elizabethadventuresblogSalt Creek Falls is without a doubt one of my all time favorite waterfalls and Diamond Falls is a bonus being able to see two extraordinary falls in one hike. Salt Creek Falls is a 286 foot stunning waterfall that makes you feel like you’re standing on a cliff in Iceland when you see it. It’s surrounded by bright green moss, and because it is a wide fall, it has an impressive water flow year-round. Diamond Falls is a 90 foot cascading waterfall that’s almost as wide as it is tall. Both of these waterfalls are easy hikes to see and well worth the drive!
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Things to Know About The Salt Creek Falls Trail
- You will need a sno-park pass in the winter months and a Northwest Forest Pass the rest of the year for the trailhead. The road closes in the winter months, but is still accessible by parking at or along the road near the sno-park, requiring a sno-park pass.
- Wear proper shoes. Waterproof shoes are best for waterfalls if you have them. Sneakers don’t have great traction for slippery rocks and loose rock. Wear trail runners or hiking boots to give you the best grip on rocks. The trail will also be wet, so having waterproof trail runners or boots will help keep your feet dry through the mud and puddles.
- Salt Creek Falls has an upper and a lower viewing platform, both with large railings. Do not climb over the railing or go past the railings. They are there to protect the surrounding area because it had a landslide in previous years and is unstable. The first time I hiked, there was no railing in place yet.
Leave No Trace Principles
Be sure to know and follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles on trail. It’s so important to help protect these beautiful places we love and enjoy. Make sure you know these principles before going out on a hike.
- Plan Ahead and Prepare: Always check for current weather updates and educate yourself on trail conditions prior to starting a hike. Look for recent reviews or call the local ranger station for up-to-date trail information like closures, recent wildlife and road conditions.
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: Stick to the trail. Avoid going off trail unless it’s to go to the bathroom. You can capture amazing photos from the trail. Do not cut switchbacks. Stepping off trail can cause years of damage with just one simple step. Camp in exciting campsites rather than over vegetation.
- Dispose of Waste Properly: Pack out all trash and food scraps. Never toss food items on the ground. It is harmful to the wildlife. Properly dispose of human waste by digging a cat hole at least 6 inches deep and burying human waste. Bring a wag back to pack it out in fragile alpine terrain. Never leave toilet paper or feminine hygiene products behind because they shouldn’t be disposed of on trail. Being a bag and pack them out to dispose of properly. Same goes for dog poop. Properly burry it or pack it back out to dispose of. Do not leave dog poop bags on the side of the trail because they are easy to forget, animals can get into them and other hikers don’t want to see them.
- Leave What You Find: Do not take objects like plant off trail with you. Preserve nature by not marking on rocks or harming any natural objects. Never pick wildflowers. It is illegal in many states.
- Minimize Campfire Impacts: Check and follow all local wildfire regulations. Use exciting fire rings and keep fires small. Put fires out properly by dousing will multiple gallons of water. Coals should be cool to the touch before walking away.
- Respect Wildlife: Never touch, feed or approach wildlife. Give a minimum of 25 yards to all wildlife and a minimum or 100 yard for predators and larger wildlife. Wildlife are not like house pets. They can spook easily or feel threatened. Stay in your car if wildlife is near the road. Do not feed them because our food is harmful to thier digestive system.
- Be Considerate of Others : Respect other hikers by allowing those that hike faster to pass. Uphill hikers have the right of way, so safely step aside for them to pass, unless they offer to stop first. Limit noise and use headphones. Keep groups under 8. Say hello to a fellow hiker!
Salt Creek Falls Trailhead Location
Salt Creek Falls is located off Willamette Highway, 5.7 miles west of Willamette Pass Resort. Once you turn off the highway, the road will take you a short distance before the junction to Salt Creek Summit Sno-Park and the Salt Creek Falls Parking area. Continue straight to the parking lot, which is located around a large circle lot.
Both waterfalls can be accessed from this parking lot. In the winter months, access to the parking lot is closed because the road is not plowed. You can park along the side of the road or at the sno-park and walk the .5 miles down the road to the trailhead. This will add a total of 1 mile round trip to the hike.
Best Time of Year to Hike Salt Creek and Diamond Falls
The nice thing about this hike is that it is hikeable year-round! The trail is beautiful and lush from spring through fall as the rocks are covered in a bright green moss. In the winter, the ground is covered in snow. If you go after a fresh snowfall, the trees and rocks will have a beautiful white dusting. You can’t go wrong with whatever season you hike it, but spring and fall will bring the stronger water flow compared to summer, when there is less rain and snow melt occurring. I prefer waterfalls chasing during the fall and spring for this reason.
