The small parking lot was pretty full when we got there but there are a few different potential access points where you could start the loop. biking. Koosah Falls is only 0.5 miles below Sahalie and there are several view points along the trail, high above the river, on top of the steep canyon walls. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/koosah-falls-trail So I recommend the hike, but don't go on a long holiday weekend. Only a couple downed trees, otherwise the trail(s) were in great condition. We only did about half of the hike (opted not to do the whole loop because we had some older dogs with us). Great trail! I did this hike last Sunday and though I wasn’t expecting it to be cover by snow it was still an awesome hike! The trail does trend uphill a bit on the way back, but to get back to the Koosah Falls parking lot it is only another 0.9 miles. Difficulty: An easy, 2.6-mile loop passes Sahalie and Koosah Falls, with 400 feet of … The trail toward the falls is steep and slippery in places, especially if you take the short spur to the base of the waterfall. The whole way was beautiful river views with mint blue water it was just stunning! This loop trail passes by two waterfalls on the McKenzie River. Follow the road right 150 yards to a trail sign, take the path into the woods 100 yards, and turn right on the McKenzie River Trail. Guardrails are being renovated and signage may come soon. Overall, beautiful hike! The hike borders the McKenzie River through towering forest. Apart of the Sahalie falls trailhead loop~ beautiful and ever-clear water. 7. This route heads upstream past even better viewpoints of Koosah and Sahalie Falls. Not even 100 steps away, Sahalie Falls is a powerful force with the most beautiful blue water. Trail was well maintained and had quite a bit of foot traffic. Ride through dramatic lava fields, along side a crystal river and lakes so clean you can see over 100 feet to … I’m so glad we came back. Saw the two water falls, rapids and clear lake! Short and sweet! Loved it! Explore Koosah Falls. (541) 225-6300. The water is so clear it’s gorgeous!!! There is also another trail that will take you to an incredible vista overlooking the Sahalie Falls amphitheater, a very unique viewpoint. We did the Sahalie - Koosah Falls Loop, good hike with great views of the falls. Friends biking the McKenzie River Trail . My biggest advice, especially if you plan to explore off trail, is to wear a … About the Hike: Start at 100-foot-tall Sahalie Falls, a raging cataract that pounds the river into rainbowed mist. Some spots were a little slick but nothing too major. My 4 and 5 year old boys loved it! Hike Description . Beautiful! It is typically crowded, but that is to be expected considering these falls are very accessible and picturesque. Overall, this is the perfect hike for those who cannot do long treks, and for those with children who prefer not to hike more than 3 miles. Luckily, if you’re short on time, you can likely still squeeze in seeing some of the other beauty spots in the area. Great hike around Clear Lake with a side trip to Sahalie and Kahoosh Falls. We tried to come a couple of months ago and couldn’t find a place to park. Koosah Falls – McKenzie River Trail . Koosah and Sahalie Falls are located along the McKenzie River in the Cascade Mountains. Bring your mask, but you wont need it that much as there is plenty of places to pull off and check views while keeping socially distant as possible. On the other side make sure you take the trail south. Add on Koosah and Sahlie Falls. The trail heads south toward Koosah Falls just behind the Sahalie Falls viewing area. Sahalie – Koosah Falls Loop. Interpretive signs at the Sahalie Falls Trailhead considerably exaggerate the height of both falls at 120 feet and 90 feet respectively. There are restrooms as well. Would consider this an easy hike. This is a must see item on your visit to the area. From the beginning of the Sahalie and Koosah Falls trail, Sahalie Falls will be your first stop. A beautiful, short walk down and uphill. Trail definitely felt longer than 2.2 miles but it was relatively easy and in many ways felt to me like the perfect length for a relaxed-paced afternoon hike. It is hard to beat these beautiful falls. The falls and the river are amazing! Trailhead: Koosah Falls turnoff on Highway 126. We walked it all very well yesterday, not many people, almost all of them wearing the mask, although we arrived after noon, we found parking, then waterfalls, beautiful views, incredible many snakes, the super blue water, I loved this trail !! Cloudy, but very comfortable hike with lots of clear blue and green water on the McKenzie River and at Clear Lake. Proxy Falls. This route combines two loops into a figure 8. Find info on Sahalie and Koosah Falls Viewpoints and the Waterfall Loop Trail here, if you’re up for a short hike, follow the trail linking the two falls. The trail passes through an old growth conifer forest as it reaches the Sahalie Falls viewpoint, then continues south to the Koosah Falls viewpoint before reaching its southern end where it rejoins the