Henline Falls Trail
Markus posing in front of the beautiful waterfall at the end of the Henline Falls Trail in Oregon
About the Henline Falls Trail
Type: Trail
Length: 2.9 km
Traffic: Low
Route Type: Out & Back
Markus enjoying the quietness of the Henline Falls Trail in Oregon
On a recent trip to Portland, we were able to squeeze in a hike at the Henline Falls Trail in Opal Falls Creek, Oregon. The trailhead is about a 1 hour and 40 minutes drive south of Portland, going east from Salem. Although it's a little bit farther drive out and the road to the trail was bumpy with some massive pot holes (drive carefully and slowly!), this trail has quickly become one of our favourites in the Pacific Northwest and we can't recommend it enough.
We did the trail on a weekend in mid-August, but one of the things we quickly noticed about it was how quiet it was. There were only a few other hikers while we were there and you can definitely feel the trail's peacefulness as you work your way through it. The parking lot is limited, though, as it only allows 4 cars. We're not sure if it was the time of year or day that we went, but the fact that the trail was quiet when we went doesn't appear to be the case all the time, as people have mentioned that it can get busy.
The trail itself wasn't very long and it was just under 3km roundtrip with an elevation gain of around 250ft. It's a very pleasant trail for anyone looking to do something quick, quiet and with a reward at the end of the hike. It's the rare combination of a hike that's easy to do with such a reward at the end, but it's also not busy, which makes it so great.
Markus soaking in the sights and sounds of the Henline Falls Trail in Oregon
As you begin to near the end of the trail, you'll start to hear the sound of rushing water from the Henline Falls. At this part of the trail, it starts to get a little narrow and requires even one small climb, but it's still relatively easy. Some people have mentioned that there's a mineshaft towards the end, but we weren't able to explore that with our dog!
The best part of the hike is easily the beautiful waterfall at the end. It almost seems unreal to be walking through such a quiet trail and then suddenly come across the waterfall. You can spend quite a bit of time here to enjoy nature and on a hot day, you (or your dog) can even jump into the water for a quick swim. Once you've had the chance to soak everything in, you'll need to turn around and go back the way you came to get back to the parking lot.
The trail was enjoyable for us to do with Markus. As mentioned, there were only a few other hikers and during our time there, we came across maybe 2 dogs. This is a great trail for reactive dogs for this reason and Markus definitely enjoyed exploring the trail and posing with the falls at the end!
Note: Our reception was fairly spotty and limited as we worked our way through the hike. If you need reception for a map or directions, we recommend downloading the map ahead of time.
What we liked
The Henline Falls at the end was incredible.
You can get nice and close to the falls.
The trail was quiet and peaceful, which is great for reactive dogs.
The trail was easy to do as well - great for kids and dogs.
What we didn’t like
The pot holes on the road leading up to the trail are deadly. Drive with care and if possible, take a car that's built for these types of terrains. If you don't have that choice, just go slowly.
Limited to only 4 parking spots (though they weren't even used up when we were there).
Our Recommendation for Reactive Dogs
I don’t know if it was the day or the time that we went, but we hardly came across anyone else while we were there - dogs or humans. From our research, we were expecting there to be a bigger crowd and we went early in the morning to try and beat the rush, but we didn’t go that early. It could’ve been a combination of it being early and an hour and a half drive from Portland, but the walk was peaceful and we’ll definitely come back when we’re in the area as its quickly become one of our favourite hikes in the Pacific Northwest. If you’re worried about the crowd, we can recommend coming out early at the very least!
Disclaimer
Markus is a reactive, but not aggressive dog. His instinct is to avoid other dogs and he may growl, bark or lunge if provoked, but will not attack. We normally do not have issues with leashed dogs when both sides are controlled, but we will be on guard when an oncoming dog is not leashed. There are varying levels to a dog’s reactivity and only you can decide if this park, trail or hotel is appropriate for your dog. Our visits generally will not include off-leash areas; most experiences shared on The Markus Project are within leashed or undefined areas.
Please remember that our past experience visiting a park, trail or hotel may not be the same as your experience at the same park, trail or hotel. We have no control of who visits the park and whether they adhere to park rules - like leashing their dogs on leash-required paths - or not. Please use your discretion with the information provided and with your personal knowledge of your dog’s reactivity when visiting these parks, trails or hotels.
