It was the last day of my 5 day trip to Bend Oregon and I felt like I could squeeze one more adventure in. Exploring Tumalo Falls, Smith Rock, and Dillon Falls were all epic adventures, but none really gave me that feeling of being off of the grid. That’s when I went on a sporadic hike with Bend adventurist Emily Cordova, as she took me deep into the Willamette National Forest to see Sahalie and Koosah Falls. Hiking Sahalie Falls to Koosah Falls is a fantastic and easy 2.6 mile loop that truly makes you feel like you are off the grid.
Hiking Sahalie Falls
Most of the hike is shaded and there are no major inclines, making it suitable for all age and fitness levels. Please keep in mind that this hike is not wheel chair accessible. The trailhead to Sahalie Falls is about an hours drive from downtown Bend, so make sure to free an afternoon off for this venture. There is so much water moving in this area that the air and area can be very wet, so bring a dry bag just in case if you decide to bring the expensive equipment.
Even though the main attraction to Hiking Sahalie Falls are the actual waterfalls itself, the path along the way provides incredible views of the Mckenzie River and rapids. We spent ample time exploring the little trails that lead to the edge of the river, filling our memory cards with epic shots of the crystal blue water.
Koosah Falls was as impressive as Sahalie, even though at the time I thought that couldn’t be done. Koosah is much larger than Sahalie, but each are unique in their own way. If you keep walking past Koosah, the trail will end at Clear Lake, which has its own parking lot.
History
The two waterfalls are named after Chinook Jargon words, which was a trade language between the native people. This area was a big trading port between the different peoples. Sahalie meant “Heaven” and Koosah meant “Sky”. The Falls marked the terminus of two flows of basaltic lava that dammed the Clear Lake and moved into the Mckenzie River around 3,000 years ago.
I hope that your adventure to Sahalie Falls will be as epic as mine! Liked this article regarding hiking Sahalie Falls? Check out the Hiking Section of the website and subscribe here to get updates!
Sahalie to Clear Lake Loop Trail It was the last day of my 5 day trip to Bend Oregon and I felt like I could squeeze one more adventure in.