Adam Sawyer - Hiking Waterfalls Oregon: A Guide to the States Best Waterfall Hikes

Adam Sawyer is an outdoor and travel writer, photographer, published author, guide, and public speaker based in the Pacific Northwest. Online he has written for Travel Oregon, Eater, and Visit Tillamook Coast, and in print, his work has appeared in Northwest Travel & Life, 1859, 1889, Journey AAA, Sip Northwest, Backpacker, British Columbia, Canoe & Kayak, Edible Seattle, and Portland Monthly magazines. In addition to this title, he is the author of the guidebooks Best Outdoor Adventures Near Portland and 25 Hikes on Oregons Tillamook Coast, and coauthor of Hiking Waterfalls in Washington. Adam is also a monthly guest on the Portland television show Afternoon Live, as an outdoor and travel expert. When not writing, he is a professional guide, giving culinary, cultural, and outdoors-themed tours for Evergreen Escapes, Eat Adventure Food Tours, and UnCruise.

I am incredibly lucky not only to have authored this book but to have reached the point that it needs a revision. So many people helped along the way. The list of people I wish to thank includes, but is not limited to:

Kassidy Anderson, Mac Barrett, Heather Egizio, Laurilyn Hepler, Dottie Barrett, Clary Barrett, Ashton Sawyer, Matt Hazelrig, Dan Wakefield, Marc Alan Jordan, Stephanie Paris, and Anna Haller. Thanks to Laura James-Blunk and Tim Batog for the recon! Big thanks to my partner Kara Close Hart for all the love and understandingI know its not easy living with somebody who is on the road as much as I am. I truly love and appreciate you.

Thanks to Bryan Swan and his Northwest Waterfall Survey. Most of the heights for the waterfalls listed in this book were retrieved from his website, waterfallsnorthwest.com. Thanks to Oregonhikers.org, Trailkeepers of Oregon, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Matt Reeder, Zach Forsyth, William Sullivan, Scott Cook, Paul Gerald, Tom Kloster, Aimee Wade, Marcy Cottrell Houle, Doug Lorain, Laura Foster, Bart Blasen-game, and Oregon Field Guide, who all provided guidance and support. Thanks to all the fabulous waterfall hunters out there who continue to amaze and inspire. I cheer you all from my sofa and maintained trails!

Thanks to my family for providing unending support: Jade Sawyer Chase, Danny Chase, Janaira Quigley, Cindy Sawyer, and Crystal and Gerad Neely. Sincerest of thanks go to Lucy Gibson and Allen Cox. None of this would have been possible without your belief in the new guy. That is a fact.

Finally, this book is dedicated to my father, William Edward Sawyer. You taught me that damn near anything is attainable through hard work and belief in yourself. You supported my decision to walk away from a steady paycheck to become a writer, despite not understanding how or why anyone would ever do that to themselves. I can never thank you enough for that. I also want to thank you for teaching me how to be a good manto care for others and always strive to do the right thing. I love you so much, Dud. Rest in Power!

T he Columbia Plateau is a wide, flood basalt plateau between the Rocky Mountains and the Cascade Range. As such, much of the area, including eastern Oregon, isnt always geologically conducive to producing waterfalls. There are some notable exceptions, however, thanks to the Wallowa and Strawberry Mountains.

Hotel Prairie: Historic, lovingly restored and maintained hotel in downtown Prairie City. Private rooms and a view of the Strawberry Mountains. 112 Front St., Prairie City, OR 97869; (541) 820-4800

Imperial River Lodge: On the banks of the Deschutes River, the lodge features an outdoor fire pit, restaurant, horseshoes, volleyball court, and riverside porch swings. 304 Bakeoven Rd., Maupin, OR 97037; (800) 395-3903; deschutesriver.com

Wallowa Lake Lodge: Historic lodge on the south end of Wallowa Lake. Built in the 1920s, the lodge features a restaurant and private cabins. 60060 Wallowa Lake Hwy., Joseph, OR 97846; (541) 432-9821; wallowalake.com

Shady Campground: Seven sites, $5 a night. (541) 523-6391

Slide Creek Campground: Three sites, no fee. (541) 575-3000

Strawberry Campground: Ten sites, $8 a night. (541) 575-3000

Two Pan Campground: Four sites, $5 a night. (541) 523-6391

Wallowa Lake State Park: 215 total sites, $5 to $38 a night. 72214 Marina Ln., Joseph, OR 97846; (541) 432-4185

Known as the Oregon Alps, the Wallowa Mountains are worth the price of admission. And in this case the price is 15 miles of hard-breathing, thigh-burning, switch-back-laden hiking. This trek into the Eagle Cap Wilderness is justifiably popular, and the trailhead is located at the south end of Wallowa Lake. So if you arrive on a summer weekend, prepare to get acquainted with a bunch of fellow nature lovers, as well as horses.

The hike starts out on a wide, rocky dirt path that climbs slowly alongside the west fork of the Wallowa River. After 0.3 mile of hiking, youll reach a junction. If the shorter trip to BC Falls is your goal, turn right onto the Chief Joseph Trail and hike 1 more mile to BC Falls. Then head back the way you came. If, however, Ice Lake is your goal, stay left at the junction with the Chief Joseph Trail.

After close to 3 miles of pleasant hiking, the trail comes to a junction. Stay to the right here and descend down to the river. Take a moment to enjoy the view before

480-foot Ice Falls, from just off-trail. LAURA JAMES-BLUNK

The trail from just below Ice Lake

crossing a footbridge. After the bridge stay straight. The path soon begins to climb steadily along a set of long, well-graded switchbacks. The hike levels out for a bit before arriving at Adam Creek and a second, more arduous set of switchbacks that lead out onto talus slopes. Look for boot paths to the creek and various viewpoints whenever the trail takes a turn near the rushing water. There are no official viewpoints, and the trail never really gives a good look at any cascades in this section. Good views can be had of a series of falls in this cluster of switchbacks by going off-trail, but exercise caution.