What makes Cavitt Falls special
Cavitt Falls, or Cavitt Creek Falls, is a small waterfall with an outsized reputation. It totals just 8 feet of fall in a single cascade, on the west edge of the Umpqua National Forest outside the town of Glide, in Douglas County, Oregon. The drop is small, but the setting is not: the cascade shoots into a large swimming bowl, and it is the centrepiece of the Cavitt Creek Falls trailhead and Recreation Site.
The shape is what makes it. Boulders across Cavitt Creek split the water into two channels, and the two streams together make a cascade about 15 feet wide. It is a wide, low fall rather than a tall one, and the pool below it is the reason people come.
Its neighbours are spread out. Shadow Falls is 4.9 miles away and Susan Creek Falls 9.3 miles away, so Cavitt Falls is a stop on its own rather than one of a cluster.
Source: Wikipedia
Geology and background
The fall is one cascade of 8 feet, split into two channels by boulders across the creek. The two channels give the fall its combined width of about 15 feet, and the water lands in a large swimming bowl below. The boulders do the work: without them, the creek would be a single narrow stream, and the pool would not be what it is.
Plan your visit
Getting there and parking
- GPS: 43.1998497, -123.0217118 — Get directions
The fall is the centrepiece of the Cavitt Creek Falls trailhead and Recreation Site, outside Glide on the west edge of the Umpqua National Forest. Navigate by coordinates rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream. Download an offline map before you lose signal.
Best time and crowds
No stream gauge is linked to Cavitt Falls, so recent rain is your best guide. Expect the most water in spring and after heavy rain. In a dry spell, especially late summer and early fall, the same fall can look half the size. Summer is when the swimming bowl draws the most visitors, so the water is warmest and the crowds are largest at the same time.
This is a popular recreation site in the warmer months. Arrive early or late: the middle of a summer day is peak time.
Safety
Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury. Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle. Plunge pools hide cold water, strong currents and submerged logs, and the swimming bowl here is no exception.
What to bring
- Shoes with real grip
- A rain shell for the spray
- Water and a snack
- An offline map or screenshot
- A dry bag for your phone
- A bag to pack out trash
Practical tips
- Come for the pool as much as the fall: the swimming bowl is the centrepiece of the site.
- Pair it with Shadow Falls, 4.9 miles away, or Susan Creek Falls, 9.3 miles away.
- Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
- Arrive early on a warm day: the recreation site fills up.
Keep exploring
- More waterfalls in Oregon
- Explore Oregon waterfalls
- Shadow Falls (4.9 mi away)
- Susan Creek Falls (9.3 mi away)
- Emile Falls (10.1 mi away)
- Explore the map
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