Henline Falls Trail

The trail is a washed out, old mining road making its way through a lush forest with a mix of ferns, moss covered trees, and towering Douglas Firs with trees blown over from wind storms lining both sides of the trail. I call those Big Foot traps. The trail comes to a fork, stay to the left you are half way there. Once you travel another 50-80ft you will see the Henline falls Trail sign on a tree. After a little ways more the trail opens up and so does the forest. On both sides of the trail are some camp sites, that are on the hill sides, which is a great place to take a break if you need to. Here you can start to hear the roar of Henline creek and it gets the heart pumping. When the trail begins to trace the side of the creek look off to your left (across the creek) at the rocky cliff side and down low at the base of the cliffs where you can see some cave openings.

Now you should be able to see the falls through the trees in front of you. When you reach the fall you have to pass through the old power plant fountains which are all broken and worn from the elements. Rebar sticks out of the sides and tops of the foundations making great hand holes to pull your self up between the narrow space left between the foundation and the mountain rock wall. The foundation is a perfect place to sit and take your backpack off.

Once you continue down the trail to the beach of the falls, I like to take my rain gear so I can get close to the base of the falls. It can get really misty. From the beach of the falls you can see the cave opening up 12-15ft and to the right. There is somewhat of a path up the rocky cliff to the cave. Be careful and use your hands to help get you up and down. The cave is an old silver mine but is gated off. In the winter time if the temps drop enough the falls create a beautiful winter wonderland that is breath taking. Take extreme caution in the winter with the icy trail it a slip here can make end the fun. Enjoy your time at the falls and remember to pack out what you pack in.

Directions:

• From Interstate 5 and Highway 22 in Salem, take Highway 22 East for about 27 miles, then turn left onto North Fork Road - Follow North Fork Road for 17 miles and then bear left on FSR# 2209, signed for Jawbone Flats and the Opal Creek Trail. About 1/5 of a mile up Road 2209 there is a small parking area for the Henline Falls / Ogle Mountain trailhead on the left.