What to See and Do
Hiking and Biking
Lake Creek Falls
To reach Lake Creek Falls, you need to follow this trail from the parking lot. Though you may see some animals and hear the water before you arrive, it only takes around 30 minutes or less to complete the hike.
Length: 0.66 miles
Intensity: Easy
Kentucky Falls Trail
Drive 35 minutes southwest of Lake Creek Falls to reach Mapleton and the Kentucky Falls Trail. It gives you access to a watering hole and takes you by three falls.
Length: 3.7 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Willamette River Trail
This biking trail is 46 minutes southeast of Lake Creek Falls in Eugene and is part of a larger trail system called the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path System. Use the five-mile North Bank Path to visit the BMX track, or try the four-mile South Bank Path that runs close to Skinner Butte Park.
Length: 9 miles
Intensity: Easy
Fishing & Boating
Though fishing is prohibited inside Lake Creek Falls, there are places to fish near Bureau of Land Management campgrounds. Hills Creek Reservoir, which is about an hour and 43 minutes southeast of Lake Creek Falls, has rainbow trout and is open year-round. An hour and 13 minutes southeast of Lake Creek Falls is Dorena Reservoir, which has bluegill and crappie near the dam as well as trout.
The Willamette River is one of the best places for boating in the area because you can load a canoe or kayak almost anywhere you want. Fern Ridge Reservoir is west of Eugene and 42 minutes southeast of Lake Creek Falls. This huge lake is perfect for kayaking and has both a parking lot and a boat ramp.
Climbing
Choose from different rock-climbing spots in and around Lake Creeks Falls, such as Skinner Butte, 46 minutes southeast of Lake Creek Falls, which has nearly 70 routes that are suitable for all types of climbers. The Wilderness Wall is the tallest and has nine routes up the face. Other options include the Main Buttress and New Chimney.
Wildlife Viewing
You'll find animals living in the woods near the falls and around Eugene. Columbian whitetail deer and Humboldt's flying squirrels are two of the animals that hide in the woods. Keep your eyes peeled for birds such as house finches and song sparrows.
Picnicking
There are many picnic tables around the falls where you can sit down and rest or eat. On busy days, you may need to wait a while for a free table.
Hunting
Lake Creek Falls allows hunting as long as you have a valid license. The big game season runs from August through October. You have until December to hunt for cougars and black bears.
