Umbrella Falls

From the town of Nehalem take US-101 south for just under a mile and a half, then turn left (east) onto Highway 53 (Necanicum Highway), and follow Highway 53 for just over 11 miles to the Nehalem Fish Hatchery and North Fork Nehalem County Park on the left side of the road. There is limited parking within the Fish Hatchery, so it may be necessary to park at the large dirt parking area adjacent to the gate leading to the Hatchery. From the interpretive signs adjacent to the parking lot, look for the large Umbrella Falls Nature Trail sign (which as of March 2013 was propped up against a post on the ground) which points out the trail heading across the field away from the Hatchery. The falls and a nice riverside beach are found about 5 minutes from the parking area.Umbrella Falls is a pretty veil-shaped fall which drops 35 feet along an unnamed stream directly into the North Fork Nehalem River. The falls take their name as a descriptive of the shape of the falls as it spills outward down the cliff into the river (though perhaps with a touch of creative liberty). The stream producing Umbrella Falls does not appear to have an official name and features a rather small catchment basin, so if the falls don't run dry during the summer months, they will certainly be reduced to just a trickle. The falls are accessed from the Nehalem Fish Hatchery, which features spawning activity and adult fish viewing from October to February, plus handicapped fishing access during Steelhead and Salmon season.