August 24th, 2020 | Posted by: Grace Kim
Let’s be real. Oregon is full of waterfalls, beautifully independent in their own ways. Some are easy to get to on flat land, and others not so easy if you’re looking for a refreshing swim.
Toketee Falls, one of Oregon’s most popular waterfalls is located right off of Highway 138 and is hands down a must go to waterfall when visiting Oregon.
Toketee Falls is located on the north part of the Umpqua River, carved from ancient basalt. The falls drops around 120 feet as there are a handful of angles to capture the falls throughout the day.
Parking is free and easy to find as there are limited spots available. I’d recommend getting there as early as you can because the lot fills up quickly with cars eventually parking on the side of the huge water hydrant. You’ll know exactly what I’m referring to when you get there.
When we parked for the falls, water was sprinkling out of what looked like a huge surplus. It’s extremely convenient because after coming out of the bathroom, you can wash your hands out in the open. Or, if you choose to climb down to the falls, it’s refreshing to rinse the dirt off your hands.
Before you question about the climb, let’s start off with the basics of the hike to Toketee Falls.
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All You Need to Know About Toketee Falls
Toketee Falls is a friendly hike as you will run into adults and kids apart. For most, it’s not an entirely strenuous hike, but you will catch yourself catching your breath since there are a handful of stairs you’ll need to climb to get to the end of the route. Round trip you’ll be encountering 97 steps up and 125 steps down with an elevation gain of 200 feet.
There are bathrooms available before entering the trail, so you’re in luck if you headed to Toketee Falls right after catching sunrise at Crater Lake. There are also no garbage cans along the trail, so please do not bring trash along with you on the trail.
Round trip, you’re looking at a short 0.8 mile hike. Around 0.3 miles into the trail, you’re probably going to think that you’ve made it to the end, but just keep going. Walk until you reach a dead end as you’ll come across an area with an area of circular fencing. Thankfully, if you need more time to catch your breath, there are picnic tables along the trail to drink some water and to catch your breath.
Make sure to come early enough to take your selfies because it does get crowded with visitors. When we arrived, there were a number of solo travelers, couples, and families with kids.
We visited Toketee falls in August and the weather was absolutely perfect. If you’re planning on when to go, the best time to visit Toketee Falls is between Spring – Fall. The falls may be beautiful to visit during the winter, but the water freezes and you won’t get the full experience and climb to the bottom of the falls. I also do not recommend visiting after a storm or a rainfall because you’ll have a slippery experience with wet dirt. Plus, you don’t want to trip and fall along the hike.
Climbing Down Toketee Falls
If adventure is your middle name, you definitely don’t want to miss out on the fun and thrilling part. Toketee Falls is beautiful in itself, no matter what angle you’re viewing it from. But, if you’re dying to swim or get closer to the water, make sure you’re wearing clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Also, if you’re carrying camera equipment, make sure that your gear is secure, so you don’t get anything scratched and dusty.
Now, for the fun part. On the bottom right of the fence, you’ll see a hole in the fence. It’s big enough that when you curl up like a ball, you can get through it. Then, you’ll see two ropes that lead to the bottom of the steep dirt hill. Make sure that you’re grabbing onto the rope, branches, or rocks at all time.
If you want to sanitary from the number of people climbing up and down the rope, it wouldn’t hurt to bring a pair of gloves. I’d also recommend wearing a mask because dusk gets all over you. Literally. All over your clothes, hands, face, hair, etc. But, the views down are so worth it.
The trail down isn’t as bad as you might think, as long you’re extremely careful getting to the bottom of the hill. Yes, the trail is extremely steep so make sure you wear closed-toed shoes.
Prior to going down, I actually saw someone climb down the rope barefoot with her camera in one hand and rope in the other. Wouldn’t recommend if you’re not comfortable, but kudos to her!
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At the Bottom of Toketee Falls
Woo! Congratulations. You’ve made it back on flat land. A few feet headed towards the falls, you’ll come across a huge tree blocking your way. You can either go under or above it, but either way works. I went through the bottom, but saw people successfully getting over the top of the tree.
Once getting over the tree, you’ll start feeling the breeze from the water droplets falling onto the bottoms of Toketee Falls. There are a handful of rocks along the water as you’ll have a place to place your belongings while you’ll most likely want to wash the dirt off your hands in the water. Mind you that the water is extremely cold, but every sweat droplet running down your face to the bottom is worth it in the end. Trust me.
If you’re brave enough, I hope you’ve brought your bathing suit to swim in the water. I was told that the water is extremely cold so if you don’t have a towel, I wouldn’t advise swimming. But if you’re there for the experience, take a lap and feel the sun’s rays from above.
What’s even better than bathing on the rocks is that drones are permitted. Not all waterfalls in Oregon permit drones but if you’ve brought your drone with you, you’re in luck. Capture Toketee Falls from all angles high and low and remember to fly early enough to get sun flares in your photos.
Is Visiting Toketee Falls Worth it?
All in all, I think you know the answer to this question. Hands down, yes. Toketee Falls is a beautiful waterfall and will definitely be a memorable spot during your visit to Oregon.
If you’re not in a rush and want to take your time exploring Toketee Falls, expect to come back to your car within 1.5 – 2 hours. A group in front of us stayed to take no more than 5 photos and left but if you’re looking to take drone and long exposure shots, you’ll take more time than others.
Getting back up to the trail is also not as hard as getting down but again, remember to always grip on the ropes or branches. And as you’re finally nearing your car, remember to rinse your hands off at the water shooting out of the so-called water hydrant.
After exploring Toketee Falls, explore more of the area. Perhaps, you want to visit Umpqua Falls located 15 minutes away. With the challenge of getting to the bottom of the falls to enjoying the moments of the breeze hitting your face, visiting Toketee Falls will hands down solidify your Oregon experience.
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