Moon Falls, Lane County, Oregon, United States

I adore the contrast of the smooth, flowing water and the solid lines of moss covered rock. Moon Falls is an exceptional waterfall, veiling about 100 feet over a sharp wall of jagged basalt - a stark contrast to the smoothly rounded cliff at its downstream sibling, Spirit Falls. Alex Creek fluctuates drastically depending on the season, so the falls can morph from a trickle to a torrent. The trail is both gradual and short, and it travels through healthy forest and dense underbrush.

This particular waterfall is deep in the Umpqua Wilderness and takes some careful driving and a decent knowledge of the area (or a really good map!) to find. The nice thing about its out-of-the-way location is that it receives far fewer visitors than similar waterfalls in the state. I spent a good two hours at this sight and didn't see a soul. The beautiful cascade and the remote location have quickly propelled Moon Falls to the top of my list of favorite Oregon falls!