Winter Waterfall!

Hike or Snowshoe to Tumalo Falls in Bend, Oregon

01.18.2018

No need to wait for spring to see one of Bend’s most brilliant waterfalls. Tumalo Falls in Deschutes National Forest is wondrous in winter, when the main access road is closed to cars. It’s 2.5 miles (one-way) to this 97-foot stunner. The road’s mostly flat.

Walk it, snowshoe it, or fat-tire bike it, then hike the very short few feet up to the viewpoints. For a majority of the route you’re paralleling flowing Tumalo Creek.

Fresh snow sometimes blankets the banks of the creek as the road winds along through the forest, and pine trees jostle in the cool air. After crossing a bridge, it’s a quick and easy ascent to the first viewpoint, and an impressive vantage of the tall and wide tumbler that is Tumalo Falls.

Ascend the trail to the left for another 0.4 mile to reach the viewpoint at the top of the falls where you’ll get a great perspective of the water’s force along with the beautiful surrounding valley. Return the way you came. 2018 is looking pretty waterfall!

BONUS BEER: Post-Tumalo, head to the heart of Bend’s Old Mill District and Crux Fermentation Project (50 SW Division St., Bend). Take a seat on their outdoor patio with two fire pits and enjoy the panorama of the Cascades. Order their sampler of IPAs, lagers, and stouts. Sundowner Hour (aka Happy Hour) happens from 30 minutes before sunset to 30 minutes after. Outdoor patio is very dog-friendly. Cheers!

A WORD ON BEND’S BEERS: Bend is home to a combined total of 24 craft breweries and brewpubs. Explore Bend’s Ale Trail to find your favorites. A few we like: Deschutes Brewery is a historic favorite, with a creative core beer series that goes beyond its mainstream popularity. For something off downtown’s beaten path, visit Boneyard Beer (37 NW Lake Pl.) famous for its gritty roots, emerging success, and of course—balanced, hoppy beers.

To get to the Tumalo Falls parking area, take Skyliners Rd. from Bend and go left on Tumalo Fall Rd., after the Skyliner Sno-Park. Go early in the morning for fewer crowds and good conditions. In poor weather, wind gusts can create some whiteouts. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View

  2. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  3. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View

  4. Roaring Good Time

    There’s nothing quite like the majestic beauty of California’s redwood forests. Now, imagine experiencing those towering giants aboard a historic 19th-century steam train. Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton is home to some of the oldest and most authentically preserved narrow-gauge steam engines in America.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  3. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  4. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View