Hidden about 45 minute outside of Crater Lake National Park in the tiny town of Prospect lies Mill…read moreCreek Falls and the Avenue of the Boulders. The space features a short hike with waterfall views and access to large boulders and parts of the beautiful Rogue River. I stopped here on the way back from Crater Lake National Park. The turnoff from the highway is easy to miss. In fact, I missed it myself and had to turn back around in the middle of the road. There's a small parking lot with a highly degraded trail map and a few portable restrooms near the beginning of the trailhead. The hike is pretty short, I'd say less than 2 miles round trip. You start off on a flat path that will take you to a two-way intersection. If you bear left, the trail will lead you the Rogue River and the Avenue of the Boulders. And if you bear right, the trail continues to two separate viewpoints; Barr Creek Falls and Mill Creek Falls. I decided to hit the falls first. The hike is pretty easy with gentle rolling inclines. It's entirely shaded by big beautiful trees. The first waterfall in view will be Mill Creek Falls. These falls absolutely stunning! They were flourishing in late fall. The second set of falls is just a short walk up a some log steps. This is where you'll find Barr Creek Falls. These falls weren't as robust as Mill Creek Falls, but they were still very charming. You'll also get a glimpse of the beautiful Siskiyou forest in the backdrop. On the way back, I headed down the other way toward the Avenue of the Boulders. I've been to the Avenue of the Giants before in Humboldt County, but the the Avenue of the Boulders are a completely different experience. They're comprised of huge boulders, many of which you can climb to get a better view of the falls and the Rogue River that flows down below. Simply one of the most gorgeous sights that I've ever seen! The Rogue River is so comforting and calming. This a total relaxation spot. A place where you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the view. Enjoy the sounds and sights of the river flowing beneath your feet. It's truly endearing. Who would have thought that something this beautiful could be hidden away in a small town just outside of Crater Lake? It's so amazing and yet still extremely secluded. If you're coming up to Crater Lake, a visit to Mill Creek Falls and be Avenue of the Boulders should definitely be added to your list.

Gorgeous and easy hike out to some boulders or a set of waterfalls. This seasons rain and snow melt…read moremade the rivers flow violently with water, producing amazing cascades of water for the falls. It's a downward hike and you don't notice it until the hike back out, but it's fairly easy and short so it's a great little stop over for a worthwhile view. The map etched in wood in the parking lot gives a good overlook of the area. Definitely head to the right side and see the falls.

Wow!!!! It is BEAUTIFUL! It is about an hour drive from Medford and TOTALLY worth the trip!!!…read more For those less mobile, you can get a great view of the gorge and water rushing through the rocks with a 5 to 10 minute walk to the first bridge depending upon your walking speed. And it is paved until the third overlook. I went hiking. It is a 1/4 mile to the Natural Bridge from the parking, but you can hike further past the three overlooks. I stayed on for another 1.5 miles which is worth the hike. By my standards, it is a "moderate" hike with a few steep grades. Once you cross the second bridge, take a left and walk another 1/4 mile to reach a shaded beach area to lay down and relax or cool off in the water.

This is a cool place to just take a stroll and really breath in the cleanest air possible. Well, it…read moremight not be the cleanest air, but it's darn near close enough in this wilderness area. There is also, a lot of parking here for all sorts of vehicles but it doesn't ever seem like this place gets full. I stopped here as I was staying at a place in Prospect. The road to Crater Lake was super snow covered and I didn't have chains so I opted to just hike here instead and try Crater Lake the following day. It wasn't really challenging but I still got a great hike. I really think it's amazing how the lava and water have carved so much of the landscape in this area and it's free just to roam and take it all in. Most of the trails are well travelled but there are several areas where I had to turn around and head back as they were fenced. Although you can hear the rush of the water nearby, it's oddly quiet. It's just how I like it for hiking so you can get real peace of mind. I kind of wish I saw a little more wildlife but I guess that's why they're called wild-life. They have limited first come, first serve tent sites as well as limited RV sites. There are vault toilets as well. There is no drinking water, so bring your own water. I think I saw signage for $10 for a campsite, but check the resources to make sure. Also with most campgrounds pack it in, pack it out with regards to trash.

Just a few words: Beautiful, large, friendly rangers, well kept & price is awesome. You can't go…read morewrong booking this place. From where we live the drive up is a winding road (HWY 62) but it's worth it. Plus it's only 33 minutes from Crater Lake!

Nice campground and we really like it there. Lots of trees and shade, the bathroom needed a little…read moreattention but otherwise we will return. Very enjoyable.

August 31, 2025 - Tiller, Oregon…read more The road to the waterfall is a 4-mile drive on a narrow Forest Service Road (NF 6530) off of OR-230. There is a sign that directs you to the small parking lot. From the parking lot, reaching the waterfall is an easy half-mile walk through the forest, with a few switchbacks along the way. The trail is well cared for, dogs are welcome on leash, and the peaceful beauty of the woods made the journey every bit as rewarding as the falls. Although, we had been warned about the mosquitos in the area, they were not an issue at all when we were there. Well worth the slight detour on your way to Crater Lake, Diamond Lake or the Rogue River Gorge.

