On my day exploring Newberry Volcanic National Monument, I made a quick stop at a great little waterfall, Paulina Falls. This waterfall doesn’t have the height of Yosemite Falls, nor the volume of Niagara, but set in the lush pine forest of the Pacific Northwest, it makes a great introduction to the park! This is a perfect spot to stretch your legs on arrival to Newberry before heading to the other attractions!
Miles/Elevation:
.8 miles
118 feet vertical gain
About Newberry Volcanic National Monument:
Located outside the city of Bend in Central Oregon, Newberry Volcanic National Monument is a large area of protected land preserving one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest volcanoes. Carved out of Deschutes National Forest, this national monument is over 54,000 acres, and is still managed by the US Forest Service.
The monument protects the Newberry Volcano. While it’s not as famous or visible as other volcanoes in the region like Mt Rainier or Mt Hood, Newberry Volcano is absolutely massive. The volcano is about the size of the state of Rhode Island, and while it does not have the recognizable, snow covered, cone of many of other volcanoes in the area, it is immensely powerful.
The main highlight of the monument is the Newberry Caldera. While it looks like a giant crater when viewed from above, this area was actually formed when the magma chamber beneath the volcano collapsed. Since then, the park’s pair of lakes have formed within the caldera, and now the caldera is the main tourist location in the park.
Beyond the caldera, tourists also flock to the Lava River Cave. Lava flowed from the main caldera area miles north towards Bend, and this legacy is preserved by some of the underground lava tubes through which molten rock once flowed. Lava River Cave is the largest uncollapsed lava tube in Oregon, and can be explored by visitors. Reservations are recommended though!
Getting To The Trailhead:
Help keep nature pristine. Follow Leave No Trace!
From Bend, follow Highway 97 south for about 23 miles. After 23 miles, turn left onto Paulina-East Lake Road. This road takes you into the Newberry Caldera in the heart of the monument. Follow this road for 12 miles, and then park in the lot on your left. From southern Oregon, simply follow Highway 97 north, and take a right onto Paulina-East Lake Road.
Tips:
- A view of the falls is visible from just off the parking lot, but you’ll need to hike down to reach the base.
- Stop here on your way into the caldera to see other sights.
The Paulina Falls Trail:
From the parking lot, the upper viewpoint of the falls is a short flat walk away. Follow the very well constructed dirt path along the hillside past picnic tables towards the overlook. This area would be a really nice area to hang out and have lunch if you’re looking for a spot!
Make sure you visit Lava River Cave on a visit to Newberry!
After just a minute or two, you’ll be at the overlook of Paulina Falls. The falls drop off a pretty abrupt rock cliff. This isn’t a waterfall where the water slides down a steep section of granite, this is a legitimate drop off!
You may also notice a vast boulder field beneath the falls. The waterfall is slowly moving backwards as it erodes the rocks beneath, and as it erodes, those now loose boulders crash down into the valley below, creating the visible boulder field.
While you could call it good after reaching this viewpoint, I think it’s worth the short hike down to the base of the falls. Follow the path back towards the parking lot, and then veer right onto the trail heading down the hillside.
Always follow basic trail etiquette when you’re hiking!
The trail down to the base switchbacks its way down the hillside under a dense canopy of pines. It’s a nice trail with lots of shade and smooth, well graded trail. After a bit over 100 feet of descending, you’ll arrive at the bottom of the ravine. Just ahead, you’ll see the falls. Continue towards the falls until you reach the final viewpoint at the end of the trail.
This lower viewpoint is just below the boulder field beneath the falls, and it provides visitors with a great straight on view of the falls. From here, you really get a sense of the power of erosion. Up close, those boulders that have fallen are much bigger than when viewed from above! This may not be a gigantic waterfall, but it’s extremely powerful nonetheless!
From the lower viewpoint, you have a quick return hike back up the hill. The quarter mile trip and 100 or so feet of climbing should pass quickly, and within a few minutes you’ll be back at your car, ready to explore the rest of Newberry!
Topdown Lifestyle Rating: 8/10
This is either a quick stop or a very short hike, and as far as those go, it’s pretty good. Paulina Falls is a pretty cool waterfall, but it’s not especially noteworthy. This is a worthwhile stop on a trip to Newberry, but do you need to go out of your way just to see this waterfall? Is this the best waterfall in the world (or even Oregon)? No, not really.
Pros:
- Waterfall
- Easily accessible
- Nice picnic spots
Cons:
- Busy
- More of a roadside stop than a hike
Alternative Hikes:
When To Hike Paulina Falls:
The hardest limit on hiking in the Cascades is snow. This mountain range receives massive quantities of snow each winter, and this snow limits the hiking season at high elevations. If you are ok with snowshoes, microspikes, crampons, or other snow gear, you can go pretty much whenever you want!
If you prefer not to hike in the snow, then the season is roughly May through October. Expect at least some trace remains of snow through the first half of May (possibly into June), and be ready for early snowstorms in September and October. The absolute ideal time to hike here is mid-July to see peak wildflowers, which there can be a lot of! May and October are pushing it weather wise, so I would probably recommend June through September.
Links For Further Reading:
Deschutes National Forest – Paulina Falls Day Use Area
Paulina Falls Trail | Map, Guide – Oregon | AllTrails
Paulina Falls in Newberry National Volcanic Monument – Just Go Travel Studios
