On a beautiful February Saturday, our waterfall pursuits led us to Highway 38 between Drain and Reedsport. (Side note: Do you know why Oregon is so wet? Because it only has one Drain! (Sorry, I had to do it. You have my permission to roll your eyes.))
We were looking for several waterfalls listed on oregonwaterfalls.net. (Thank you again, Mr. Price!) The first was Hardscrabble Creek Falls, and regretfully I have to say it isn’t tall enough to qualify as an official waterfall. There is not a great view of the waterfall, either, and to even reach that view we had to push our way past some blackberry vines. So, not the best experience. I’m including a picture here even though I’m not including the waterfall on my list.
The next waterfall does not yet appear on waterfallsnorthwest.com, even though it is the best waterfall on Highway 38. It’s on an unnamed stream, so Mr. Price named it Green Acres Falls, which I am happy to go along with. It’s located directly behind a house, so there’s not much adventure here, but it is a pretty spot.
There is actually a 2nd waterfall at almost the same location. If you walk or drive back to the highway and continue west, you can see a skinny little trickle of a waterfall just past the house. It’s tall enough that I could have included it on my list, but since we didn’t get a picture, I’m leaving it out of my official count.
The last waterfall on Highway 38, Scottsburg Falls, is 3 miles west of Green Acres. Although it qualifies as an official waterfall, it’s not really worth stopping for. The safe spot for parking and viewing is on the opposite side of the highway, and even in February the volume of water in the stream was pathetic. Don’t go out of your way for this one.
SUMMARY:
My rating:
- Green Acres Falls: Worth the Effort (2 stars) (Waterfall – 2 stars, Trail – n/a, Experience – 1 star)
- Scottsburg Falls: Low Priority (1 star) (Waterfall – 1 star, Trail, n/a, Experience – 1 star)
Distance from Beaverton: Almost 3 hours southwest
Nearest town: Scottsburg
Nearest city: Eugene
County: Douglas County
Length of round-trip hike: N/A
Best season to visit: Winter. These waterfalls probably dry up in summer.
Things to know: Scottsburg Falls is right next to Scottsburg Park. There is a $4 fee to use the park, but there is a restroom and a playground as well as picnic tables.
Consider combining this trip with: Loon Lake & Camp Creek Falls, Smith River Falls, or Siuslaw Falls
Toilet / Amenities: None, unless you stop at Scottsburg Park
How to get there:
- From I-5 South, take Exit 162 for OR-38/OR-99 toward Drain/Elkton.
- Travel west on Hwy 38 for 6.3 miles into the town of Drain.
- Turn right to stay on Hwy 38 and drive for another 31.6 miles.
- Turn right on Wells Creek Road. The waterfall is visible from here. Park on the shoulder of the road and be respectful of private property.
- Continue west on Hwy 38 for 3 miles. Just past the entrance to Scottsburg Park is a wide area on the right which would be safe for parking. Scottsburg Falls is directly across the highway from this spot.
Helpful websites:
oregonwaterfalls 
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