So while browsing the Northwest Waterfall Survey, I was reminded of a waterfall I'd visited in January '08, Niagara Falls. Now this Niagara Falls doesn't have nearly the oomph of the famous falls of the same name. Its actually not even the main attraction on the Niagara Falls trail. Actually, its not even on Niagara creek, which is in the same area but without any major waterfalls. Today, I made the trip with my Mom and little brother Keegan, who were in town for the weekend.
Anyway, the waterfall is located in the Nestucca River drainage near Blaine, OR. The trail starts off at a small parking area on an unmapped road, heading down several small stream drainages.
As you follow along the trail, it crosses up and over a few small ridges as it follows a couple small streams, most of which are dry this time of year, down towards Pheasant Creek. The trail switch-backs a few time as you go down before the trail starts heading up Pheasant creek, maybe 100 feet above the stream. Your first sight is actually of Pheasant Creek falls, which is where the trail ends up at.
First though, you go around a corner and the trail immediatly crosses DIRECTLY in front of Niagara Falls, which is actually on an unnamed stream.
Picture by Keegan Mishler, shared with permission.
Next the trail wraps around another corner and you arrive at a picnic table and the end of the official trail. There is also a small trail that continues down into and across the creek and to the base of Pheasant Creek Falls. The falls bends like that because of a slight occasional breeze in the canyon.
I headed for the base too and ended up clowning for the camera a bit.
Picture by Linner Mishler, shared with permission
Picture by Linner Mishler, shared with permission
Picture by Linner Mishler, shared with permission
Picture by Linner Mishler, shared with permission
One last view of the falls as we headed out..
As we were headed back out, we decided to take the long route and headed up I believe Elk Creek to Boundary road which slowly dropped back down to the Nestucca River road and then back into town. Along the way, we stopped and walked out a grassy ridge that appears to be an old landing site for a logging crew. I think the end would make a GREAT campsite too..
And for reference, this is what it looked like in last winter when I was here.
Niagara Falls
Pheasant Creek Falls
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