Bridge Creek Falls

Bridge Creek Falls is located on the south side of Highway 6, just under 20 miles east of Tillamook. A large pullout on the south side of the highway affords plenty of parking space. Across the street is a footbridge spanning the Wilson River, providing access to the Wilson River trail (this is a good landmark to watch for as indication of where the falls are) and views of unattractive Lower Bridge Creek Falls spitting into the river as well (see Additional Nearby Waterfalls for more). The path to the falls starts right next to Bridge Creek and leads back to the falls in about 500 feet.Bridge Creek Falls feels out of place along the Wilson River Highway, evoking nostalgia usually likened to the ornate-ness of the Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway. Bridge Creek tumbles over a three-tiered fall, bordered by an expertly crafted stone staircases and walkways, before it squeezes between two cliffs, flows under the highway and joins the Wilson River. At the base of the falls is the remnant of some sort of catchment basin, the purpose of which eludes me, but was probably used for a drinking water supply of some sort at one time. Though the falls are partially visible from the road when the surrounding trees are bare, because the stream makes such a small dent in the hillside, unless you know what to look for, in terms of landmarks, you'll drive right by without even knowing what was missed.Evidence seems to point to this being a major attraction along the early Wilson River Highway, but detailed information about the development has not yet been uncovered.