Fish Creek

The Fish Creek drainage is very large and holds several waterfalls in its vast reaches. The floods of 1996 did a number on the road system in the drainage, and subsequently the forest service decided to close every road in the Fish Creek Basin. As such, access is limited to hike-in only. With the drainage being over 12 miles long, 4+ miles wide, and 3,500 ft deep, It would take more then a lifetime to cover everywhere on foot. I was able to make several ambitious trips to the drainage in 2010 and 2011, and documented several falls.

Fish Creek Falls - 20 ft. 

This is one of two known significant waterfalls on Fish Creek. It's located about a mile upstream of the Wash Creek Confluence. Just upstream of this falls is a scenic stretch of creek with many small mossy drops.

Fish Creek above the waterfall flows through a neat rocky area I've dubbed 'The Narrows'

Music Creek Falls - 65 ft

Music Creek is a tributary of Fish Creek. Music Creek Falls however is located high up the creek right off Forest Road 4550, which is still open to cars. There is a short trail leading to the base of these falls. Park on the south side of the creek, enter the woods from the first southern pullover, and parallel the creek. You will find the trail that leads to the base. Some efforts have been made to keep this trail from fading away, help us keep this trail open and kick any sticks off of it.

Rimrock Falls - 16 ft

Right off FR5410 is Rimrock Falls. The slot the falls flow through is impressive in person.

Fall Creek

Fall creek contains a nice series of waterfalls. The creek flows through a gnarly canyon with such bedrock in its depth. One of the more remote locations I've been to.

First significant waterfall - 55 ft in three tiers

Full view

Upper Orange Falls - 18 ft

Named because the bedrock in the creek between this fall and Orange Falls is bright orange. Cool sight.

The orange bedrock

Orange Falls - 15 ft.

Shovel Creek Falls - 55 ft

Upper Shovel Creek Falls - 42 ft

-low water

South Fork Shovel Creek Falls - 50 ft

-low water

Second Falls - 100 ft

Second Creek contains one significant waterfall along its course, with a couple more occurring just downstream.

Middle Second Falls - 60 ft

Just downstream of the big falls are two more drops

Lower Second Falls - 30 ft

The North Fork of Second Creek has 2 small falls near the old 130 road. 25 ft lower & 15 ft upper.

Spur Road 190 Falls - 20 ft

Just upstream of where the old 190 spur crosses a tributary stream, there's a 20 ft waterfall visible from the road.

Wash Creek Falls - 35 ft

I have yet to get to Wash Creek Falls, but apparently it drops 35 ft in two drops near an old bridge. Legendary kayaker Pete Giordano photographed this falls years ago while scouting the creek: Wash Creek Falls. A few hundred yards away on Wear Creek is another falls.

View Clackamas River Waterfalls in a larger map