Munson Creek Falls is a 319-foot tiered horsetail waterfall on Munson Creek in Tillamook County, Oregon, protected in Munson Creek Falls State Natural Site south of Tillamook. Oregon State Parks calls it the tallest waterfall in the Coast Range, and a short trail through old-growth forest leads to a viewpoint.
The falls
Munson Creek comes down in three tiers, with a 233-foot upper drop, through a canyon of Sitka spruce and western redcedar. It is one of only about a dozen Oregon waterfalls known to exceed 300 feet. A March 2013 in-person survey confirmed the 319-foot figure, though a growing pile of logs hid the absolute base; an older figure was 266 feet.
Getting there
From Tillamook, drive 7 miles south on US 101 to Munson Creek Road, marked by a brown state park sign. The last part of the 1.5-mile road is narrow, bumpy gravel, and no day-use fee is charged. The park is open for day use year round, and its trail runs about a quarter mile to the viewpoint. The walk is 0.5 miles round trip with 65 feet of gain, easy, though the section closest to the falls is closed indefinitely, so the viewpoint may be the end of the walk.
When to go
The creek flows all year, and peak flow runs from November to May, with less water from July to October. Oregon State Parks notes spawning salmon in the creek from late fall through winter, trillium, corydalis and violets in spring and summer, and bigleaf maples and red alders turning color in fall.
On site
The trail is suitable for all ages. A massive fallen cedar along the path and a viewing platform with a handrail near the falls are features of the walk. Dogs must be leashed. There is no camping at the site; Cape Lookout State Park, about 18 miles away, is the nearest campground.
History and name
The creek is named for Goran Munson, a Michigan settler who homesteaded along its banks in 1889. Western Rivers Conservancy bought the land from Simpson Timber at half its appraised value, with funding from a Paul G. Allen foundation, and conveyed it to Oregon State Parks in 1999.
Nearby
Scotch Creek Falls is about 8.7 miles away, and Upper Clarence Creek Falls and Lower Clarence Creek Falls are both about 9.2 miles away.
Distances are straight-line.