You drive about 4 miles off OR-230 on a paved 1-1/2 lane road to the parking area. The parking…read morearea is dirt. The hike is about half a mile downhill on switchbacks. The falls are quite beautiful and worth the hike down and back. There is no cell phone service, so you will have to save the photos to send out later.

Nice falls, fun short hike. Rocky, windy trail up to the falls. Burn zone, so lots of trees down,…read morebut we enjoyed the path along the stream and through the rocks and shrooms. Only a handful of parking spots at this one, and no vault toilet.

Fall Creek Falls- AMAZING!!!…read more I love this place! The hike to the Falls is beautiful with plenty of things to explore, and is not all that far. When I got to the Falls there was a family there that was just leaving and I wound up having that entire area to myself for about 45 minutes. I spent more than half of the time meditating directly under and right next to the falls, make sure you bring a bathing suit so that you can really get in there and sit under the water. It was by far one of the most energizing waters I've ever had the pleasure of being in, it was alive, electric and conscious and really gave me the mental, spiritual, physical recharge that I had needed for so long. I don't think you can truly understand until you go there yourself and get under that water for some time. You have no idea. Much love to Fall Creek Falls and the beautiful drive getting there.

What a beautiful national park!…read more Came here on a day where the weather changed between partly cloudy/sunny and snowy/rainy. The snowy surroundings created a nice contrast against the very deep blue color of the lake. In the early morning, it was very peaceful. There were not many people around, likely because of weather. The Steel Visitor Center's film was excellent to get a sense of the geology and history of the park. The lodge also offered an excellent meal with a partial view of the lake. Because of the snow, we were not able to go on the Rim Drive or hike the trails. I would imagine all the views would have been beautiful. The Cleetwood Cove trail down to the lake is closed for 3 summers, through 2028. If weather is of any question, the NPS website has up-to-date information about the weather, including webcams of several spots in the park.

Wow had now expectations for this "giant lake" but it absolutely blew me away, this Volcanic crater…read moreluck is simply stunning! Could win a "Miss National Parks" pageant title IMO! Surprisingly not busy for memorial day weekend although we started early on a sunday morning and a lot of the park was still closed for the season, there was snow! My 3 year old was very pleased. We purchased the annual national park pass at the front gate, sad to hear that the national park staff keeps being reduced and scary to know that there's only *one* emergency ranger on staff currently so please follow the rules folks! Lot's of cute shops for goodies and campgrounds along the way. We stayed an hour away but the drive felt fast and scenic. A nice breath of fresh air. The large parking lot seemed to fill up fast to see the lake, but super close so very accessible. A few hikes were open but honestly just sitting and admiring the lake does the trick. Would love to come back and visit when more of the park is open!

Kinda sucked, I drove out to camp on the lake and you can't actually access the lake from the…read morecampsite. You can only access the lake from a day use area that you have to drive to and you can only access the lake from 8am- 9pm. Basically wasted gas an hour both ways. If you want to camp on a lake don't go here.

Very nice lake! I took my dog hiking but I want to go back to do some fishing/ boating and maybe…read moreeven camp there.

Great hike and minutes from my house make this a great option for a quick weekend hike/workout…read more Nice maintained trials, beautiful views of the Valley and restrooms are available.

Went on a lovely hike here with my family, including my 20-month-old, who was able to safely hike…read moreon his own with little assistance from us given the trail's wide path. We parked in the upper parking lot (with the port-a-potties) and took the trail (fire road? Think it was called The Loop) about halfway around before heading back. Highly recommend.

2 mi, 423 elevation gain, 56 minutes to complete…read more Small snowfield to cross if you start at watchman overlook. If you come from discovery point it would be longer but you would avoid any of the snow crossings. Totally worth the hike- one of the most amazing views in the park especially at sunrise or sunset! Lots of different wildflowers along the way and panoramic views. There is a cute fire lookout that appears to no longer be in use at the top.

