#friluftsilv

[29kindsofrain]

Indian Beach on a late mid-summer evening in Ecola State Park on the Oregon Coast.

[29kindsofrain]

The McKenzie is a wild and scenic river that originates at Clear Lake in the central Cascade Range and flows into the Willamette River. Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls are located just downstream from Clear Lake and we hiked the Waterfalls Loop Trail (part of the McKenzie River Recreation Trail). These two falls are the result of two thick flows of lava that dammed Clear Lake just 3,000 years ago (an eye-blink in geologic time).  The results are two breathtaking waterfalls —especially now with snowmelt and rainfall.  Sahalie (or "Heaven") and Koosah (or "Sky") are Chinook Jargon words. The Kalapuya, Molalla, Sahaptain and Chinook peoples traveled and traded here.