Henline Falls Hike
From Portland Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Henline Falls Trailhead
- End point: Henline Falls
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: Out-and-back
- Distance: 1.8 miles roundtrip
- Elevation gain: 200 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Seasons: All year (check conditions first in winter)
- Family Friendly: Yes, but keep children away from the mine shaft.
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: No
Contents |
Hike Description
Featuring a 90 foot waterfall and an abandoned mine shaft, Henline Falls is a scenic and worthwhile destination for an easy day hike in the Little North Santiam River area. At less than 2 miles round trip and with only 200 feet of elevation gain, this is a great hike for families, provided you keep the children away from the abandoned mine shaft in the rock on the right side of the falls.
The trail begins at a small parking lot just after the junction of FRs 2209 and 2207. The trail follows an abandoned road for half a mile before splitting off into trails. Take the left fork down less than half a mile to the falls (the right fork is the Ogle Mountain Trail, a steep trail which follows Henline Creek from a slope high above for two miles before dead-ending).
Henline Falls is a wonderful spot. The falls descend approximately 90 feet as a wide curtain of water into a beautiful green pool that is very typical of the Little North Fork/Opal Creek area. At the base of the falls there is a logjam which has created a number of small but deep green pools. A bit below the falls there is still some concrete in place, a remnant of the mining operations that were very common in this area around the turn of the century (that is, the turn of the 20th century). A more visible remnant is the adit of the old Silver King Mine up on the slope of the right-hand side of the falls. You can safely venture in about 0.2 mile, but DO NOT proceed any further. Keep children away from the mine shaft.
It is also possible to bushwhack up the slopes above Henline Falls to a series of waterfalls above known as Family Falls, but this is only recommended for those with bushwhacking experience. The slopes are very steep in spots and some of the traverses between waterfalls are very difficult.
Return the way you came, but come back often. The falls changes greatly with each flood in the winter, and the pool at the bottom can change every year.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
Regulations or Restrictions, etc.
- Part of the Opal Creek Wilderness, all restrictions apply.
- Northwest Forest Pass required.
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Henline Falls
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Henline Falls
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- 100 Hikes in the Central Oregon Cascades - 3rd Edition, by William L. Sullivan
More Links
- For more information check out the Willamette National Forest's entry on Henline Falls.
- For detailed information on Family Falls, check out Splintercat's page on the area.
Contributors
- Mattisnotfrench (creator)