It forms on the Salt Creek roughly west of Willamette Pass and a little more than upstream from its mouth at the Middle Fork Willamette River just below Hills Creek Dam. The falls initially descend over a small number of cascades before the horsetail drop. In total, the falls descend over . Salt Creek Falls is easily accessible by car year-round from Oregon Route 58, also known as the Willamette Highway No. 18, which connects U.S. Route 97 north of Chemult with Interstate 5 south of Eugene. The day use area is about east of Oakridge, and about west of Willamette Pass. The U.S. Forest Service charges a $5 day use fee, but visitors with a Northwest Forest Pass may park there without the extra fee. There is a viewing platform near the top of the falls, as well as a hiking path down to the bottom. The Salt Creek Falls Trail has two moderate to difficult paths—a loop hike and a semi-loop hike. Both start at the interpretive kiosk in the parking lot and gain approximately in elevation. From the parking lot and to the left of the interpretive kiosk is the beginning of the loop hike upstream of the waterfall on the Salt Creek Falls and Diamond Creek Falls trails. The Salt Creek Falls trail starts with a paved walkway along Salt Creek that leads to a picnic area. Past the picnic area is a bridge over Salt Creek that leads to a faint pathway where the trail divides. Following the right side at the junction leads to about of a quick climb that ends in a wide view of the surrounding canyon. Past this viewpoint, the Diamond Creek Falls Trail continues for about past Too Much Bear Lake and ends in a junction that leads to Diamond Creek Falls, which has access to its base over basalt steps, fissures and boulders.