Munson Creek Falls is the tallest waterfall in Oregon’s Coast Range, and most coastal drivers cruise right past the turnoff
Munson Creek Falls drops 319 feet through old-growth forest south of Tillamook — the tallest waterfall anywhere in Oregon’s Coast Range. It’s not on the stretch of Highway 101 most road-trippers actually stop for, so plenty of people driving between Cannon Beach and the dunes cruise right past the turnoff without knowing it’s there.
That’s kind of the appeal. Skip the crowd at Multnomah for a day and go find this one instead.
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Finding the turnoff
There aren’t many signs pointing the way in, so map the route before you lose cell service. The last mile or two runs on rough gravel, and while you’ll want to take it slow, any standard car can manage it — we’ve driven our VW bus down it without issues.
There’s no day-use permit or per-vehicle fee here either, which is a rarity at Oregon’s better-known waterfalls these days. Park, walk in, and go.
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The half-mile that gets you there
The hike itself is short: about half a mile round trip with roughly 65 feet of climbing, rated easy the whole way. You’ll follow Munson Creek through a box canyon of old-growth spruce, hemlock, and big-leaf maple, with salmonberry and ferns crowding the path on both sides.
Stairs carry you up the final stretch to a railed viewing platform, and that’s as close as the trail gets to the falls themselves.
Why the trail stops short
A storm back in the 1990s wiped out the upper section of trail that used to lead closer to the base, and it’s never been rebuilt. Honestly, the platform view might be the better one anyway — you get all three tiers of the falls in frame at once instead of craning your neck from directly underneath.
When to go
The falls run year-round, but the forest around them changes with the season. Spring brings trillium and corydalis blooming under the canopy, and by fall the big-leaf maples turn gold enough to compete with the waterfall for your camera’s attention.
Munson Creek is also active salmon habitat, so a late fall or winter visit can mean spotting fish moving just under the surface of the creek on your way in.
Since you’re already this far down 101, pair it with a stop in Tillamook, or work it into a bigger loop off our list of Oregon Coast waterfalls worth chasing. We’ve hiked this one ourselves — here’s the full rundown if you want more detail before you go.
Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone, or skip both and book a camper van instead.
Rules and fees change — always confirm current requirements before you go.
