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Toketee Falls is a two-tier waterfall on the North Umpqua River in southern Oregon, reached by a 0.4-mile trail with nearly 200 steps. Parking is free, per the Forest Service. The turnoff is Forest Road 34, at milepost 58.6 on Highway 138. That same road also leads to Umpqua Hot Springs and Toketee Lake Campground, so one stop covers a waterfall, a hot soak and a place to sleep.
I stopped here on the drive from Crater Lake toward the coast, and for me it beat Crater Lake. It is nowhere near as big. Even so, it was more fun and more enjoyable, and it was well worth the stop. There was a trail down to the falls, and a lake, the hot springs and camping all in the same place.
Toketee Falls Oregon
| Quick facts | Toketee Falls |
|---|---|
| Where | Umpqua National Forest, off Highway 138, Oregon |
| Turnoff | milepost 58.6, north on Forest Road 34 |
| Trail | 0.4 miles, nearly 200 steps, bench halfway |
| Falls | two tiers, 40 feet and 80 feet |
| Parking fee | none |
| Restrooms | vault toilets at the trailhead |
| Hot springs nearby | Umpqua Hot Springs, $5 per vehicle |
| Camping nearby | Toketee Lake Campground, 33 sites |
How long is the Toketee Falls trail?
It is 0.4 miles each way, per the Forest Service, with nearly 200 steps and a bench about halfway. The trail ends at a viewing platform. From there, the falls drop 40 feet, then plunge another 80 feet over a sheer wall of volcanic basalt. Basalt is dark lava rock, and here it has cooled into tall columns that frame the pool below.
Most people can do it. However, the steps are the hard part, and you climb them on the way back. So take it slow, and use the bench if you need it.
Is Toketee Falls worth visiting?
For fun, I think so. Crater Lake is huge, and you mostly look at it from the rim. At Toketee, by contrast, you walk a forest trail down to the falls themselves. It felt like an outing rather than a view.
That said, you do not have to choose. Toketee sits on Highway 138, which runs between Crater Lake and Roseburg. So if you are driving between the lake and the coast, it fits right into the day. Our Crater Lake guide covers the fees and what is closed there this season.
Directions to Toketee Falls
Take Highway 138 to milepost 58.6 and turn north onto Forest Road 34, also called Toketee-Rigdon Road, per the Forest Service. Park past the first bridge, at the far end of the lot. The trailhead is day use only, with no overnight camping.
There is no drinking water at the falls, so bring your own. The drive on Highway 138 is part of the trip, too. It follows the North Umpqua River through thick forest, and it is a beautiful road in either direction.
Where is Umpqua Hot Springs?
A few miles up the same road. Take the same Forest Road 34 turnoff from Highway 138, cross the concrete bridge and drive 2.2 miles. Then turn right onto Forest Road 3401 and go 0.7 miles to the parking area, per the Forest Service.
From the lot, a 0.3-mile trail crosses a footbridge over the North Umpqua River, then climbs steeply to the springs. In winter, snow can close the road, and you may have to hike, snowshoe or ski the last 2.5 miles.
What are the hot springs like?
Small and hot. The Forest Service describes one tub, about 3 feet by 5 feet and 2.5 feet deep, carved out of travertine, a crusty rock left by mineral water. An open-air roof covers it. The water runs 100 to 115 degrees, so ease in slowly.
Know the rules before you go. The site is day use only, from sunrise to sunset, and parking costs $5 a vehicle or $30 a year. A Northwest Forest Pass or an America the Beautiful pass covers it instead. The Forest Service also warns visitors to expect crowds and nudity. And forest sites no longer take cash or checks, so bring a card or a pass.
Toketee Lake Campground
Toketee Lake Campground is the closest, per the Forest Service. It has 33 sites where the North Umpqua River pauses at Toketee Lake. You can reserve through Recreation.gov. To get there, drive about 60 miles east of Roseburg on Highway 138, then 1.5 miles up Forest Road 34.
