A short early morning hike led to this great view of Watson Falls in the North Umpqua River basin. The falls hurtle over a cathedral amphitheater wall of basalt, crashing into a long talus slope covered in moss and vine maple. The falls plunge over enough of an overhang that occasional gusts of wind can toss the water sideways or upwards in rare cases (usually later in the summer when there is less water in the creek). Watson Falls drops 272 feet and is the 3rd tallest waterfall in Oregon.
A close up shot of the many creeks that run by the trail to Watson Falls
National Creek Falls is yet another among the long list of highly photogenic waterfalls in Oregon. The falls occur where the spring-fed creek diverges around a basalt outcropping and plunges about 40 feet over a jagged ledge in two scenic channels. The hike to the falls is straightforward and the area is quite beautiful with the exception of the mosquitoes. Photographing the falls was fairly easy as the water was not too deep but very cold. A lot of microfiber cloths were needed to keep the lens dry enough to take the shot.