McKenzie River Trail. Koosah is a Chinook Jargon word meaning "sky". It’s such a short trek to the base that you can hear this one roar from the parking lot! A little crowded, but otherwise a well maintained beautiful trail, Beautiful with the exception that they have closed the loop on Monday’s. It follows the McKenzie River as it flows over two spectacular waterfalls and cascades into whitewater. Wonderful outing- easy hike! Turn left at the Ice Cap Campground/Koosah Falls sign. Cross over the McKenzie River on this bridge. Hotels near (RDM) Roberts Field; All things to do in Sisters; Things to do near Sahalie and Koosah Falls. The falls are easy to see. Trail is well maintained, not very wide but runs along the river the whole time on both sides. The trail is also very well maintained and not super strenuous. Koosah Falls. Sahalie and Koosah Falls are on the McKenzie Pass – Santiam Pass Scenic Byway. Water is quite blue. The trail is groomed, wide, and well marked. Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls are located on the old "Clear Lake Cutoff" section of Highway 126. Even started snowing while we were there. Downside is you don't get that close to the falls like some other places. At a Glance I drove 2 hours today to see trail closed 500 ft up the trail from Koosah Falls (towards Sahalie Falls) you'll find the minor falls I dubbed 'Upper Koosah': Continuing farther up this path you will encounter Lower Sahalie Falls, eventually reaching Sahalie Falls. A short loop trail just over 1 mile affords viewpoints of upper and lower Proxy Falls. In another 0.4 mile you’ll meet a gravel road beside Carmen Reservoir. Hotels near Proxy Falls; Hotels near Hoodoo Ski Area; Hotels near Peterson Ridge Trail; Hotels near The Stitchin' Post; Near Airports. Clear Lake; Nature & Parks in Sisters. Love all the pick as you go and make an adventure trail system. McKenzie River National Recreational Trail [CLOSED], Browder Ridge Trail to Heart Lake [CLOSED], Hackleman Creek Old-Growth Trail [CLOSED], Mckenzie Lava Flow And George Lake Trail [CLOSED], Tamolitch Blue Pool via McKenzie River Trail, McKenzie River National Recreational Trail: Clear Lake to Trail Bridge, Tamolitch McKenzie River Trail to Coldwater Cove, Mount Washington Via Pacific Crest Trail [CLOSED], Sahalie Falls, Koosah, and Tamolich Falls via McKenzie River Trail, Santiam Wagon Road Trail from McKenzie Highway. I know the trail is marked moderate, but so long as you can do a few steps, l would call it easy. Hike around the falls on the Waterfalls Loop Trail. It is 73 foot tall falls. The trail is well marked. Lovely. The results are two breathtaking waterfalls with foaming white water cascades in between. Gorgeous waterfalls, easy hike, wooden stair cases, bring bug spray and you should be good. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/koosah-and-sahalie-falls-trail Why you should go: See these two powerful waterfalls from both sides of the river, and from vantage points both above and below the falls. You access this trail where Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls mark the end of two flows of basaltic andesite lava that dammed Clear Lake and moved into the McKenzie River area over 3,000 years ago. Area closed due to Mount Jefferson Whitewater Wildfire near by! Also not “moderate” I’d say easy.. some wooden stairs and rocks on the path but it’s pretty easy. Amazing! I would recommend a different trail in this area for falls. Lots of free parking located here. This very small reservoir (32 acres) is located at 3000 feet in elevation. Photogenic Proxy Falls cascades 226 feet over moss covered basalt in twin streams. The Waterfalls Loop Trail, part of the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail, connects the two waterfalls and offers up close views of the wild McKenzie River.. Of note, according to the signage at the trailhead, the loop is 3 miles. Gorgeous waterfalls and lake with the clearest bluest water. McKenzie River National Recreational Trail [CLOSED], Browder Ridge Trail to Heart Lake [CLOSED], Hackleman Creek Old-Growth Trail [CLOSED], Mckenzie Lava Flow And George Lake Trail [CLOSED], Tamolitch Blue Pool via McKenzie River Trail, McKenzie River National Recreational Trail: Clear Lake to Trail Bridge, Tamolitch McKenzie River Trail to Coldwater Cove, Mount Washington Via Pacific Crest Trail [CLOSED], Sahalie Falls, Koosah, and Tamolich Falls via McKenzie River Trail, Santiam Wagon Road Trail from McKenzie Highway. However, we did go on a busy and excellent weather holiday weekend which was a terrible idea, because it was ridiculous busy and the parking lot, which is already small, was insane. This is your chance to get up close and personal with Mother Nature! Highly recommend! It is pretty neat down there though, so I think it's worth it. Well maintained and beautiful! Here is a view of Sahalie Falls from the McKenzie River Trail side of the falls. Keep right at all junctions after Koosah Falls. The trail is less than a mile and sticks to the banks of one of the wildest sections of this incredible river. The second is the bottom and super