Caption: A visitor snaps a photo from viewpoint at Tumalo Falls.
Photos and story by Greg Johnson
Tumalo Falls, an 89-foot waterfall on Tumalo Creek just 14 miles outside of the growing outdoor tourist town of Bend, is well known among locals and visitors for fishing, hiking, biking and picnicking.
Leaving Bend, the drive to the majestic falls along Galveston Ave. eventually turns into a picturesque forested and mountainous drive on Skyliners Road. The final three-mile stretch follows a gravel forest service road to the falls.
The viewpoints are lined with guard rails and offer superlative views of the forested canyon walls surrounding the falls. Informational kiosks provide visitor information on the falls and nearby Broken Top Mountain.
Be sure to take the short, easy 10-minute moderate hike to the top of the falls for beautiful views of the Tumalo Creek valley. From here, more adventurous hikers can take trails upstream along Tumalo Creek for views of several more waterfalls.
The road to the falls closes during the winter. Visits are allowed May 1 through September 30. Visitors need to purchase a one-day parking pass for $5 or display a Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Senior Pass.
For further information on Tumalo Falls and surrounding recreational opportunities, visit the U.S. Forest Service site at www.fs.usda.gov. For more information on activities and things to do in Bend, visit the Central Oregon Visitors Association site at www.visitcentraloregon.com or call 1-800-8334.
