Location: Paulina Lake (the approximate center of the crater) is about 3 hours from Eugene. The best route to take is the Willamette Highway (58) across the Crescent Cut-off and then north on US-97 until you see the signs for the Newberry Volcanic Monument about 30 miles south of Bend.

Google Maps: Eugene to Newberry Crater

Adventure Specifics

Hiking & Mountain Biking:

There are several great hiking and mountain biking opportunities around the crater. A few of the more notable routes are:

• Rim Trail (#3957) is a 21 mile loop around the crater. It is classified as difficult primarily due to its length and lack of water sources, but has very rewarding views of forests, lakes and volcanic formations. Also open to horses.
• Big Obsidian Flow Interpretive Trail (#3958)is a must see if you are limited on time, the one mile trail wanders through Oregon’s youngest lava flow and has several interpretive signs. Watch your step though, the obsidian is sharp!
• Paulina Peak Trail (#3951) is a steep (8% grade) but short (.5 mile) offshoot of the Rim Trail to the top of Paulina Peak. From the top you can see all the way from Mount Adams to Mount Shasta on a clear day. The views are unbeatable!

Fishing: Paulina and East Lake contain large numbers of Kokanee Salmon, Brown, and Rainbow trout. East Lake also contains some Atlantic salmon. Two record size brown trout have been pulled from Paulina Lake. 

East Lake Fishing Info: East Lake Resort – Fishing Info

Camping/Lodging: There are 7 campgrounds in the Newberry Monument including Little Crater, Paulina Lake, Newberry Group Camp, Chief Paulina Horse Camp.

Snow Sports – The Paulina Lake/Newberry Crater area is popular for snow sports such as snowmobiling, snow shoeing and cross country skiing. The historic Paulina Lake Resort is open all winter to provide lodging to snow sport aficionados.

Additional Adventures: Check out the newly remodeled Lava Lands Visitor Center and nearby lava caves for and additional adventure near the monument.

Time Involved: There are plenty of places to explore in the Volcanic Monument, you can spend as much time as you’d like.

Best Time to Go: Late Spring, Summer, and Early Fall. The roads are not well maintained and many of the attractions in the area are not open after October as the weather is unpredictable.

Amenities: Toilets, Snacks, Restaurant, Cabins, Camping.

Usage Fees: $5 day pass / $30 annual pass.  Northwest Forest Pass is required at some trailheads.

Location: Proxy Falls is located approximately 65 miles from Eugene, 6-1/2 miles from the junction of Highway 126 (The McKenzie River Byway) and Highway 242 (McKenzie Pass). The parking area is well signed with a large pull out right before the road turns sharply and gains significant elevation.

Google Maps – Eugene to Proxy Falls

Adventure Specifics: The waterfall is accessed by two hiking trails, the official signed trail to the right and is a ¾ mile hike over moderate to easy terrain (not ADA accessible). The alternative route is ½ mile with slightly more difficult terrain and not as rewarding of a view. If you are visiting around sunset I highly recommend the official path to the right.

Warnings: During the cooler months, the paths around the falls can be snowy and icy. Use caution. Also check road conditions before heading out, this area gets a lot of snow and experiences seasonal closures. Access to the falls may be closed from November until July.

What to Bring: A camera, water resistant jacket (if you plan on getting near the falls), and good walking shoes.

Amenities: Pit toilets, paved parking, paved walking paths, picnic tables, and garbage receptacles.

Best Times to Go: Proxy Falls are generally the best between June and early November and access to the falls may be closed off due to the seasonal closure of McKenzie Highway 242.

Nearby: Linton Lake, Linton Falls, Dee Wright Observatory, Scott Lake, Three Sisters, Belknap Hot Springs and Resort

Location: Just half a mile south of Triangle lake, about 50 minutes from Eugene. A parking lot will be located on the right, and a trail down to the rock slides will be across the street.

Google Maps: Eugene to Triangle Lake Rock Water Slides

Activities:

Swimming: The uppermost pool offers a small swimming hole of moderate temperature with a warmer wading pool located below the rock water slide.

Cliff jumping: On the far side of the uppermost pool, highlighted by dangling ropes, are two accessible jumps at roughly 25 and 35 feet. Careful, the climb is more treacherous than the jump and the rocks are usually slippery.

