Toketee Falls
Encyclopedia
Toketee Falls is a waterfall
located on the North Umpqua River
in Southern Oregon
, approximately 58 miles (93.3 km) east of Roseburg, Oregon
, US near Oregon Route 138. Carved from ancient columnar basalt
, Toketee Falls drops approximately 120 feet (36 meters) in two stages.
With a reliable water flow on the North Umpqua River, the Toketee—a Chinook Indian name meaning graceful—avoids the seasonal fluctuations of other creek-fed waterfalls in Oregon.
The waterfall is regulated by a dam built just upstream by PacifiCorp
, which now regulates and reduces the water flow over the falls. Previously the full volume of the North Umpqua River was allowed to flow over the falls, but has been reduced by a penstock that utilizes the drop of the falls to generate hydroelectricity.
As of February 2010, the falls were closed due to damage to the trail by a landslide. They were since reopened.
The 0.4-mile trail reopened on May 28, 2010.
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
located on the North Umpqua River
North Umpqua River
The North Umpqua River is a tributary of the Umpqua River, approximately long, in southwestern Oregon in the United States. It drains a scenic and rugged area of the Cascade Range southwest of Eugene, flowing through steep canyons and surrounded by large Douglas-fir forests...
in Southern Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, approximately 58 miles (93.3 km) east of Roseburg, Oregon
Roseburg, Oregon
Roseburg is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the county seat of Douglas County. The population was 21,181 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, US near Oregon Route 138. Carved from ancient columnar basalt
Basalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
, Toketee Falls drops approximately 120 feet (36 meters) in two stages.
With a reliable water flow on the North Umpqua River, the Toketee—a Chinook Indian name meaning graceful—avoids the seasonal fluctuations of other creek-fed waterfalls in Oregon.
The waterfall is regulated by a dam built just upstream by PacifiCorp
PacifiCorp
PacifiCorp is an electric power company in the northwestern United States.PacifiCorp has three primary subsidiaries:# Pacific Power is a regulated electric utility with service territory throughout Oregon, northern California, and southeastern Washington.# Rocky Mountain Power is a regulated...
, which now regulates and reduces the water flow over the falls. Previously the full volume of the North Umpqua River was allowed to flow over the falls, but has been reduced by a penstock that utilizes the drop of the falls to generate hydroelectricity.
Closures
Due to falling trees caused by heavy snow, the trail, parking lot, and falls were closed from March 2008 until 2009.As of February 2010, the falls were closed due to damage to the trail by a landslide. They were since reopened.
The 0.4-mile trail reopened on May 28, 2010.