In our quest to see as many waterfalls near Bend as possible, we discovered this little gem by accident.
Duly named, the “best” waterfall in La Pine State Park (ahem, it’s the only one) we set off to check it out.
Why we visited Fall River Falls
- We chose to visit the falls as part of our day trip to La Pine State Park. We actually didn’t know this place existed until we saw it on the map of the Big Tree hike in the same area (which we recommend, as it takes you to ‘Big Red,’ the world’s largest ponderosa pine tree).
- La Pine State Park requires an Oregon State Park pass or a daily fee to enter, and we figured we better get our money’s worth. Plus, we had some time to kill before heading back to Bend.
What we liked about Fall River Falls
- The trail was well marked and easy to follow.
- Crowds were almost non-existent. It seems like only locals visit this location. We saw a few people wading in the water and one person on a paddleboard, but it’s easily a place you could have to yourself on the right day.
- It is highly accessible. The falls were easy to get to and required just a short walk through a pleasant forest on a well-worn trail. There were also plenty of wildflowers blooming the day we visited.
- Fish-watching: The Fall River is apparently famous for it’s crystal-clear fly fishing stream. We didn’t see any fish swimming around the day we were there, but we did see one person fishing.
The Downsides of the Fall River Falls Viewpoint
Look, I won’t sugarcoat it: this barely qualifies as a waterfall. Not that we can be picky, being from Las Vegas, though it did remind us of one of those fake casino waterfalls.
The day we visited, there were a lot of bugs and there is not a great place to sit and enjoy the view unless you bring a blanket or some folding chairs.
To access the parking lot, you’ll have to drive down a gravel/dirt road. I think a standard sedan could handle it just fine as long as it hasn’t recently rained, in fact, we saw a Tesla driving out when we were heading in. However, we personally don’t like to take our sedan on any roads except pavement.
Know Before you Go
- Parking Location: Google Map
- Trail Stats: From the main viewpoint parking area, it is around 0.4 miles round-trip with almost no elevation gain.
- Alternate Routes: The nearby Fall River Loop is about 4.5 miles. We understand this goes further along the Fall River, but we didn’t complete it.
- Passes & Fees: The area requires an Oregon State Park Pass (purchasable online or at a payment kiosk within the park). Note, we recommend you buy it online before you leave your house/hotel as cell service was not great.
- Waterfall Height: Approximately a 5-foot drop
- Gear to Bring: We recommend packing a lunch, some folding chairs, or a blanket so you can spend more time at the location. Also, definitely bring bug spray.
How to make a full day out of your La Pine trip
If you are driving out from Bend, don’t just come for Fall River Falls. You can easily pair this quick walk with a full day of local highlights. Here is how we spent our day in the area:
- Morning:
- Newberry Volcanic Monument: Head up the road to check out the massive Paulina Falls, relax by Paulina Lake, and drive or hike up Paulina Peak (Mountain) for incredible panoramic views of the entire valley.
- Afternoon:
- The Big Tree Hike: Right down the road inside La Pine State Park. Go see “Big Red,” a massive, 500-year-old ponderosa pine.
- La Pine State Park Disc Golf Course: If you play, the park has an uncrowded 9-hole disc golf course woven through the pine trees.
- Fall River Falls: The tiny, casino-style cascade we talked about above. A low-effort final stop to kill some time before heading back to Bend.