Natural Rock Waterslide: Below the uppermost pool is the famous “Slide Rock”, 100ft. of fun, slippery, natural rock sliding!

Warnings: Cliff jumping and natural rock slides are inherently dangerous and slippery, please use caution at all times.

Time involved: Half-day/Full day

Adventure specifics: The rockslides are located in a ravine and receive direct sunlight for a limited portion of the day.  Plan your trip around the sun’s highest point; noon to 3p.m. won’t disappoint. Bring a flotation device of some sort if you want to slide and avoid the road rash. Stores are lacking near by, so bring food and water if you plan to stay for any length of time.

Maps and Resources:

BLM Brochure and Map for Lake Creek Falls

What to bring: Swim gear, towel, flotation devices, water, food.

Amenities: A bathroom is available at the parking lot.

Best times to go: Noon-4pm/sun’s highest points of the day. – Slide Rock is best visited in the summer months when the creek flows are lower and the weather is wam.

Other adventures near by: Triangle lake

Photo By: Andrea Niemiec

Location: Google Maps – Eugene to Watson Falls

Getting There From Roseburg, take Highway 138 for approximately 61 miles. Turn south on Road 37, and park at the trail head parking lot approximately 0.2 miles down the road. The trail head has picnic benches, pit toilets, and interpretive signs. Be sure to check out nearby Toketee Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Oregon.

Adventure Specifics: The Watson Falls trail leaves from a parking lot, and climbs up a short, somewhat steep but well-tended path, and crosses a series of bridges at the base of the falls. Pause here for an attractive view of the falls, and then proceed along a path to your left for a closer view of the basin several hundred feet farther along the path. Return back down the side trail to the juncture and complete the loop back to the parking lot for a total hike of approximately 0.8 miles.

Highway 138 parallels the North Umpqua River, and connects Roseburg with Crater Lake. While the drive is of exceptional scenic beauty, it also offers unrivaled access to many recreational activities on the river. The North Umpqua River has a Wild and Scenic designation for 33.8 miles, and you will find opportunities to fly fish, hike, backpack, camp, mountain bike, swim, and raft along its class II-class V rapids. The North Umpqua Trail is a 79-mile long trail open to backpackers, campers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders, and parallels the North Umpqua River for most of its length.

Additional Resources:

For maps and more information regarding the North Umpqua Trail, go to the U.S. Forest Service website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/umpqua/recreation/hiking/north-umpqua-trails/1414-north-umpqua-trail.shtml

Find more photos and information on this post at Andrea’s Blog – Shoestring Traveler

Tamolitch Pool, known by many as Blue Pool due to its brilliant aquamarine water, is a rewarding destination along the McKenzie River Trail. (Photo By: Andrea Niemiec)

The Trailhead: The trail to Tamolitch Pool (near Blue River, Oregon) leaves from a trail head a few hundred yards off of Highway 126, and is a four mile loop along part of the popular 26-mile-long McKenzie River Trail. For the first mile or so the trail winds through cedar and hemlock forests and runs parallel to the river. The trail then climbs approximately 200 feet in elevation as it crosses a moss-covered lava bed for the second mile, and the McKenzie River rushes far below at the base of the basalt cliffs.

After approximately 2 miles the trail reaches the pool, and hikers have a nice vantage point from the top of a cliff; bring a lunch to eat while you sit and enjoy the view.

Location: Google Maps From Eugene

From Eugene or Springfield, take Highway 126 east for approximately 65 miles. From the highway will be visible the small EWEB power station at the upper end of Trailbridge Reservoir; turn left onto the unmarked road that serves the power station (this road is 14 miles east of the small community of McKenzie Bridge). Cross the bridge and turn to your right. Approximately half a mile down the gravel road you will see the signs for the trail head. While the trail has a high volume of traffic during the warmest months of the year, the view of the pool is worth the extra company.