Camping here puts the falls, the hot springs and the lake all within a short drive. As a result, you can do the falls in the morning and soak in the afternoon without rushing either one.
Watson Falls Oregon Hike
Watson Falls is worth an hour. It drops 294 feet over a basalt lava flow, per the Forest Service. That makes it the highest waterfall in southwest Oregon and the third highest in the state. The turnoff is at milepost 60.5, south on Forest Road 37, about two miles up the highway from the Toketee turnoff. There is no fee.
Toketee is the stop I would never skip, while Watson is the taller of the two. Since they sit so close together, adding Watson costs you very little extra time.
Toketee Falls Hike Time
Plan on half a day for the whole stop, even though the falls trail itself is short. The walk to the platform and back, with time to stand and look, takes most people well under an hour. After that, the hot springs add a drive up Forest Road 34, a steep 0.3-mile climb and time in the water. Watson Falls, two miles up the highway, adds another short stop.
If you only have an hour, do the falls and keep going. With a free afternoon, however, do all three. Better still, book a night at Toketee Lake and split it across two days.
Umpqua Hot Springs Guide
Start at Toketee Falls in the morning, while the lot is quieter and your legs are fresh for the steps. Next, drive up to Umpqua Hot Springs for a soak, since it is only open from sunrise to sunset. Then finish at Watson Falls on your way east, or head west toward Roseburg and the coast. Either way, you end the day back on Highway 138 with nothing rushed.
Coming west from Crater Lake, as we did, the order shifts a little. In that case, you reach the Watson Falls turnoff first, so stop there, then carry on to Toketee and the hot springs.
Water comes first, since there is none at the falls or the hot springs, per the Forest Service. Next, wear shoes with some grip, because nearly 200 steps is a lot to do in flip-flops. If you plan to soak, pack a towel and a swimsuit, and keep a dry change of clothes in the car.
Bring a card or a forest pass, too, because the hot springs parking does not take cash. A small daypack keeps your hands free on the stairs. Finally, fill up on gas and snacks in Roseburg or before you leave the Crater Lake area, so you are not hunting for a station in the forest.
Is Toketee Falls closed?
Check the Umpqua National Forest alerts page before you go. This summer, the Castle Fire closed roads and sites in the South Umpqua area, including South Umpqua Falls, per KPIC and KQEN News Radio. That is a different part of the forest from Highway 138. Still, fire closures can change fast in late summer.
The Forest Service has also posted blue-green algae precautions for nearby lakes. Algae blooms can make lake water unsafe for people and dogs. So read the posted signs before anyone swims at Toketee Lake.
How to Get to the Bottom of Toketee Falls
Skip climbing past the fencing at the falls. The Forest Service says there have been multiple serious injuries and deaths from people doing exactly that. Also, skip bringing only cash, because forest sites no longer take it. Do not plan to camp at the hot springs, since the trailhead is day use only. Finally, do not rush it. This stop is better with a few hours than a quick photo.
Heading on to the coast? Our guide to Oregon Dunes ATV rentals covers cost, rules and where to ride.
Frequently asked questions about Toketee Falls
Is Toketee Falls free?
The Forest Service lists no fee at the Toketee Falls trailhead. Umpqua Hot Springs, up the road, charges $5 per vehicle.
Is the Toketee Falls trail hard?
It is short but has nearly 200 steps. Most people manage it with a rest at the halfway bench.
Can you swim at Toketee Falls?
The trail ends at a viewing platform. The Forest Service warns against going past the fencing, because people have been badly hurt and killed there.
How hot is Umpqua Hot Springs?
Between 100 and 115 degrees, per the Forest Service.
Where is Watson Falls?
Watson Falls sits about two miles from Toketee Falls along Highway 138. The Toketee turnoff is at milepost 58.6 and the Watson turnoff at 60.5.
Published September 21, 2026.
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Photo credits: (1) The North Umpqua River running green and… — U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Government work, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.