Deschutes

These are Steelhead Falls on the Deschutes Wild & Scenic River near Bend Oregon. The trail is uneven and a bit slippery near the edge in spots, but it’s only about 1/2 a mile from the parking lot to the falls. Tempting to jump off the rock into the water below. There are dramatic bluffs on both sides here, and the river flows 50 miles or so north to the Columbia, where the Lewis & Clark and Oregon trails meet. The upper segment is in the Deschutes National Forest, so it’s managed by the US Forest Service. The Bureau of Land Management runs much of the middle and lower segments, which includes more popular rafting. Steelhead Falls is jointly managed by USFS & BLM, and there are many interesting spots along the whole route. The gorges are gorgeous!

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