Adventures Nearby: Sahalie Falls, Koosah Falls, Trail Bridge Reservoir/Campground, Clear Lake

Find more photos and information on this post at Andrea’s Blog – Shoestring Traveler

Location: Koosah falls is located approximately 60 miles outside Eugene directly off highway 126. There are visible signs on the side of the road.
Google Maps – Eugene to Koosah Falls – Click Here for the Map

Adventure Specifics: The waterfall is easily accessible via a paved path from the parking lot. The are also numerous dirt and paved paths in the area surrounding the falls that offer hiking and unique views of the falls themselves.

Warnings: During the winter, the paths around the falls can be snowy and icy. Use caution.

What to Bring: A camera, water resistant jacket (if you plan on getting near the falls), and good walking shoes.

Amenities: Pit toilets, paved parking, paved walking paths

Best Times to Go: Koosah Falls is accessible year round but I find the best time to go is late fall or spring as the temperatures warm up and the snows melt.

General Comments: Koosah falls and the surrounding area are one of the biggest reasons I like Oregon so much. The shear size and beauty of these falls is worth the hour+ drive from Eugene. I could spend an entire day just taking pictures. Be sure to check out Sahalie falls, just a few minutes up the road from Koosah. There is also a Koosah to Sahalie falls hiking path.

Other Adventures Nearby: Sahalie Falls, Tamolitch Pool, Trail Bridge Reservoir/Campground, Clear Lake

Location: Sahalie falls is located approximately 60 miles outside Eugene directly off highway 126.
Google Maps – Eugene to Sahalie Falls – Click Here for the Map

Adventure Specifics: The waterfall is easily accessible via a paved path from the parking lot. The are also numerous dirt and paved paths in the area surrounding the falls that offer hiking and unique views of the falls themselves.

Warnings: During the winter, the paths around the falls can be snowy and icy. Use caution.

What to Bring: A camera, water resistant jacket (if you plan on getting near the falls), and good walking shoes.

Amenities: Pit toilets, paved parking, paved walking paths

Best Times to Go: Sahalie Falls are accessible year round but I find the best time to go is late fall or spring as the temperatures warm up and the snows melt. Summertime is great as well because you can actually walk behind the falls themselves but the flow coming over the falls isn’t as spectacular.

General Comments: Sahalie falls and the surrounding area are one of the biggest reasons I like Oregon so much. To quote a friend after seeing the falls “Sahalie falls gave me a new respect for waterfalls”. The shear size and beauty of these falls is worth the hour+ drive from Eugene. I could spend an entire day just taking pictures. Be sure to check out Koosah falls, just a few minutes down the road from Sahalie. If you like to hike, there is a Sahalie to Koosah falls trail that I’ve heard is beautiful.

Other Adventures Nearby: Koosah Falls, Tamolitch Pool, Trail Bridge Reservoir/Campground, Clear Lake

Location: Wildwood is located about 45 minutes outside Eugene, Oregon or 25 minutes outside Cottage Grove, Oregon. Google Maps – Eugene to Wildwood Click Here for the Map

Time Involved: All day or just an afternoon. I usually spend a few hours here just relaxing and swimming on a hot summers day.

Adventure Specifics:
Cliff Diving – There are a few points where you can jump off the cliffs into the swimming hole itself. The main one is a little to the left of the main falls (standing at the top). Be sure to check the depth before you jump.
Swimming -The water at Wildwood is relatively cold year round and usually only maxes out in the low-mid 70′s even during the hot summer months.
Hiking – This area is fun to explore and there are a few trails here and there.

Warnings: This swimming hole is VERY dangerous at high flows. Also, the runoff area by the falls is extremely dangerous as well. Do not swim directly beneath the falls. There is a small cave underwater and behind the falls that you can become trapped in. The rocks to the swimming hole entrance are also fairly slippery. DO NOT try to go down the waterfall.

What to Bring: Bathing Suit, Sun Screen, Tennis Shoes, Water shoes for climbing rocks, etc.

Amenities: Picnic Tables, Porta-A-Potty

Best Times to Go: Summer and Early Fall before the rains arrive.

General Comments: Wildwood is a great place to cool off in the summer. On extremely hot weekends the area can get pretty crowded though. The swimming hole is just over 20ft. deep.

Other Adventures Nearby: Bohemian Mining Country

Wildwood Falls at 410 cfs. Paddler: Cory Lescher