Oregon was honestly a whirlwind of waterfalls for me. Justin and I decided to adventure around Oregon for our honeymoon and second to being in love and just getting married, Oregon was like a dream come true. Upon arriving in Oregon we decided to start exploring right away. I had previously made a list of all of the cool waterfalls and places that I wanted to see for our short, week-long trip and Latourell Falls was the closest destination from the airport. The hike to Latourell was very short and extremely easy. In fact, I hiked the entire way in my Chacos and leftover airplane clothes and never missed a beat. It was a great way to start the trip!
Our next stop of the day was the famous Multnomah Falls which is just a short drive from Latourell Falls along the Columbia River Gorge. If you plan on visiting Multnomah, you should know that visitors have to park away from the falls and take a bus to the visitor’s center and hiking trail. This did not matter to us but may hinder some people from wanting to get up close and personal to the falls. After visiting Multnomah, I have to say that I definitely get why it is so popular. Although crowded with tourists, this waterfall really encompasses what Oregon is known for; breathtaking, natural beauty. As you can see in the photo below, the bridge is packed with people. Yet, they look like tiny figurines in comparison to the massiveness of the falls.
On Monday we decided to drive south and visit the tallest mountain in Oregon; Mount Hood. Unlike all of our waterfall hikes, I hadn’t planned this hike out at all. I actually led us to the wrong trail and after about 30 minutes of hiking we turned around and found a different trail where we could get closer to the summit of the mountain. However, we did not summit this mountain because it is very dangerous and you have to book a guide company well in advance to lead you. Poor planning on my part…whoops! Fortunately, we still got some great views taking the Timberline trail!
After finishing our hike at Mount Hood, we drove southwest and stayed the night in the coziest Airbnb near Salem. Our hosts went above and beyond taking care of us and we were surrounded by farm animals! What more could you ask for?! Link to our cottage: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/22619166?source_impression_id=p3_1576094632_XcIkfvRs90rneAwQ
The next day we traveled to Silverton to hike at Silver Falls State Park. To hike here you need a parking pass but it is well worth the money. We ended up hiking about 10 miles and seeing a total of 9 waterfalls! As an added bonus, the trails looped UNDER some of the waterfalls for an awesome 360 degree view! Link to the state park site: https://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=151
On Wednesday we tackled the Abiqua Falls trail which is a 5.3 mile out and back trail located near Scotts Mills. This trail is fairly hard to find but if you follow the other hikers and trail markers, you can make your way to the falls pretty easily. I recommend reading the tips from AllTrails before you go so that you know what to expect. Link here: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/abiqua-falls-trail
Our next stop of the day was Henline Falls. Located in the Opal Creek Wilderness, the Henline Falls trail is a 1.8 mile out and back trail and is very easy. Although this waterfall isn’t as spectacularly powerful as the others on our trip, it is beautiful in its own way. Folded magically into a small canyon, this waterfall was remarkably serene. The over spray floating down through the air and lightly touching the perfectly translucent pool below was extremely calming.
Our final hike of the day was a 2.2 mile loop along the McKenzie River. This hike featured two waterfalls; Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls. The pictures below do not do this hike justice. It was an absolutely beautiful trail with such colorfully saturated landscaping that I instantly fell in love and deemed it my favorite hike of the day.
I have a love/hate relationship with our next destination. After spending a luxurious night in our hotel on the river, we spontaneously decided to dismiss our previous plans for the day and hike the South Sister Summit trail. The South Sister is Oregon’s third tallest mountain reaching to 10,358 ft. and the tallest of the three sister chain. Don’t let the sign below fool you. We ended up hiking over 18 miles in one day. Not the expected 12 miles like we were initially hoping. However, the view at the top was worth every grueling mile that we endured. If you plan on hiking this trail make sure you take plenty of food and water, wear comfortable hiking boots, take hiking poles and start early in the morning!
On Friday we decided to sleep in a little later and drive south to do some shorter hikes since we didn’t get back to our hotel until around 10:00 pm and were totally exhausted. Our first stop was Prospect State Scenic Viewpoint. This park features two waterfalls; Barr Creek Falls and Mill Creek Falls. There is a short, distinct trail through the woods to both of these waterfall overlooks which makes this trail quick and fulfilling.
After visiting Prospect State Scenic Viewpoint, we stopped in a very small town about 15 minutes up the road to grab a quick bite to eat. There was only one little restaurant in the town called Beckie’s which was packed (that means it’s good right?!) so we decided to get some ice cream at an adorable ice cream shop and stop in the gift shop to grab some souvenirs.
After getting a snack and some trinkets, we were on the road again driving another 15 minutes northeast to Crater Lake. I knew that crater lake would be one of the most gorgeous places we visited on the trip but I was absolutely in awe of how amazing it really was. Once the haze cleared up, the crystal clear view unveiled the entirety of the lake and the crater brim surrounding it. We decided to take multiple trails around the lake to see the lake from various viewpoints. I highly recommend doing this since it costs about $25 per car to get into the park. Crater Lake National Park link: https://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/fees.htm
Toketee Falls, another one of Oregon’s most famous waterfalls, was next on our list for the day. Known for its picturesque setting deep in the forest, Toketee falls was a dream hike. Every twist and turn in the 0.8 mile out and back trail made me feel like I had traveled to another planet full of lush greenery and moss covered trees. Not to mention the prize of getting to see a powerful, double cascade waterfall plunging deep into the river at the end of the trail.
Our next destination was Lemolo Falls. Lemolo Falls is located in Umpqua National Forest along the Umpqua River. The Lemolo Falls trail is a 3.2 mile out and back trail located near Crescent, Oregon. Although this was one of my favorite waterfalls, I’m glad we rented a 4×4 vehicle capable of handling jagged, dirt roads for our trip because the journey to this trail was long and rough and there was no cellphone service (I was a little worried we were going to get stuck and not be able to call for help!). Likewise, the hiking trail was a little hard to follow through the woods but so worth the view at the end. With not a soul around, we spent ample time here taking in the ambiance of this hidden gem tucked perfectly into a bluff in the forest.
On our way to the final destination of our trip, we stumbled upon Diamond Lake and had to stop and enjoy the scenery and snap some photos. With the snow-capped mountain in the distance and beautiful blue water, the picture I took below is worthy of a frame and it’s own space on our living room wall one day.
Salt Creek Falls was the last stop on our honeymoon wish list and it did not disappoint. Cascading at 286 feet, it is Oregon’s second highest, single drop waterfall. Although we did not have enough time left in our day to hike to the base of the falls, the view from the viewing platform was stunning enough to satisfy my waterfall obsession.
The Wandering Hippie 