Mill Creek Falls is a 173-foot plunge waterfall in Jackson County, Oregon, where Mill Creek leaps off the rim of the Rogue River canyon at Prospect. It shares a cliff with neighboring Barr Creek Falls, and both are seen from overlooks on the same short trail in Prospect State Scenic Viewpoint.
The falls
The falls make a single vertical plunge of 173 feet, spanning about 15 feet across. The creek has cut back into a cliff of petrified volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Mazama, allowing Mill Creek Falls and Barr Creek Falls to be seen side by side from their viewpoints. Mill Creek rises in the west hills of Huckleberry Mountain.
Getting there
The trailhead parking lot is on Mill Creek Drive in Prospect, about 1 1/2 miles along the road through town from Highway 62. Parking is free. The Mill Creek Falls viewpoint sits slightly less than half a mile down the trail, and the Barr Creek Falls overlook lies beyond it. The combined walk to both falls covers 1.54 miles round trip with 315 feet of elevation gain; because the path descends to the viewpoints, the climb comes on the return. Visitors navigating the trail network often follow the old road bed and the sound of falling water. Picnic tables are nearby; there is no drinking water.
When to go
Flow is strongest in winter and spring; during cold snaps the cascade can freeze or partly freeze.
On site
Steep cliffs along the trail present drop-off hazards, and hikers should keep children and pets close on this dog-friendly path. A steep spur descends toward the base of Mill Creek Falls, where winter and spring ice can make a rope helpful. The Upper Rogue River below remains cold all year.
History and name
The falls take their name from Mill Creek. Boise Cascade developed the original Mill Creek Falls Scenic Area, building the trail and viewpoint system later incorporated into the state scenic viewpoint.
Nearby
Barr Creek Falls is about 0.2 mile away on the same trail. Prospect Falls on the Rogue River and Pearsoney Falls on Mill Creek are each about 0.4 mile away, and Lower Red Blanket Falls about 1.6 miles.
Distances are straight-line.