Waterfalls Near Central Oregon

Oregon is home to some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the country, though I admit I might be a little biased. Some of the more popular areas for waterfalls are usually not far from Portland, traveling along what locals simply call the Gorge. The old highway boasts numerous waterfalls and beautiful growth, and includes the tallest waterfall in Oregon, Multnomah Falls. 

The downside is that these places are also usually very crowded, since they are so close to Portland. You can still find some solitude if you choose the right day of the week and head out earlier in the morning, but it’s always a bit of a gamble. 

However, if you happen to be visiting the Central Oregon area, you’ll be pleased to find that there are several waterfalls within an hour’s drive of cities like Bend and Redmond. 

My personal favorite waterfall is a seasonal one, located along the McKenzie Bypass. This stretch of highway closes every year for winter, but it still has some of the best trails available when it is open. Included along this route is Proxy Falls, an easy hike with two towering waterfalls along the way.

One of the waterfalls, seen from a distance.

Lower Proxy Falls is the taller of the two, and if you’re brave enough to wade through some water, you can actually climb all the way to the bottom of the falls. But even if you just choose to look at it from a distance, it’s still an impressive sight to behold.

My dad, standing at the base of Lower Proxy Falls.

Upper Proxy Falls is just a little further around the loop, and it has even more foliage around it, making it a beautiful fall hike.

The trail to Upper Proxy Falls in autumn.

This hike meanders through old growth forest and has a mixture of pine, fir and deciduous trees. Rhododendrons line many parts of the trail and look beautiful in the early summer when they’re in full bloom. And apart from a small stretch that passes through the lava rocks, the trail is mostly flat and easy to manage. 

Connected to the McKenzie Bypass is the main highway, McKenzie Hwy 126, and it also boasts several beautiful trails and waterfalls. Hwy 126 is where the famous Blue Pool is located, and just down the road a ways are two more beautiful waterfalls, Sahalie and Koosah Falls. I fell in love with this area after my best friend showed it to me nearly nine years ago, and while it has definitely become more popular as a tourist destination, I still think it’s worth stopping by. 

Sahalie Falls, from the main viewpoint.

Sahalie Falls has the bigger parking lot of the two spaces, and you have several options from this point. Many people simply follow the trail down to Koosah Falls and back again, which is a short and fairly easy hike. However, if you want to see the waterfalls from both sides of the river, the trail continues all the way around in a roughly three and half mile loop. 

This area has some of the most beautiful forest you’ll see and is a perfect example of what Oregon has to offer. The deep turquoise waters of the McKenzie are vibrantly showcased against the deep greens of the trees, and it is altogether a magical place. Now, because the waterfalls are in the sunlight, it can be difficult to get portraits done here. However, if you head out during the right time of day or if you happen to be blessed with a nice overcast, you can get some great shots out here.

Koosah Falls.

Another fantastic location just outside the city of Bend is the well-loved Tumalo Falls. Fair warning, this trail can get very crowded, especially during the middle of the day. I’ve had decent luck finding parking when I’ve gone first thing in the morning, but it was always packed by the time I got back. 

Tumalo Falls, as seen from the main viewpoint.

It’s well worth the effort, in my humble opinion, but if you want a really cool experience I would definitely recommend heading there early and going back further on the trail. Most people stop at the first couple of waterfalls, but what they don’t realize is that the main trail actually connects all the way back to Broken Top. I admit the furthest back that I’ve ever gone is about four miles in, but I always thought it would be fun to backpack through someday. 

Double Falls

Double Falls is about two miles in from the main waterfall, and just a couple miles beyond it are several lovely little waterfalls.

North Fork Waterfall in winter.

Honorable mentions closer to Redmond are Cline Falls just at the edge of town and Steelhead Falls located in Crooked River Ranch. Both are fairly easily accessible most times of the year, though Steelhead is located at the bottom of the canyon so prepare yourself for a climb.

Cline Falls

Steelhead Falls

I could probably write a novel on all the amazing trails we’re lucky enough to have right here in Central Oregon, but I’ll leave that to the professionals like Hike Oregon. (Which is a fantastic resource for anyone wanting to find hikes in Oregon or get trail info. Highly recommended.)

Have you been to any of these waterfalls before? Which one was your favorite? 

Happy Travels!