WaterfallNear Me

Obsidian Falls

Lane County, Oregon

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height
Not recorded
Location
Lane County, Oregon
Access status
Long wilderness trail; limited-entry permit required
The walk
On a 12-mile loop; no separate one-way distance to the falls is given
Ground & access
Long wilderness trail with about 1,700 feet of climbing, a lava-flow crossing and a steep descent if you take Glacier Way. High elevation; snow lingers into summer.
The Nugget Newspaper: Obsidian Trail is a unique path into the Three Sisters Wilderness
Obsidian Falls, OR
Obsidian Falls, OR
Photo creditPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Obsidian Falls is on Obsidian Creek beside the Pacific Crest Trail in the Three Sisters Wilderness, inside the Obsidian Limited Entry Area. From the Obsidian Trailhead near Frog Camp, follow the Obsidian Trail up along White Branch Creek through forest and across a lava flow. At about four miles it crosses White Branch Creek and forks in a meadow. Take the right fork toward Linton Meadows; about 1.7 miles up, it meets the Pacific Crest Trail. Turn left (north) on the PCT to Obsidian Falls. The PCT climbs the cliff beside the falls and crosses the creek above them. Return the same way, or continue north past Arrowhead Lakes and descend the steep Glacier Way back to the meadow fork to close the loop.

Plan your visit

Obsidian Trailhead on the McKenzie Pass Highway (OR 242), Obsidian Trail to the Pacific Crest Trail, then north on the PCT to Obsidian Falls

The Nugget Newspaper gives about 4 miles to the White Branch Creek crossing and meadow fork, 1.7 miles up the right fork to the Pacific Crest Trail, and a total of about 12 miles for the loop that passes Obsidian Falls. No separate distance from the PCT junction to the falls is given.

Long wilderness trail with about 1,700 feet of climbing, a lava-flow crossing and a steep descent if you take Glacier Way. High elevation; snow lingers into summer.

Where to start

Obsidian Trailhead, on the east side of OR 242 about 6 miles west of the McKenzie Pass summit. A federal parking pass is required.

Timing & water

Travel Oregon says the road to the trailhead does not open to motor vehicles until the third Monday in June at the earliest; OR 242 closes for snow in winter. Permits cover the season from late May to October 31.

Before you go

A limited-entry permit is required for the Obsidian area: 30 day hikers and 40 overnight visitors per day, reserved through Recreation.gov. The Recreation.gov overnight permit reservation fee is $6. A federal parking pass is also required at the trailhead.

Visitor information
Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.

Explore Oregon

Waterfall location

Lane County, Oregon.

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