Upton Falls

Upton Falls occurs adjacent to the Little Nestucca Highway, just over 3 miles inland from Highway 101. The falls may be somewhat difficult to see for eastbounders. Parking is available for only a few cars. Scramble paths lead down from the road to the river, but they are steep and unstable in many cases, so exercise caution if you decide to get closer.Postcards of a pretty waterfall along the Little Nestucca River led me on an internet goose-chase that turned up empty, but revealed a pair of small waterfalls. Upton Falls was historically the upstream limit of migration for native fish, but the falls have been altered and the current layout consists of a fish ladder and a small pourover dam to divert the water to the ladder. There is a great swimming hole downstream of the falls, but as far as a waterfall goes, this one is definitely only of interest to collectors. The waterfall as it originally was most likely was similar to Stella Falls, located a mile upstream.The falls apparently were named for James B. Upton, a nearby homesteader who owned and operated a farm in the area.