Frustration Falls is a three-drop cascade on the Salmon River in the Salmon–Huckleberry Wilderness of Clackamas County, Oregon. Its height has never been published. It is one of a cluster of waterfalls in the Salmon River Gorge on the south edge of Mount Hood National Forest.
The falls
The falls are three drops of cascading water. The waterfall exists and is placed at about 2,165 feet on the USGS High Rock quadrangle, but no height, drop count or flow are listed. The river runs through forest of Douglas fir, western hemlock, red cedar and bigleaf maple. The Salmon River was designated a Wild and Scenic River on October 28, 1988.
Getting there
The approach uses the Salmon River Trail from the Salmon River West Trailhead near Rhododendron, managed by Mt. Hood National Forest. The lot holds about 10 medium-sized vehicles on a first-come, first-served basis, and a Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass is required. The trail follows the river through old-growth forest into the wilderness, with established campsites along the way. There is no official trail to the falls: a 2013 trip report on the Oregon Hikers forum describes a final off-trail scramble that drops about 350 feet in 0.2 mile to a viewpoint.
When to go
Seasonal flow isn't documented. The trailhead's toilet, picnic table and garbage service run from May 15 to October 1.
On site
The scramble down to the viewpoint is steep and slippery.
History and name
A 1963 photograph records an expedition to name the waterfalls of the Salmon River Gorge; where the name Frustration came from has not been documented.
Nearby
Little Frustration Falls and Final Falls are each about 0.1 mile away, and Vanishing Falls and Little Niagara Falls are about 0.2 mile away.
Distances are straight-line.