Salt Creek Falls Trail and Diamond Falls Trails
You can do both of these waterfalls or just one depending on the time you have allotted, your hiking ability and the weather. They are both amazing in their own right. Below I’ll be sharing how to see both the falls separate or as a loop hike.
Salt Creek Falls
Salt Creek Falls has an upper viewing platform that is around a 2 minute walk from the parking lot itself. The views from above are stunning, but the railing is fairly high so it can be difficult at times. If you are able to, there is a .3 mile trail that cuts down the side of the cliff to a lower viewpoint. It’s not steep, but it is a decent elevation drop. The views from below are stunning!
The view from the platform is stunning! There is no access lower in the canyon past the viewing platform. Please note that there was no viewing platform on my first visit to these falls. I did not walk past the platform to take photos, so please remain at the viewing platform.
Diamond Falls Loop
Distance: 4 miles round trip
Elevation: 784.1 feet
Trail: Out and Back or Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Pass/Permit: Northwest Forest Pass or Sno-Park Pass
The are two spots to start this trail. The first is on the far side (south) of the parking lot. The second is at the end of the railing area at the top of Salt Creek Falls. Both routes will connect before crossing Salt Creek. Once you cross Salt Creek, the trail forks and you have two options as shown below. You can do the trail from here as a loop or as an out and back. I really enjoyed the loop and would recommend doing it as well. If you opt for the loop, do it clockwise so you have views of Salt Creek Falls on the return rather than having it to your back.
The trail to Diamond Falls is a windy trail through the forest. Once you reach the Diamond Falls area, there is a trail you will take that goes over Fall Creek. The creek has an old wood log crossing that had severe damage to it when I did this hike. There was a sign warning hikers to cross carefully if they choose to still use it. I didn’t have any issues crossing, but took my time and held tightly. It’s not a drastic fall into the creek, but you could definitely injure yourself if you did fall and it’s cold water, despite not being very deep.
Once you cross Fall Creek, the trail continues along the creek less than .1 miles to the base of the waterfall. Diamond Falls is a cascading waterfall with large rocks at its base you can climb up.
What to Bring
If you plan to do this hike in the winter, you will need to either have snowshoes or microspikes. It there isn’t fresh snow on the trail, you can wear microspikes to prevent from slipping. If you’re going after a fresh snowfall or during the middle of winter, snowshoes will be best at preventing you from post-holing on the trail. What is post-holing? It is when you foot falls through the surface of the snow, creating deep holes on the trail. Hiking and causing post-holes will make it difficult for other hikers behind you to navigate the trail. Rent or purchase snowshoes to prevent damage to the trail if you need to.
Gaiters are another must in the winter months. They are waterproof covers that go over your boots to prevent snow from going inside you shoes and cinch below you knee to keep your lower legs dry. I wear gaiters all winter long to keep my legs and feet dry on trail. They would even be great in the spring and fall to maneuver through the mud and rain puddles.
Always carry the 10 essentials in you pack. You never know when there will be an accident or you’ll have to spend the night on trial. Learn about the items you should carry in my “The 10 Essentials” guide.
Proper shoes for the trail are necessary. Waterproof hiking boots or trail runners will be best year-round. During rainy season the trail will be muddy and have a lot of puddles you will have to walk through. In the winter you’ll be walking through snow and want waterproof boots then as well. There is nothing worse than hiking and getting wet socks, which in turn will increase your chance of blistering.
REMINDERS
- Always practice leave-no-trace principles when on trail. Stay on trail and don’t climb over any viewing platforms. The first time I did this hike, the lower falls viewpoint didn’t have a viewing platform but one has since been built. Pack out all your trash and never carve or mark on rocks.
- You will need a sno-park pass in the winter months and a Northwest Forest Pass the rest of the year. The road closes in the winter months, but is still accessible by parking at or near the sno-park, requiring a sno-park pass.
- If you plan to do Diamond Falls, pack the appropriate gear for whatever season you go. In winter that means snow gear to keep your body and feet dry through the snow. Waterproof shoes in the spring and fall and extra water in summer months to keep you well hydrated.
I absolutely love this hike because you can do a quick stop and see Salt Creek Falls if you only have time for one, but also make it a destination hike by going to Diamond Falls. I also love that they are both very large, impressive waterfalls, so it’s two amazing spots in one stop! If you use this guide be sure to leave a comment and let me know!
Happy Hiking,
Elizabeth
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