From Badlands to Waterfalls

 

For a change of scenery we returned to the Oregon Badlands Wilderness, about 15 miles southeast of Bend. In 2014 we hiked the Flatiron Trail to a large rock outcropping. This time we took the Badlands Rock trail to a different rock outcropping. This is classic high desert, hiking along a soft sandy trail through ancient western junipers and interesting rocks.

It’s an easy three miles to Badlands Rock, and impossible to miss.

Since this is a wilderness area, horses are welcome but no mountain bikes allowed.

We scrambled up the rocks to see the views from the top. It was a good cloud day.

Jim attempting to make his way up.

Jeanne taking photos of the snow-capped Cascade mountains in the distance.

The trail continued on and I thought we could make a loop that wouldn’t be too much longer but we ended up with an eight mile hike. It was not bad since it was mostly flat, but it got pretty hot by the time we finished.

The following day we took a drive along the 82 mile McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway west of Sisters, OR, which we missed on our last visit. The road just recently opened for the season, and we drove the loop counter clockwise, which first took us through lava fields. The blue skies we had as we left Bend changed to low hanging clouds, drizzle, and a serious drop in temperature as we climbed to over 5,000’. When we stopped at the Belknap Crater viewpoint and the Dee Wright Observatory it was down to 41, not exactly what we were dressed for.

The observatory, looking like a medieval castle high above McKenzie Pass, was built by the CCC in 1935.

The peak finder didn’t do us much good with all the clouds.

We continued on hoping the rain would end before our next destination, the Proxy Falls trail. It did stop raining but only warmed into the upper 40s. The trail is just under 2 miles if you take both offshoots to the upper and lower falls.

The trail was just beautiful. Lush, green, damp and mossy. Such a contrast from the previous day’s hike in the Badlands.

Proxy Falls at 226’ tall is impossible to photograph it in its entirety. This is the lower falls.

 

Don’t think it’s part of the official trail but you can continue down a steep slope to the base.

Jeanne got her feet wet to get a good shot of the falls. We joked that the forest service ought to trim some trees for better views.

The falls flow into this shallow pond which has no apparent drainage, but I read that the water just seeps into the ground, which is hard to imagine if you see how much water flows down.

We continued on to the upper falls, but you can’t get as close here.

       

Our next stop along the scenic drive was the trail to Koosah and Sahalie Falls. We started at the 100’ Sahalie Falls, just a short walk from the parking lot.

But hiking along the river to Koosah Falls was almost as impressive as the falls themselves.

We were awestruck by the beauty.

Koosah Falls, obscured by more of Oregon’s trees.

But walking a bit farther brings you to a better overlook of the 70’ falls.

Jeanne and me at the overlook.

There are many more miles of trails and lakes to explore in this area but that will have to wait for another time.

The rest of our week was spent playing pickleball, mountain biking on the Phil’s trail system, and visiting more breweries. We took a tour of Deschutes Brewing Co, which was fun, although their beers are just okay. Watching the bottling process was fascinating, though.

And after their shift is over, the employees can go in this “restroom” and get a pint. Nice job benefit. It’s an employee owned company and everyone seems happy to work there.

We also went out to dinner with Marial and Jeanne to Pacific Pizza and Brew. The pizza was really good and they have a huge selection of local craft beers on tap. And we had to go back to Crux since Jim wanted another Tough Love before it ran out, and also revisited Bridge 99, which is now our favorite brewery in Bend.

Our Bend time ends on Thursday, so unless something exciting happens between now and then, our next post will be coming from Portland. See you there.