Thank goodness for Google maps because this gem is definitely off the beaten path. Winding dirt road that has you questioning if you are headed in the right direction. Dirt parking with maybe room for 5 to 8 cars and you'll want a vehicle with decent height for clearance issues associated with the off road unpaved terrain. Sort of a Billy goat trail to get to the base of the falls, but worth the effort.
Beautiful falls that is easy to access and offers a number of unique vantage points from below. If you would like a little more adventure and seclusion, continue downstream along the main trail to Kennedy Falls.
If you haven’t added Douglas Falls to your bucket list yet, you’re completely missing out. Photos cannot do this place justice. If you’re needing an afternoon full of sunshine, peace and quiet, and waterfall mist, I highly recommend you make a pit stop here. This is one of my favorite places to take my clients for an adventure session with a waterfall, it’s super easy to see why! ?
The drive coming in is very bumpy, so be prepared to ride in something with clearance. Small cars can still get through, just drive very slowly. You’re able to pull right up to the falls and park.
It is a short climb to get down, it’s almost always slippery and can be muddy. Definitely use caution here.
The road to get back to the falls is wet and tons of large potholes. However, there is plenty of parking, information billboards along road, easy path to view falls and my family climbed all over and around it. The falls itself it very pretty
We have been here multiple times in different seasons, it an easy walk to the fall, an easy climb down for a better view. The place can be slippery if it has rained. Parking is limited.
Douglas Falls, a stunning waterfall near Thomas, offers an easy, family‑friendly hike with multiple vantage points—including views through the emerald lagoon and even behind the falls. There are around 8–9 parking spots available after following the gravel road, with a few extra roadside spaces in case the lot is full.
Visited on a Monday and very few present.
May need boots to climb to the bottom of the falls.
Hiking/biking trail from the falls down to Parsons, 8 miles.
EDIT: After seeing reviews showing people in the water... DO NOT GET IN THIS WATER! IT IS ABSOLUTELY TOXIC! The signs along the road leading up to this even explain how polluted the river is. Please don't expose yourself to the risk of dangerous levels of mercury, lead, arsenic, etc.
Absolutely beautiful waterfall. Unfortunately the river is also absolutely dead. The water (and rocks) are heavily discolored and polluted by acid mine drainage. You should *not* get in this water, even briefly. The only thing living in this water is extrenophile bacteria and algae.
This stop was a stark reminder of the lasting damage humans have brought upon this landscape.
Rough road getting there. Not for low clearance vehicles.
The drive to the falls is super bumpy and there is water that you have to drive through. I recommend having an SUV or truck to get to these falls. The hike is beautiful and easy. The upper part has a cute little waterfall. Then a little further down is the big waterfall. You can swim there and just chill.
Trailhead is around 50 yards from the parking area. It is a steep climb down and there is a rope that you can grab on to at the top.
Rocks get slick near the bottom from the mist. Great views of the falls
A hidden gem! There are no facilities here, just a road, a trail, and some water. The road is gravel and suitable for most vehicles (probably not sports cars). On the way you pass several smaller falls, the walk down to Douglas is pretty steep and can get slippery so wear good shoes!
Very nice setting and the Falls are beautiful. I think the best shots are just downstream, easy to get to. Make sure to see Albert's Falls and another waterfall just before this one (which are equally if not more beautiful). Just park before the bridge or drive over the bridge to a larger parking area on the left. Just a short walk from there. And if you continue walking down the path for 20 min or so, you will be rewarded with a view looking up the Gorge of Blackwater River. This place never disappoints.
Awesome!! One word to describe it all.
You need to scramble on rocks to go down to the foot of the falls, there is a rope to cling on to for safety.
Do take the unpaved road diversion on the falls road and drive till you hit dead end. Google maps location is accurate.
After seeing Albert Falls I continued on the narrow, rain flooded, heavily pot-holed, gravel road to Douglas Falls. After crossing a short, one way, old wooden bridge that looked like it wouldn't support the weight of my Jeep (it did!) there was a parking area. From there you walk the rest of the way. The path down to the base of Douglas Falls is extremely steep, I didn't go down. You can't really see it much at all through the trees from above but you can hear it, and if you walk further down the path you can see the river.
Such a beautiful and peaceful hike. We went in the morning and had the trail to ourselves. The historial makers offered great insight into the area's history. I have to echo the sentiments of those who commented about the road being difficult for low profile vehicles. We barely made it to the parking area. There were some areas where the standing water was arond 6" in depth. Some folks left their car and nearly blocked the road.
I could have spent all day at the falls. You do have to climb down some rocks that may look intimidating to some but it’s not challenging to get down and it’s even easier to get back up. The falls are gorgeous and peaceful. There are rocks to sit on but we were told the water is acidic and not good for swimming. I had an amazing experience with a butterfly who landed on my multiple times and spend a lot of time with me. This was worth the drive down the long gravel road to get there.
Steep trail to get down to the falls but let me tell you it’s absolutely worth it! There is a rope to hang on to that is helpful. Super unique waterfall. Rocks in the water leading up to the falls are a rusty color. I’ve never seems anything like it before. Albert Falls is right in the area too so make sure you check out both while you’re there. Road to get to the falls is gravel and has some pretty good size holes in it so just be careful driving. There is a small parking area right near the trail to the falls. Could probably fit 6 cars. I imagine it can be busy in the peak summer season.
Small rock scramble on slippery rocks but otherwise pretty easy to get to. The road leading in is rough with a creek running through it. I would recommend a high clearance vehicle.
It's very beautiful and feary tail like. The surrounding forest was whimsical. Only thing, due to my disability/handicap I couldn't go visit/see the falls. The rugged path wouldn't allow me. Other that that, I LOVE THE AREA!!
Very easily accessible, but that takes away from the intrigue a bit. I think my family caught it in an "off day." the water was not blue, but still cool. There are three sets of falls here, Albert, Douglass and Kennedy, if you go further. The last waterfall is VERY hard to access but IMO the best and most adventurous. An off beaten path takes you to the top of the Kennedy falls.
The road to get there was HORRIBLE! Full of a lot of deep potholes. Almost needed a 4 wheel drive vehicle to get back to the falls. Also be warned it its not handicapped accessible. The rocky path to get down to the falls is very steep, no railings, only a repelling rope to hang onto. I'd be very careful with children there. That being said it its very pretty.
A spectacular, non commercial waterfall tucked away at the end of a country road. I liked it more than Blackwater as you can get very close and few people venture here. My AWD car made the trip all the way to the parking area, but high clearance would be smart. Some days a car will simply not make it. You are on the right road if you see the signs and old coke smelters on the left. Keep going until the road ends at a post. The waterfall is down a rocky, steep track to the left at the post where the road becomes a trail. When we visited someone had tied a rope to the post to aid in clambering up and down from the falls.
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