Proxy Falls
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Hike Details:
Mileage: 2 mile loop w/ 250 ft. elevation gain from trailhead OR 6.75 miles w/ 905 ft. elevation gain from the snow gate
Approximate hike time: 45 minutes to 1 hour (depending on how long you stay at the waterfalls)
Difficulty: Easy
Trail usage: Very high in the summer (late June through August), low during the weekdays after that and low in the winter
General location: 66 miles east of Eugene - Willamette National Forest - Three Sisters Wilderness
Suggested seasons: Summer, fall, winter, spring
(Best time to go is spring when the waterfalls are raging. April through June).
Permits required: Self issue wilderness permit Memorial Day - Oct. 31 & an Annual Northwest Forest Pass for parking or day pass
Pit toilet at trailhead: Yes
Trail allows: Dogs
Approximate hike time: 45 minutes to 1 hour (depending on how long you stay at the waterfalls)
Difficulty: Easy
Trail usage: Very high in the summer (late June through August), low during the weekdays after that and low in the winter
General location: 66 miles east of Eugene - Willamette National Forest - Three Sisters Wilderness
Suggested seasons: Summer, fall, winter, spring
(Best time to go is spring when the waterfalls are raging. April through June).
Permits required: Self issue wilderness permit Memorial Day - Oct. 31 & an Annual Northwest Forest Pass for parking or day pass
Pit toilet at trailhead: Yes
Trail allows: Dogs
Description:
Proxy Falls is a beautiful easy hike off of McKenzie scenic highway 242 which is only open for a few months out of the year (usually mid-June to early November, but it depends on snowfall). To see if the highway to the trailhead is open, click here.
For how busy this hike is in the summer months, the trailhead does not offer a lot of parking. There is space for about 15 -20 cars, and there is a picnic table as well as a men's and women's pit toilet.
The loop starts at the southwest end of the parking lot next to the information sign.
For how busy this hike is in the summer months, the trailhead does not offer a lot of parking. There is space for about 15 -20 cars, and there is a picnic table as well as a men's and women's pit toilet.
The loop starts at the southwest end of the parking lot next to the information sign.
The first 0.5 miles of the trail are a bit rocky because you are walking through a lava flow, but then it levels off and meanders through the forest as you get closer to the falls.
In the autumn season (end of September to early October) the vine maples turn a beautiful bright yellow, orange and red, making the hike through the lava a rainbow trail! |
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After crossing the lava field you will come to a trail split. The trail to the right will take you down to Lower Proxy Falls and the trail to the left will continue the loop and take you to Upper Proxy Falls.
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Shortly after the sign before hiking down the hill to Lower Proxy Falls, there is a lookout point from the top of the trail where you can see the waterfall quite nicely. If you have small children (2-3 years old), you may not want to go down to the bottom of the falls, as the path is extremely steep and eroded, and can be very slippery when the ground is wet.
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If you do decide to go down to the bottom of Lower Proxy Falls, it is completely worth it. You can really appreciate the height of the falls (100 ft.) from the bottom. The cool spray from the water is fantastically refreshing in the summer season!
If you hike here in the fall there is minimal water, however this makes you be able to get closer to the bottom of the waterfall. If you are already down at the bottom of Lower Proxy Falls, you will see a small trail leading away from the falls to the left. This is definitely the less used trail, but it makes for a convenient escape back to the main trail, so that you don't have to climb back up the steep eroded mess and battle all of the people that are trying to scramble down. (If you don't want to take the side trail, head back up the way you came until you get back to the sign and the trail split and continue to the right). |
(Lower Proxy Falls 226 ft. in October)
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(Upper Proxy Falls 129 ft.)
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(Upper Proxy Falls grotto)
A little ways down this side trail, you will see it split. One way climbs up an extremely steep hill (do not go that way, it doesn’t actually lead anywhere and is likely a game trail), and the trail to the left will take you up a few feet until you're back on the main loop trail. From here it is only a few hundred yards to Upper Proxy Falls, which spills down into a grotto. Because of all the trees that grow in the grotto, the falls are extremely hard to see, however if you climb up a small hill directly across from the falls, you can get a good view and picture of it.
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After visiting Upper Proxy Falls, head back to the main trail and continue the loop. The trail takes you through a little bit more lava, and you will see some open views of the surrounding area. The trail trends downhill a bit and then ends at the other side of the parking area.
Overall, this is a wonderful "stretch your legs" type of hike. It is not very strenuous, however the trail can be a little tricky navigating the lava as well as the steep side trail that goes down to Lower Proxy Falls. This hike is highly recommended during all seasons, and even if you don't go there during the 6 months that the road is open, the snow gate is just a little over 2 miles down the road, so you can walk up the road, making the hike a total of 6.75 miles in the early spring, late fall or even on snowshoes in the winter.
Directions:
From Bend
- From Bend drive north on Hwy. 97 and then merge onto Hwy. 20 west towards Sisters. Towards the west end of Sisters turn left at a sign for Scenic Hwy. 242 and continue past Dee Wright Observatory and continue downhill for a few more windy miles. At the hiker symbol sign between mileposts 64 and 65, you can park along the road. (Total of 51.5 miles).
- From Eugene drive on Hwy. 126 east just past the McKenzie River Ranger Station, then turn right at the sign for Scenic Highway 242. At the hiker symbol sign between mileposts 64 and 65, you can park along the road. (Total of 62 miles).
- From Portland and Salem drive on Hwy. 22 east towards Detroit. At Santiam Junction stay to the right and merge onto Hwy. 126/20 and then stay left at the next junction and continue on Hwy. 126 towards Eugene. At a sign for Scenic Highway 242 turn left. At the hiker symbol sign between mileposts 64 and 65, you can park along the road. (Total of 115 miles from Salem, 160 miles from Portland).
*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer
*Disclaimer: the trail descriptions, mileage, GPS tracks and difficulty ratings depicted on this website are never 100% accurate. Always hike at your own risk, using your own knowledge, equipment and common sense. Franziska Weinheimer/Hike Oregon are not responsible if you or anyone in your party gets injured or lost while attempting one of these or any other hikes.