USA Whitehorse Falls

Whitehorse Falls is the smaller but arguably prettier of the two named waterfalls along the Clearwater River. The falls occur where the river sluices through a narrow trough in rhyolitic bedrock and crashes 14 feet over a wall into a large pool below. Though the falls are located several miles downstream of Clearwater Falls, there is often less water present in Whitehorse Falls due to the integration of the river in the North Umpqua Hydroelectric system. The flow is consistent all year long.

Whitehorse is a fairly straightforward waterfall to photograph, in more sense than one. Most people will aim down and focus on the falls and the pool, but the trees around the falls are equally impressive and vertical compositions to accentuate the trees work equally well, if not better. The falls face west and are in a heavily forested area. Mid day will yield bad contrast but late afternoon or early morning won't present problems.

Whitehorse Falls are situated within the Whitehorse Falls Campground, located 4 1/2 miles east of Tokatee Lake (or 63 1/2 miles east of Roseburg) along Highway 138 at milepost 66.9. The parking area is encountered before the campground and the falls are visible immediately adjacent.