easy to walk up. The parking area is located on the left. It … Trail is well maintained but signage is missing. https://www.fs.usda.gov/willamette/ The hike from the parking area at sahalie to the blue pool and back was closer to 12 miles. I’m just trying to save others the frustration of traveling there to find out it’s closed. Pictures and words cannot describe it. You can get right up close to Sahalie Falls and there’s an excellent little view point that overlooks Koosah Falls. Muddy and we on the south side of the trail, but epic beauty! It is 64 feet high. These falls mark the terminus of two thick flows of basaltic andesite lava that dammed Clear Lake and moved into the McKenzie River 3,000 years ago. You will see Koosah Falls quickly, only a quarter mile after joining the McKenzie River Trail, and 73 foot tall Sahalie Falls will come into view a half mile later. I would definitely recommend this hike. I little icy but so beautiful! Koosah and Sahalie Falls Trail is a 3.5 kilometer heavily trafficked loop trail located near Cascadia, Oregon that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. We walked as far as we could and eventually hit a reservoir so we had to turn around and go back the way we came! This section of trail contains the majority of the climbing along the hike, gaining 500 feet in about a mile. This is the point where most people stop and turn around, but we decided to make it a loop and walk downstream to the bridge over the river at the inlet of Carmen Reservoir. Turn north back up river to continue the loop. After you pass Koosah Falls the trail doesn't follow the McKenzie as closely any more, and you can appreciate the forest a bit. Easy paved walk with stairs down to the overlook but I'd recommend getting much closer to the falls. We got there by 10 and didn’t have a problem. We hiked this in mid September 2017 and met a few mountail bikers and hikers on the trail but not many. Sahalie is a Chinook Jargon word meaning "high". Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls are located along the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass and West Cascades National Scenic Byways off Highway 126. This hike is absolutely gorgeous- I can’t stress that enough!!!! I definitely wouldn't call this moderate, but it's amazing, fun, and so beautiful! To access Sahalie Falls Day Use Area, proceed another 1/2 mile north of the Koosah Falls turnoff on Hwy 126. Well maintained trail with various lookout points from which to admire Sahalie Falls and Koosah falls from all sorts of different angles. Start at Sahalie Falls, a 100-foot tall waterfall pouring into the river below and covering the moss-covered valley with cool mist. The trail is very very steep though, so if you choose to go down there be really careful. Then the route descends past 70-foot Koosah Falls and returns along the river's far shore on the McKenzie River Trail. The loop trail connects the two waterfalls and the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail, and offers up close views of the wild McKenzie River. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The trail to Koosah Falls in this direction is much closer to the river, with spectacular views along the way, and many opportunities to explore off trail. The Waterfalls Loop Trail can also be accessed from the parking areas of Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls Viewpoints. At the viewpoint of Koosah Falls, there is a spur trail that will lead you down to the river bank, from here you’ll get a secret view of another waterfall that’s located just above Koosah. Lava issuing from the Sand Mountain area poured down the McKenzie River valley about 3,000 years ago in two separate flows, creating the benches over which two large waterfalls, Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls thunder. You can make a loop by connecting with the McKenzie River Trail. This one is too long and the falls are only a small part of it. The McKenzie river just GUSHES beside you crystal blue. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is accessible year-round. The trail is unpaved and descends along a series of stone steps amid … Relatively easy trail with quite a few people. Clear Lake – McKenzie River Trail . The trail is not wheelchair accessible due to stairs. Koosah Falls Trail is a 1.3 kilometer out and back trail located near Cascadia, Oregon that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. When you park the fall is like a 5 minute walk. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. The trail that heads north will take you to Clear Lake. Only saw a couple others on the trail. If you keep on going down the trail a half mile down you will find Koosah falls. We started it at Sahalie Falls parking lot. It winds through beautiful old-growth Douglas fir, hemlock, cedar, and the … The Waterfalls Loop Trail hike along the McKenzie River to Sahalie and Koosah Falls is about 3 miles long, and is available to hikers and mountain bikers. Can’t wait to come back and some point and do the whole trail. 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