Vicinity Location: The trailhead is about 125 miles southeast of Portland, Oregon in the Deschutes National Forest.
Directions:
From Portland, drive to Bend, about 175 miles. From Bend, drive south onto Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway passing through several traffic circles. After the last traffic circle, continue on Cascade Lakes Highway / SW Century Dr for about 5 miles.
Turn left onto Dillon Falls Rd / NF-41 and continue for 2.6 miles.
Turn left onto Forest Road 4120 for .5 mile, and take the left fork to head south for 1 mile on Forest Road 4120 100. The road leads to a parking area just upstream from the falls.
There is a restroom at the trailhead.
From May 1 through September 30 $5 daily permit or a Northwest Forest pass is required. No on-site purchase for permits. No permits are needed to park between October 1st and June 30.
Dogs are allowed and have to be on-leash from May 15th to September 15th.
Trail:
Deschutes River Trail.
There is no geocache on this trail, but there is farther up the Deschutes River Trail.
Trail Maps:
Topo Map, Download Garmin .gpx file
Length and Elevation:
1.3 miles roundtrip. Elevation at the trailhead is 4,050 feet. Elevation gain totals 100 feet. Total gain and loss is 200 feet. Highest elevation is 4,050 feet.
Review: April 17, 2014.
Dillon Falls was named after Leander Dillon, a homesteader from the late 1800’s. The trail goes north towards Dillon Falls with a short side-trail to the river’s edge. Here the river spits water into the air during the spring runoffs. The river races over a series of small waterfalls and quickly drops about 10 and into a narrow canyon. Over the next quarter mile the river drops about 50 feet more. Follow the trail along the rim of the cliff as the Deschutes River is squeezed into a quarter-mile long chasm that is 40 to 60 feet wide. There are several nice views looking both upstream and downstream at the churning water.
After following the trail downstream for about .25 mile, there is a trail junction with steps leading to a trail that continues downstream along the bottom of the lava cliffs. Follow this for as long as you like. It eventually rejoins the upper trail.
The river fans out at the end of the canyon and this is a good place to turn around and return up the stairs.
Back at the junction, wander a bit more downstream for more nice views of the Deschutes
You can continue along the trail and go upstream and enjoy other views of the Deschutes River or return to your car.
This trail is good for children who have done some hiking and know to stay back from the cliffs and fast-moving river. Use caution with your pets as squirrels and other rodents can safely scamper over the edge of the cliff but your pet cannot.
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