Pinard Falls is a 105-foot horsetail waterfall on East Fork Layng Creek in the Umpqua National Forest, Lane County, Oregon, at the end of a short but steep trail in the Cottage Grove Ranger District. The World Waterfall Database, which has surveyed it in person, lists it as a single 105-foot drop.
The falls
The creek pours over a basalt ledge into a shaded gorge, keeping contact with the rock as it falls. The trail ends at a viewpoint about 300 feet from the falls, facing the drop across the gorge.
Getting there
From Cottage Grove, drive 19 miles up Row River Road, 8.8 miles on Layng Creek Road 17, then 3.6 miles on Forest Road 1790 to the trailhead, which has parking for three or four cars. The trail is about 0.6 mile one way (1.2 miles round trip), dropping from about 2,800 to 2,500 feet with 474 feet of gain, and the return is a sustained climb on grades of 10 to 25 percent. The trail is day use only, and there is no fee.
When to go
Early spring through midwinter is the recommended season. The gorge stays shaded most of the day; in summer, sunlight reaches the pool in the early afternoon. The tread gets muddy in the wet season.
On site
The path descends through second-growth forest and then a stand of old-growth Douglas fir before reaching the viewpoint. The creek drains a municipal watershed, and overnight camping is not allowed. The maintained trail stops at the viewpoint rather than the base of the falls.
History and name
The falls take their name from nearby Pinard Butte. Construction of the formal trail was finished in spring 2007.
Nearby
Silverstairs Falls is about 0.9 mile away, Layng Creek Falls about 1.1 miles and Moon Falls on Alex Creek about 1.8 miles.
Distances are straight-line.