Quick Stats
Distance: 8 miles roundtrip (can also make a loop out of it if you want)
Time: 3 1/2-4 hours
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Season: June to October
Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Dog Friendly: Yes. Off-leash fun for most of the trail, but there are steep drop offs in places and the trail is used by mountain bikers….
Pros: Beautiful waterfalls, gentle trail, close to Bend, views of neighboring mountains and a pretty meadow.
Cons: Multi-use trail, parking lot can be full even on a weekday.
I’ve been eye-balling this area for a couple of years now, so I was pretty stoked to finally check it out. We hiked from the parking area up to Happy Valley, which is just under 4 miles one way. The trail winds through the forest at times, but mostly follows along the creek, allowing stupendous views of waterfalls and occasional access for a doggy dip.
Waterfall peeking through the trees along the trail to Happy Valley.
One of the many waterfalls along the trail.
The trail is easy going, a nice gradual grade with some flat spots too… ie. much easier than most of the hikes we do. We had a non-hiker friend with us and she loved the hike and didn’t complain…maybe we can convert her?
It was a perfect cool fall day….rain was predicted for mid afternoon, so we turned around at Happy Valley after having a creek-side picnic.
Sal taking a break in the creek bed in Happy Valley.
Honestly this was an incredibly easy hike with beautiful scenery. It’s perfect for days when maybe you aren’t at 100% energy, you just want a quick jaunt out of town or you’re introducing a friend or child to the outdoors. And the trail is incredibly straight forward, no junctions, no “off trail” navigation…just beautiful trees and waterfalls.
Bonus!!! You don’t even have to hike to see stunning Tumalo Falls…the viewpoint is practically in the parking lot.
And to keep our non-hiking friend happy, and to keep us happy too, we wrapped up our afternoon at 10 Barrel for a victory beer before heading home.
