• | Login / Sign Up
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

World of Waterfalls

Explore The World One Waterfall At A Time

  • ABOUT
  • WATERFALLS
    • Favorites
    • North America
      • Canada
        • Provinces
      • USA
        • California
        • Hawaii
        • Other States
    • Africa & Middle East
    • Asia
    • Europe
      • Great Britain
      • Iceland
      • Norway
      • Other Countries
    • Latin America & Caribbean
    • Oceania & South Pacific
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
      • Other Countries
    • User Submitted Waterfalls
  • SHOP
  • RESOURCES
    • In-Depth Guides & Advice
    • Product Reviews
      • Outdoor Gear
      • Photo & Video
      • Travel
      • Web Services
    • Waterfalls 101
    • Our Itineraries
    • Travel Guides
    • Trip Reports
  • CONTACT
    • Newsletter
    • Submit A Waterfall Write-Up
    • Login / Sign Up
  • BLOG
  • Search

Falls Creek Falls

submitted by Steve Gillett on May 15, 2021

There is no write-up for this waterfall by the World of Waterfalls. Submit your own write-up!
Falls Creek Falls The road up to Horse Canyon. Do NOT continue into Horse Canyon; turn off to the right through here. Falls Canyon, to the right (south) of Horse Canyon. Turn this way. Note the abundant phyllite outcrops. One of several fords on the way in. High clearance is most definitely desirable! Falls Canyon, approaching the trailhead. View from near the trailhead. The falls are beyond the prominent ridge coming in from the left in the middle distance. Glimpse of the falls! A view looking toward the base. A view from the side.

An unusual waterfall in the Santa Rosa Range, within the Great Basin of Nevada.

The Santa Rosas, in the far northern part of the state next to southeastern Oregon, are another of those little-known Nevada ranges with peaks near 10,000 feet and perennial streams.

Most of the southern part of the range is included in the Santa Rosa-Paradise Peak Wilderness; in fact, the falls lie just outside the wilderness area. Like nearly all Nevada ranges, the Santa Rosa Range trends north-south.

Falls Creek drains to the west, toward US 95. The turnoff for the trailhead is about 40 miles north of Winnemucca, Nevada, on US-95. Detailed directions are given below.

From the trailhead the falls are straightforward to find; just follow the old path up the creek. There are several fords, so footgear that you don’t mind getting wet is a plus.

The falls are not visible from the trailhead; they’re beyond a sharp bend to the left where the creek goes around a ridge.

The falls become visible about a half-mile in. There is a branch path to their base, while the main trail goes around to the left (and continues on up the canyon, in fact).

The falls are in dark phyllite, a hard metamorphic rock that also makes up the angular ridges, and the resistance of this rock to erosion no doubt helps account for the falls.

Getting to the trailhead.

Take US-95 north from Winnemucca, Nevada. The easy-to-find landmark will be the turnoff for Nevada SR 140, about 31 miles north of Winnemucca.

Continue on US-95 another 8 miles beyond this junction to the Horse Canyon turnoff, an unimproved road coming in from the right.

Previously it was signed, but the sign has been missing in recent years. (The coordinates at the junction are lat 41.515310 N, long 117.789086 W according to Google Maps.)

If you get to the Orovada Rest Area on the right you’ve gone about a mile too far.

Once on the Horse Canyon road follow it about 2.5 miles. Horse Canyon is the prominent drainage straight ahead; do not go there.

The complaints on Alltrails and such about not finding the falls are most likely because the party took the trail up Horse Canyon by mistake.

Although Horse Canyon itself is an interesting hike, it does not contain a waterfall!

Instead, at that point about 2.5 miles in another road branches to the right (south); take that road.

Falls Canyon is the next large drainage on the south, and is distinctly more rocky and ragged-appearing because of the phyllite outcrops.

The road ends at an obvious turnaround point, where it continues as a path.

High clearance is imperative, and 4wd desirable, on these dirt roads as there are several fords even if there are no washouts.

Water levels will also be higher earlier in the season, which of course is also when the falls will be more photogenic.

3 Comments

Only logged in users can post a comment Please login or sign up to comment

    Steve Gillett

    About Steve Gillett

    Primary Sidebar

    User Waterfall Reviews ≫ User Waterfall Review

    User-Submitted Review

    Steve Gillett

    Reviewer: Steve Gillett
    Location: Washoe Valley, Nevada, United States

    Registered: 2021-04-24
    Number of Reviews: 18
    Number of Comments: 11

    Disclaimer: This user-submitted review or reply reflects this author's opinion. It is not affiliated with the World of Waterfalls in any way.

    About Falls Creek Falls

    User Rating: 3
    User Difficulty: 2

    Hiking Distance: ~1 mile one-way
    Suggested Time: half day (given the time required for vehicle access)

    County: United States
    State/Province: Nevada
    Town: Orovada

    Latitude: 41.4983
    Longitude: -117.7266

    The Waterfaller Newsletter

    Get over the hump of the mid-week blues! Subscribe and get exclusive curated content delivered to your inbox every Wednesday.

    Copyright © 2023 · Genesis Wow Child on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

    Chase Waterfalls

    • Favorites
    • Destinations
    • Visitor Write-Ups
    • Submit A Waterfall

    About Us

    We are passionate waterfall lovers eager to share our experiences chasing waterfalls around the world! [more]

    Explore WoW

    • Resources
    • Travel Guides
    • Itineraries
    • Travel Journals
    • Blog

    Have Your Say

    • WoW Shop
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletter
    • User
    • Login / Sign Up

    © 2006-2023 World Of Waterfalls, All Rights Reserved
    The content on this website may not be copied or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior written permission.
    HOME ♦ PRIVACY POLICY ♦ TERMS

    Powered by Kinsta

    Affiliate Disclosure: We receive compensation from companies whose products or services are used, referenced, or reviewed regardless of whether we endorse or criticize them.  We are independently owned so content written by us merely reflect our own opinions. more

    © 2006-2023 World Of Waterfalls,
    All Rights Reserved
    The content on this website may not be copied or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior written permission.
    HOME ♦ PRIVACY POLICY ♦ TERMS

    Powered by Kinsta

    Affiliate Disclosure: We receive compensation from companies whose products or services are used, referenced, or reviewed regardless of whether we endorse or criticize them.  We are independently owned so content written by us merely reflect our own opinions. more