I'd like to talk about not just hiking to Watchman Peak, but also the roadside pullover here at…read moreWatchman Overlook. So yes...there are 2 purposes for stopping at this Watchman Area. The Overlook from the rim and hiking the trail to Watchman Peak. This section of Crater Lake is deserving of 5 stars because...when driving around the 33 mile rim encompassing all of Crater Lake (although the views can get quite repetitive and monotonous)...the BEST APPEARANCES OF CRATER LAKE COMES FROM HERE AT WATCHMAN PEAK!!! That's what makes Watchman Overlook so worthwhile. Because the roadside emergence of not just Crater Lake, but the main centerpiece attraction to it all known as Wizard Island is the closest and most prevalent you'll find throughout the park. Watchman Overlook was the best observation viewpoint I can remember from my time spent at Crater Lake. Wizard Island sort of smacked me in the face through my camera lens...I was able to photograph Crater Lake in it's majestic entirety from the viewpoint. Whereas, many of the significantly less roadside Crater Lake stops can just be ordinary especially when you're pulled over far away from Wizard Island. Then the scenery was really a letdown. For instance, when you're on the other side of the lake near Phantom Ship, when I exited my car to look upon Crater Lake, it was like glancing into the abyss of some large sized lake of water, without any focal points (like Wizard Island) and without any meaningful blue coloring to it. I was expecting turquoise blue around the lake and never found it. Even at the main hub of activity in Rim Village featuring Sinnott Overlook, the Crater Lake Lodge, Garfield Peak Trail, and even along Discovery Point Trail....I never received that fulfilling/humbling "wow moment" that completely blew me away in comparison to the sights and scenery I uncovered here at Watchman Overlook and Peak. Regardless...back to what makes Watchman Peak Overlook one of the most worthy of roadside stops at Crater Lake... - I HIGHLY RECOMMEND VISITING HERE IN THE AFTERNOON TIME! Yes this is SO IMPORTANT because from here at Watchman Overlook the sun starts to set from your backside. So...you get the sun reflecting onto Crater Lake and it affords you the most clear and concise perspectives for taking pictures! If you arrive in the morning, the sun will hit you in the opposite (in your face) direction and then you may be stuck with those annoying shadows! - After observing Crater Lake from the rim overlook area....off to the right hand side you'll find the hike to Watchman Lookout Trail. This path will take you to the apex of the rim's edge for uninterrupted views of Crater lake. This Watchman Lookout Trail isn't hard. There'll be a sign/trailhead stating that the Lookout Tower is 0.8 mile to the top. That's 1.6 miles round trip and it's an elevation gain of about 450 feet - I'd say a moderate level of difficulty, but it's overall less than 1 mile. - This Watchman Lookout Trail to the Lookout Tower is certainly recommended because there's not many hikes to even traverse at Crater Lake. I found Crater Lake to be more of just a roadside get out of your car kind of park. So...might as well take advantage of a little hiking opportunity while here...especially since the views around this Watchman Peak area are some of the most scenic in the park! - Along the 0.8 mile...there's not much to view, just switchbacks making your way to the top. From this Watchman Peak Lookout Tower, the appearance of Crater Lake was just as good as the roadside view (there wasn't much difference in my opinion) but still, I'd recommend grabbing a couple of photos from high atop here. - During this summer pandemic of 2020, the Lookout Tower was closed. So, in the end...you just have a small viewpoint to pier down on and admire Crater Lake with of course Wizard Island being so photogenic as well. I truly believe you won't find superior angles/perspectives of Crater Lake and Wizard Island anywhere else in the park other than being here at the rim's Watchman Overlook and at the pinnacle of Watchman Peak Trail Lookout Tower. Capture as many pictures as possible during your time here because the views won't get any better.

Watson Falls is a fantastic looking 293 foot waterfall located in the Umpqua National Forest of…read moreSouthwest Oregon. It sits just 54 miles north of Crater Lake National Park. Watson Falls can be combined together among a trifecta of landmarks all within short distances of each other for a full days worth of basking among the great outdoors. First, start out here at Watson Falls. Next, head 3 miles down the road to Toketee Falls and then finish up 4.5 miles away at Umpqua Hot Springs. But, back to here at Watson Falls and what to expect... To arrive at Watson Falls, it's an easy one mile roundtrip pathway loop gaining 370 feet in elevation. Leave your car in the parking lot, then cross the street and into the forest. You'll pass over a footbridge and continue on the trail which veers towards the left. Finally, approach a Bench Viewpoint of Watson Falls, but that's not nearly a good enough perspective. Climb the rocks and head straight to the base of the falls. Then you'll confront waterfall bliss. What's terrific about standing at the bottom of Watson Falls is that you have the entire waterfall and backdrop to yourself. There's no blemishes or disturbances. In essence, the setting is a waterfall enthusiasts' dream come true. During my visit in early September around 10am, I had unlimited time to admire this stunning natural wonder. Best of all, Watson Falls is one sheer 293 foot drop. There's no cascading down a cliffside or being broken up into different sections or tiers. It truly shines outright. You can continue onward to the Upper Viewpoint which is a short little walk uphill, but the views from high up don't nearly do it justice. The Upper Viewpoint can be skipped altogether but it won't hurt to take in a different glance of Watson Falls if your curiosity gets the best of you. Finally, it's time to return back on the trail to the parking lot. In total, you can take an hour or so to appreciate experiencing Watson Falls. Next up will be Toketee Falls, which is similar to Watson Falls in that it'll take about 1 mile to reach all while hiking through the pristine Umpqua Forest. Overall, Watson Falls is a magical little roadside stop as you make your way through Southwestern Oregon. It may be under the radar, but deserves a place on your To-Do List.

Definitely one the best falls in the area! There's a trail to the bottom of the fall, a loop trail…read moreout, and another trail to overlook higher up! All worth the hike! Best to go when water is flowing heavy in early season.