serpentine roads and beautiful scenery, plan on the drive taking around 20-30 minutes depending on your pace. Once on NF-3348, you’ll begin to ascend up into the mountains to higher elevations. After 1.6 miles you will see the trailhead on the left side of the road with space for a few vehicles to park.
The hike itself is a well maintained albeit steep decent for approximately 0.5 miles down into the canyon to the base of the falls. The last 20 yards or so can be very slippery when wet, but with caution, the base viewing area is easily accessible. There are many fun side trails to explore and numerous vantage points to take in the scenery. Just to the right of the powerful Coquille River Falls is a smaller gem, Drowned Out Creek Falls. This set of falls derived its name from consistently being audibly overpowered by the main Coquille River Falls only twenty yards away. Although Coquille River Falls is the main destination itself, some of the area’s smaller falls can be equally stunning.
Drowned Out Creek Falls
Two miles further up NF-3348 and you reach an area where a seasonal waterfall may be seen on the right side of the road which indicates that Upper Coquille River Falls lies just opposite over the steep embankment. There is a small area on the steep side of the road for two cars to fit easily next to some old timbers. If you pass Bear Creek Rd. on the right to Sru Lake Campground, you’ve travelled too far and must turn around to find the Upper falls. Many neat smaller rapids and falls flow along this portion of the South Fork Coquille River.
Upper Coquille River Falls plunge 35 feet into a classic pool beneath. Multiple paths from the road take one down to various viewpoints; the main path is steep but well maintained. There is a rope for a section of the path to help should it be slippery. In fall, the pool is typically filled with bright yellow leaves that contrast superbly with the dark waters underneath.
Overall, this small area within the Rogue River - Siskiyou National Forest makes the loveliest of day trips or an excellent day of adventure as part of a longer stay in the area.
Travel Times & Tips
2h 8m from Roseburg
3h 10m from Eugene
From 42, the Powers Highway, which turns into NF-33, is a beautiful and winding road. Take your time and enjoy the beautiful scenery
NF-3348 is fully paved to all locations mentioned in this post
Best lens options include 24mm-70mm. Super wides include too much unwanted foreground