Top 15 Waterfalls in Deschutes National Forest

For a quick and easy visit, Upper Paulina Falls offers an upper viewpoint just five minutes from the parking lot, complete with picnic benches. Tumalo Falls is also highly accessible, with an easy, family-friendly one-mile trail leading to a viewpoint.

Yes, several waterfalls are great for families. The trail to Tumalo Falls is considered easy and suitable for children. Upper Falls — Deschutes River is also listed as family-friendly, offering beautiful scenery and birdwatching opportunities. Additionally, Upper Paulina Falls has picnic benches and an easily reachable viewpoint.

The waterfalls showcase diverse natural features. At Dillon Falls, you can witness powerful rapids where the Deschutes River drops significantly. Upper Falls — Deschutes River is known for its pristine water and the beautiful, ever-changing colors of the surrounding aspen trees. Chush Falls, located in the Three Sisters Wilderness, is recognized for its unique triangular profile as it cascades nearly 70 feet.

Yes, the Deschutes National Forest offers various cycling and mountain biking routes. For example, you can find cycling routes like the 'Dillon & Benham Falls via Deschutes River Trail loop' in the Cycling in Deschutes National Forest guide. Mountain biking options, including trails near Benham Falls, are available in the MTB Trails in Deschutes National Forest guide.

Many waterfalls, such as Tumalo Falls, are popular from May/June through October. However, some, like Upper Paulina Falls, are particularly beautiful in winter when snow and ice cover the rocks, offering a different scenic experience.

If you're looking for a more challenging hike, consider the 6.5-mile loop trail upstream from Tumalo Falls, which leads to several smaller cascades including Double Falls. Chush Falls and Upper Chush Falls on Whychus Creek also offer a moderately difficult trek into the Three Sisters Wilderness.

For powerful rapids, visit Dillon Falls. Here, the Deschutes River drops approximately 65 feet over one-third of a mile, creating a significant volume of rushing water that is reportedly ten times that of Oregon's iconic Multnomah Falls.

Yes, Dillon Falls, Benham Falls, and Lava Island Falls were formed by volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago. Lava Island Falls, in particular, is a great summer spot for picnicking and viewing these cascades, accessible from the Cascade Lakes Highway.

Access to some areas, such as the Tumalo Falls Day Use Area, may require a Northwest Forest Pass or a daily fee. The National Park annual permit “America the beautiful” is also valid at places like Tumalo Falls.

While Tumalo Falls is well-known, continuing upstream along its trail can lead you to smaller, unnamed cascades and Lower Double Falls, which offers a peaceful viewpoint away from the main crowds. Bridge Creek Falls, a 25-foot plunge waterfall, is also part of this extensive trail system.

Near Upper Falls — Deschutes River, you can enjoy birdwatching due to the diverse native species in the area. During the summer months, it's also a popular spot to watch rafters floating this stretch of the river, and the changing colors of the aspen trees make it a great location for photography.

Yes, for a longer experience, a 6.5-mile loop trail extends upstream from Tumalo Falls, allowing you to discover several smaller waterfalls. The Deschutes River Trail also connects Dillon Falls, Benham Falls, and Lava Island Falls, offering an easy to moderate 6.8-mile round trip.