HIKES NEAR BEND - STEELHEAD FALLS
Whenever we are on a holiday we try to get in some outdoor activity every day, simply because we tend to eat a lot too! Since hiking is one of our go to outdoor activities we always look for something that will keep the kids engaged and not always a lot of mileage. That is why Steelhead Falls is perfect for a quick hike when we are in Redmond, Oregon.
Depending on where you are staying the Steelhead Falls trailhead can be closer or farther, but it’s only about 23 minutes from the center of Redmond. You take highway 97 out towards Terrebonne and when you are driving there you are taken out through desert farmland to the middle of nowhere. You feel like you are going the wrong way. but there are a couple of signs directing you along your way.
When you get there there is plenty of parking and even a pit toilet, but no running water. This trail is easy for the most part. At only 1 mile round trip, it’s an easy hike with a breathtaking finish.
The trail takes you down semi-steeply for about ⅛ of a mile but that is the only steepish part of the whole hike. You are hiking through a many layered canyon with beautiful rock walls carved with grooves from millions of years of erosion. When we were there were magnificent black and white birds darting around above the river putting on a spectacular show. The hike itself is typical Oregon beauty but nothing compares to the magnificence of Steelhead Falls.
Steelhead Falls is a block type waterfall that plunges into a beautiful round pool that is quite popular with swimmers in the summer, though it’s quite mesmerizing to just sit and listen and take in all of its beauty. Ilias wished that he had brought a book so that he could sit and read while listening to the thundering waters. Olivia of course wanted to dig around and explore. Next time we will take our picnic lunch so that we can enjoy the area a little while longer.
As we headed back up the trail we decided to take the fishing trail so that we could get closer to the river. It was very pretty with lots of spots to drop in your pole or just enjoy the view as we did. Eventually the fishing trail meets up with the main trail right where it gets steep. You will get a bit of cardio in but it doesn’t last long.
All in all, for such a quick hike it’s quite an impressive one, perfect to get the day started! See more hiking and waterfall stories on our outdoor adventures page and checkout our website for more fun events, food, and family adventures all over the west .
See our full gallery of Steelhead Falls.
How to get to Steelhead Falls: From Redmond, head north on Hwy 97 to Terrebonne and turn west on NE Lower Bridge Way. Go two miles and take a right on NW 43rd Street. Follow that 1.8 miles to Chinook Drive. Go almost a mile and take a left onto Badger Road. Travel one mile and turn right on Quail Road. Follow Quail Road for .5 mile and take a left on River Road. Take River Road downhill to the Steelhead Falls Trailhead and campground. (Information from Oregon BLM)
