Koosah Falls

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This is part 2 of my McKenzie River Trail posts. Along the same waterfall trail (a shorter trail on the 26 mile McKenzie River Trail) is Koosah Falls. The 70 foot falls might be a little smaller than the nearby Sahalie Falls, but it is no less beautiful, or powerful! It took less than 15 minutes to see both falls, so if you come to see one, I think it's worth it to take a little extra time to see both. You won't regret it!
PS - Yes, the water is that blue!

Sahalie Falls

This weekend we ventured out of Bend, and made our way to the McKenzie River Trail. The trail itself is 26 miles (one way), but many attractions along the trail are very accessible, with parking areas in multiple convenient locations. One of those attractions is Sahalie Falls. On a normal day, Sahalie Falls is beautiful; this weekend it was absolutely stunning. (View on Facebook HERE)
Photo taken from the Sahalie Falls Viewpoint:

On the first leg of the hike, we walked down the opposite side of the river, and I was able to grab a little different perspective. The color of the water was incredible:

Paulina Peak - Newberry Caldera

Although the Paulina Peak trail is still closed, the ranger said we could still hike if we wanted to. Warning of steep areas covered in snow, she said we would be one of the first this year to hike to the top! Sparing you all the details, I'll just say she was right - it was an extremely challenging trail, but the reward we got was worth it! Paulina Lake had a mesmerizing shade of blue, almost looking tropical. Don't let the photo fool you, though. That water is cold! When the snow melts and the trail officially opens, I'm definitely planning on going up again.
For any non-hikers, you can see this view for yourself, too! The viewpoint is accessible by car, and you can drive right to the top. However, you'll have to wait for the road to open, because right now that is covered in snow and closed for the season.

Newberry Crater - Little Crater

Yesterday I headed out to Newberry Crater for a hike, only to be told that the trail I wanted to use was still covered in snow and "closed". The ranger recommended Little Crater - not nearly as long of a hike, and not as much of a climb, but snow free. The Little Crater Loop is just shy of 2 miles long, and perfect for families. While on the loop, you can sneak a peek at East Lake, and get a very pretty view of Paulina Lake (the Twin Crater lakes).

The view was pretty, but we wanted more! To be continued...
(hint - the Photo/view tomorrow comes from the top of the peak on the left)

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Tam-a-láu Trail - Cove Palisades State Park

Tam-a-láu trail is a hike that I had never heard of before. Near Culver, Tam-a-láu trail is located in Cove Palisades State Park. A fairly easy-moderate 1 mile hike (gaining 600 ft) gets you to the top of the canyon, with beautiful views of the rivers/lakes, mountains, and the beauty that surrounds the area. Once you get to the top, there is a 4 mile flat loop that you can choose to do. If you have the time, I recommend it!

Smith Rock - Misery Ridge

I've done 3 hikes so far this year, and so far the shortest hike (up), has been the hardest. Misery Ridge at Smith Rock is a 3/4 mile hike (from the bottom of the trail to the top of Smith Rock), and although short, was fairly tough on this out of shape girl. Saying that, the views are spectacular! Pictures really do not do it justice. From the top, you can decide whether you want to go down the same way you went up, or take a much longer route down and around - we chose the latter (down the Mesa Verde trail, and along the river trail ~ 3 miles).  

View from Black Butte

Now that Spring/Summer weather is starting to show its face in Central Oregon, it's time for me to go explore! Last weekend I hiked up Black Butte. If you're in the area and never been, I recommend it! It's a bit tough at places, but bring plenty of water (and a camera), and take breaks if needed. You won't regret it, the views are amazing! Here is one of the wonderful views from about midway up Black Butte:

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Bill Healy Memorial Bridge

I'll be the first to admit that sometimes I'm distracted pretty easily. While at Farewell Bend Park, I began to cross under the Bill Healy bridge, and saw the water reflecting a beautiful color of green. The river itself is not green, but between the sun shining, and the water reflecting up to the bridge and back down, it looked like a colorful rainbow of red, yellow, green, orange, and blue under the busy bridge that connects Century Drive and the Old Mill District!

Can be view on facebook by clicking HERE

Ollie the Owl and his Friend

I made my way to Farewell Bend Park again today. Ollie the Barred Owl was out, and very social. I first saw him up in a tree behind the fence along the path, but within 5 minutes he had made his way down to the fence post to say "hello"! While Ollie was getting so much attention from everyone passing by, a cute little blue bird made his way down to the fence making as much noise as possible. I decided he deserved some attention, too!

Looking down the Deschutes

First things first! I finally started a facebook page ( Click Here ) Yay! I'm still going to post here the same amount, but the facebook page should help me reach more people.

The beautiful light at sunset never ceases to amaze me...it's pure natural beauty. Whether you're downtown, in the Old Mill, or admiring from the comfort of your home, it's just stunning if you take a second out of your busy day to admire it (easier said than done sometimes).