Deadline Falls is a 12-foot wide cascade on the North Umpqua River in Douglas County, Oregon, the one Class V rapid on the river's Wild and Scenic stretch. It sits beside Highway 138 near the Swiftwater day-use area, and from spring into fall salmon can be seen jumping in the pools below it.
The falls
The river slides down a single sloping drop about 75 feet wide, with field surveys listing 12 feet, while an older local report gives 15 feet. Flow reaches around 2,000 cubic feet per second at high water, and the falls run year-round.
Getting there
The falls are at about mile 22 on Highway 138 east of Roseburg, roughly 2 miles east of Idleyld Park. Visitors can use two approaches: a turnout on the river side of the highway with access to the rocky riverbed, or a crossing of Swiftwater Bridge to the North Umpqua Trail parking area, then a quarter-mile walk down the trail to a viewpoint. The Bureau of Land Management's Swiftwater Day-Use Area has parking, restrooms, picnic tables and river information panels, and the agency charges no parking or day-use fees along the river. The falls can also be seen from the highway near Swiftwater Bridge and Rock Creek bridge.
When to go
Fish can be seen jumping and splashing in the pools below the falls from May to October, as salmon migrate upstream. Rafters run this stretch mostly from May to July, during the peak boating months.
On site
A short but steep path leads from the highway down to the rocks by the falls. The rapid rates Class V, and the river stays cold, with summer water in the mid to upper 50s. Fishing on the Wild and Scenic stretch is fly-fishing only.
History and name
The name refers to a fishing boundary at the falls, with fishing banned within 200 feet downstream.
Nearby
Swiftwater is also the start of the 7.8-mile Swiftwater segment of the North Umpqua Trail. Fern Falls is about 1.3 miles away, Conley Creek Falls about 3 miles and Susan Creek Falls, a short BLM trail farther east on Highway 138, about 5.1 miles.
Distances are straight-line.