Koosah and Sahalie Falls Trail
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Looking for a short hike with two stunning waterfalls in Central Oregon? Check out the Koosah and Sahalie Falls Trail! This peaceful hike in the mountains rewards you with views of beautiful wooded areas and the crystal blue water of the McKenzie River.
Getting There
Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls are located along the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass and the West-Cascades National Scenic Byways off of Highway 126.
When I went, I parked at the Sahalie Falls lot, but there’s also a lot by Koosah Falls. The hike between these two stunning waterfalls on the McKenzie River are just a very short walk from each other!
The Hike
The hike itself is a part of the McKenzie River Trail. There’s absolutely no service at Sahalie Falls or Koosah Falls. If you are worried about getting lost, be sure to download the map prior to your hike or take a picture of the map.
Getting to Sahalie Falls
If you’re hiking from the Sahalie Falls parking lot like I did, the first viewpoint of the waterfall is just about a minute or two walk. It’s a short walk that’s very rewarding. I love a quick walk that leads to stunning views!
If you want to see the waterfall more close up and personal, take a right from the first viewpoint. As you take the trail up, you’ll find an opening where you can go to the top of the waterfall.
You will get great views of the river feeding the falls. There are also great views of the water falling to the river below.
Getting to Koosah Falls
Once you’ve enjoyed Sahalie Falls, I recommend taking the rather short hike downriver to view Koosah Falls!
Head back the way you came from. There are several stunning views of the McKenzie River as you make your way towards Koosah Falls.
After about 5-10 minutes, depending on your pace and how many times you stop to enjoy the McKenzie River, you’ll arrive at Koosah Falls! Once there, you will find two different viewpoints for the falls.
First, you’ll come to a viewpoint that gives you great views from the side. Just past this viewpoint, you’ll get a better straight-on view.
When hiking from the Koosah Falls parking area, you will see Koosah Falls first and Sahalie Falls second. I think this is the better option to see both on one hike.
If I were to do it again, I would start at Koosah Falls to get the uphill out of the way first. It’s not a long hike and there’s not a lot of incline, but I still prefer to end on a decline.
Waterfall Loop Trail
If you’re looking for a longer hike, be sure to do the 2.9 mile loop that takes you to the other side of the river. This will allow you to see the falls from other viewpoints.
While it might be more hiking, it’s totally worth it to see the falls from the opposite side of the river! Just be sure to download the map ahead of time because the trails weren’t super well marked when I visited.
Why Visit Sahalie and Koosah Falls
If you’re ever in thee Willamette National Forest, these two waterfalls are a must-see. With a very short walk, you’ll be able to enjoy two grand waterfalls and the beautiful blue McKenzie River.
FAQs
Yes, leashed dogs are welcome!
Sahalie Falls plunges 100 feet over a lava dam and then tumbles and additional 40 feet in various cascades. Koosah Falls plunges 74 feet over an abrupt lava cap to a pool below. Both waterfalls are quite tall!
