Lee Falls is a low, wide block waterfall on the Tualatin River in Washington County, Oregon, where the river pours over a ledge of basalt beside Southwest Lee Falls Road. It sits on private timber land, and the pool below is a local summer swimming hole.
The falls
The falls are wider than they are tall, forming a single sheet across a basalt shelf on the Tualatin. No official survey height is published, though field estimates range from 12 to 15 feet. A fish ladder runs opposite the falls. Ki-a-Kuts Falls lies upstream, while Little Lee Falls and the community of Cherry Grove lie downstream.
Getting there
The falls are on private timber land, and public access is restricted. A route follows the gravel Lee Falls Road, managed by the City of Hillsboro's water district, where private-property signs line the way. No Parking signs have lined the pullouts on the approach since spring 2017, so legal parking may be some distance away. A locked yellow gate upstream closes the road to the public beyond that point, toward Hillsboro Reservoir and Haines Falls.
When to go
The route can be visited year-round. In summer the swimming hole draws crowds and parking becomes difficult, while the rest of the year is quieter.
On site
The pool beneath the falls is used for swimming in hot weather. Private-property signs mark the surrounding land.
History and name
The falls are named for James A. Lee, a 19th-century sawmill owner.
Nearby
Little Lee Falls is about 1.4 miles away, Haines Falls is about 1.7 miles away, and Sain Creek Falls is about 2 miles away. Forest Grove is the nearest town, about 9.2 miles away.
Distances are straight-line.