Lower Clarence Creek Falls
   Tillamook County, Oregon

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The Forest Service has advertised Clarence Creek Falls by sign along the Nestucca River Road. What neither the Forest Service has done, nor does the book "A Waterfall Lover's Guide to the Pacific Northwest"�, is identify which of the two waterfalls along Clarence Creek is intended this designation. Topographic maps delimitate the different falls, but the lower of the two falls is near impossible to see, especially if not watching carefully. The lower falls consists of three sliding steps, totaling about 60 feet. A significant amount of foreshortening doesn't allow the falls' size to truly be illustrated, and a twist in the gorge at the falls obstructs the upper tiers from being seen from all but a few perspectives. Because the upper and lower falls of Clarence Creek are located within about 500 feet of one another, I'm designating them as lower and upper. Unfortunately neither fall is easy to see because there are no developed trails or viewpoints, this being the vastly more difficult to see.

HISTORY AND NAMING INFORMATION

• Lower Clarence Creek Falls is the Unofficial name of this waterfall.

LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS

The falls are located off the Nestucca Byway, southeast of Tillamook. Follow US 101 14 miles south of Tillamook and turn left onto Blaine-Nestucca River Road. Follow this road for about 11 ¾ miles. At this point, you should see signs for Clarence Creek Falls pointing towards the left, and directly across the road is another road that leads in the opposite direction. Turn left, following the sign, and continue uphill for almost a mile to a turnout at the top of Upper Clarence Creek Falls. The easiest way to find the proper access point for the lower falls is to backtrack from this point to the next turnout downstream. The falls are very hard to see from the road, so a good sense of the terrain helps. Once you find the location, it's a matter of scrambling down the steep slope to the creek. To those of you eyeing this one for a visit, I caution you strongly that the descent down to the falls is very steep, potentially quite dangerous and definitely not recommended for the weekend warrior.