The trailhead parking lot is empty. A rare sight for the most popular hike along the North Umpqua Corridor. The water pipe, that’s been leaking for decades, is creating puddles and frozen patches along the edges of the parking lot. A prelude to the icy trail leading to the falls.
Most people don’t think of winter as a great season to go hiking, but there’s something about the crisp air, trying to cut through your beanie and coat, that’s oddly refreshing. From the trailhead and into the forest, the winter weather isn’t as apparent as it was in the parking lot. The old-growth Douglas Firs and Hemlocks insulate the forest floor from the 28-degree air, keeping the vegetation green even this late into the season.
A few hundred feet later, with the river exposed, the frost begins. The rocks, branches, logs, anything exposed to the frigid air that’s coming off the river is covered in a crystalline sheet of ice. Even the trail has patches of ice.
The ice crunches under our hiking boots, step after step. A few slick patches along the trail are nothing to worry about until we reach the first set of steps. The entire right side of the steps is slicker than a used car salesman. After traversing those first set of stairs, there’s a little viewpoint of the crystal-clear North Umpqua River making its way through the ancient lava tube. The greens of the mossy rocks pop against the stark white ice drifts along the banks of the deep, dark turquoise river water.
As we continue along the trail remains empty, probably a result of it being a particularly cold Tuesday morning. In all my years of hiking Toketee Falls, this was the first time I’ve seen the trail void of other hikers.
More stairs along the trail lead to a quiet, rocky glen that feels almost like a zen garden. There’s no ice here; it almost feels warmer. The forest is silent, except for the waterfall in the distance. Since we were about halfway, we took this opportunity to catch our breath for a second.
Further down the trail, we reach the falls. Toketee never disappoints. The short hike is always worth it. Much like other viewpoints along the trail, the greens and blues seem to shine in the winter air, especially against the basalt rock formations that frame the falls. Since the viewing platform is sheltered by trees, it makes for a pleasant place to soak up the view. After snapping our photos, it was time to trek back to the car. Until next time, Toketee.
The colder months are a great time to get out of the house and go exploring. Before heading out into the forest during the winter, always check the weather and road conditions at tripcheck.com. For a full list of waterfalls along the Highway of Waterfalls.
