August 12, 2023
A hike through tall trees along a roaring river and with not one, but two, major waterfalls. What’s not to like? A few days ago, my husband and I parked our little trailer at Ollalie Campground along Oregon’s McKenzie River, ready for some outdoor time. The campground itself is set among tall fir trees with the rushing sounds of both the McKenzie River and Ollalie Creek for background music. We couldn’t get a site on the lower loop, right along the river, but the upper loop is still nice and has roomy sites (but no water—that is only available via a hand pump on the lower loop). A peaceful place with cute little chipmunks scurrying about to keep us company.
The next morning we packed some PBJ sandwiches and snacks, along with plenty of water, and drove the few miles north to the Koosah Falls parking area to take the Waterfalls Loop Trail. Our truck was the first vehicle in the parking area. We hiked the loop counterclockwise, hitting the falls from the eastern side at the start of the hike. However, I would recommend clockwise—and perhaps starting at the southern end of the hike, as the western side of the river is more open and thus warmer, whereas the eastern side is shady (at least in the morning) and closer to the river, keeping it cooler.
The sunlight was hitting the spray around Koosah Falls just right when we got there, flashing a bright rainbow across the mossy rocks near the falls. The cool air from the river was refreshing and the view lovely. We enjoyed the view in solitude. That solitude did not last as we hiked toward Sahalie Falls. We saw more people the closer we came to the falls. Probably because the main parking lot for the falls, and the loop trail, is at Sahalie Falls.
Several other people enjoyed the beautiful view at Sahalie Falls with us. After a few minutes of admiration, we moved on past the falls—and past the crowds. During the rest of the loop, we only met a few hikers. Most people, it seems, only wanted to see the falls and not hike the loop. Fine with us!
Being August, there were few flowers in bloom, and the trail was dusty in places. The narrow, often rocky trail made us glad we brought our hiking poles, which also made us feel secure on the downhill parts. (Rough getting old!) Almost the entire time we had views of the McKenzie River, crashing wildly through the little valley. The closer to it the trail bent, the more we felt the coolness that poured off the icy water.
At the northern end of the loop we crossed a footbridge over the McKenzie and took a left to follow the river back down, just on the other side. We got repeat views of Sahalie and Koosah Falls, but this time with more brush around and no crowds. We ate our lunch at an unofficial viewpoint for Koosah Falls.
The west side of the Waterfalls Loop Trail is part of the McKenzie River Trail. When we reached the southern end of the loop, we decided to continue on the River Trail a bit, just to see what it was like. The trail wound past Carmen Reservoir and away from the water. It also became dustier and was rather narrow in places. While we had seen no bicycle riders on the loop trail, we did meet them here—and at times there wasn’t a lot of room to get out of their way. So we returned to the loop trail and headed back around the southern section, walking north a short distance to where we had begun—with another couple of Koosah Falls viewpoints to enjoy along the way. When we reached our truck, the parking area was full, with more coming in.
This is a beautiful 2.8 mile loop trail. It has some ups and downs, but nothing very strenuous, and the gorgeous views—not just at the falls, but throughout the hike—make it well worth your while. I do recommend starting early, before the crowds, especially on warm summer days. Enjoy the crashing waterfalls and maybe you will also be rewarded with a rainbow.
With Covid still in full swing, my husband and I have searched for out-of-the-way places to camp and hike. While we carry our masks with us, it’s much nicer if we can keep them in our pockets and enjoy a solitary hike. There are other benefits to hiking lesser known trails. We love the quiet of the deep woods, the soothing sounds of a clear stream rushing over stones, bird calls that echo through the stillness. These are all more fully enjoyed without other voices breaking the quiet.
The trail turned away from the river, entering some woods. Suddenly we felt like we had entered the Hoh Rainforest. The ground was green with moss and thick strands hung from the trees. Ferns grew amidst the salal, Oregon grape, and huckleberry plants. Sunlight slanted through maple and fir trees, adding to the beauty. And all of this just steps from a dusty trail above a river.
The air was cool, the sky cloudy as we drove up Mt. Hood toward Mirror Lake on June 19. While it had been a favorite hike early in our marriage, we hadn’t been there in years. At first we thought we missed the parking area, a little turnout on Highway 26. But then we realized that tight parking area had been closed in favor of a shiny new parking lot just up the road—with lots of spaces and a permanent outhouse.
The early morning sun lit up the fog, giving the yard an unearthly aura. I should get out there with my camera, I thought. But I was still eating breakfast, and the grass was wet, and I was feeling lazy. Still, that light was amazing. I finally roused myself from my chair.
Shoes and jacket on, camera dangling from my neck, I headed outside—only to find the dawn even more spectacular that it had appeared through the window. Dew sparkled on green grass. Leaves were lit up like stained glass windows, as light shone through them. The sun, shining through a tree, shot rays of light in all directions, like heavenly beams in the fog. I snapped picture after picture, forgetting all about my damp feet.
Sparrow Thoughts 