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Just outside of Tillamook, Munson Creek drops down one of the most impressive waterfalls in Oregon's Coast Range. The falls were for the longest time cited as dropping 266 feet in three tiers. Oregon State Parks however has cited the falls as standing 319 feet tall and the topographic maps support this figure. We surveyed the falls in March of 2013 in attempt to settle the discrepancy and came away with a figure of 299 feet. However, given that we were not able to spot the absolute base of the falls due to the ever-increasing pile of logs at the base of the falls, we're pretty confident saying 319 feet is indeed an accurate figure, so that makes Munson Creek Falls the tallest waterfall in Oregon west of the Willamette River, and one of only a dozen or so falls in Oregon known to drop over 300 feet.
The falls are encompassed in Munson Falls State Park, and are accessed via a nice, easy stroll through a lush forest. Currently only one of two former trails which were built as a part of a youth program in 1960-62 are maintained for accessing the falls, and due to recent storm damage the former viewing area at the trail's end has been closed and the trail truncated by several hundred feet - though this is actually a good thing because the trail now ends where the best view of the falls is had instead of much closer to the base where several trees would obstruct views in the foreground.
- Munson Creek Falls is the Official name of this waterfall.
Munson Creek and its falls were named for Goran Munson, a settler who moved to Oregon from Michigan and homesteaded along the banks of Munson Creek in 1889.
From Tillamook, follow US 101 south for 7 miles and turn left onto Munson Creek Road where the falls and park are signed. The road ends in a little over 1 ½ miles at the park. Follow the trail from there for about 1/3 of a mile to the bottom of the falls.
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