Lower McDowell Creek Falls is a waterfall on McDowell Creek in Linn County, Oregon, in the Cascades region, with a total height of about 20 feet. It lies about 5.3 miles northeast of Sweet Home and roughly 24 miles southeast of Albany as the crow flies.
At 20 feet it is on the modest side for Oregon, where the typical waterfall with a recorded height stands around 54 feet; it ranks 353rd of 425. The tallest single drop is 10 feet. The water comes down as a tiered waterfall, falling in several distinct steps one after another, combined with a plunge character. It falls in 3 drops.
The Cascades are a high volcanic range of snow-capped peaks, deep glacial valleys and dense conifer forest of Douglas fir, western hemlock and true firs, with abundant rain and snow on the western slopes. Basalt cliffs and lava flows give the region one of the highest concentrations of waterfalls in the country. McDowell Creek carries 4 recorded waterfalls; the biggest of them reaches 39 feet.
There are 130 recorded waterfalls in Linn County. Royal Terrace Falls, a 119-foot tiered horsetail waterfall, is under a mile away. Crystal Falls, a 14-foot plunge punchbowl waterfall, is under a mile away. Majestic Falls, a 39-foot block waterfall, is under a mile away.
Lower McDowell Creek Falls is located at 44.4639° N, 122.6828° W. The listing is based on the World Waterfall Database, one of the sources compiled by the U.S. Geological Survey in its inventory of waterfalls and rapids of the conterminous United States. The creek name is confirmed against the federal Geographic Names Information System. The exact position has not yet been verified on aerial imagery, so treat the map pin as approximate. Details on trails, parking and access have not been documented for this waterfall yet.