Majestic Falls

From the junction of Interstate 5 and Highway 20 in Albany, follow Highway 20 east for 20 miles to McDowell Creek Road and turn left. Following McDowell Creek Road, drive another 6.5 miles - watching for signs pointing to McDowell Falls Park - to the main parking lot for the park. Drive past the lower parking area, cross the creek and up the steep hill, then bear left into the upper parking area (there may not be signs) just before the road makes a sharp bend to the right. Find the trail to the left of a couple picnic tables, leading down to a viewing deck at the top of the falls, and a stair case which drops to the lower viewpoint and bridge spanning the creek downstream of the falls. Alternatively one can park at the lower parking area and follow the trail upstream for a little over half of a mile to the same bridge and viewpoint.Majestic Falls is the largest of several modest waterfalls along McDowell Creek within McDowell Creek Falls Park. Flanked by a creative staircase and a nice observation deck, the falls drop 39 feet into a murky green pool at the head of a small bowl-shaped canyon. While not a terribly large waterfall Majestic Falls is the best along McDowell Creek, and is one of the most photogenic waterfalls in the lower South Santiam drainage area, especially during the late autumn months when the considerably ubiquitous Big Leaf Maple trees throughout the canyon are glowing orange and yellow. During the winter and spring, McDowell Creek roars to life, sending an immense volume of water over the falls, but calms in the summer to that of a tranquil backdrop.McDowell Creek was named for Jack McDowell, an early settler in the area (presumably closer to the mouth of the creek). Majestic Falls was probably named because of its relatively large stature in comparison to the other waterfalls along this stretch of McDowell Creek.