Proxy Falls: A Family Waterfall Hike Over McKenzie Pass

Hello Bend! Proxy Falls is a stunning set of waterfalls located an hour and a half from Bend, over McKenzie Pass. It’s a must-see trip that can be done with kids and dogs (on leash), and it’s a great hike for all skill levels. The trail is in the heart of the Willamette National Forest, and it’s only reachable while McKenzie Pass is open, typically mid-June through early November.

Fall update: The vine maples are turning, and McKenzie Pass typically closes for the season in early November (snow can close it even sooner), so now is the time to go! Check TripCheck.com for road conditions before you head out.

Hiker sitting at the base of Proxy Falls as water cascades down a mossy rock wall — Proxy Falls in all its glory, with a tiny hiker at the base for scale!

The Drive There

The drive is just as amazing as the falls themselves! The road winds through massive lava fields (50 square miles of them!), with captivating views of the Three Sisters on one side and Mt. Washington and Mt. Jefferson on the other.

Snow-capped Sisters mountains rising above the lava fields along McKenzie Pass — Fifty square miles of lava, with the Sisters watching over the drive.

When you reach the summit, stop at the Dee Wright Observatory. The kids loved it!

Green highway sign reading Summit McKenzie Pass, elevation 5,325 feet — We made it to the top of McKenzie Pass!

Two kids standing on lava rock in front of the stone Dee Wright Observatory — The kids were convinced it was a lava castle.

The observatory has a trail through the lava flow, with interesting signs about the history of McKenzie Pass. From the top, you can see all the surrounding mountains and buttes, plus the craters responsible for that jaw-dropping river of lava. If you have the time, we HIGHLY recommend this stop. Not to mention, it looks like a lava castle to the kiddos, and they loved it!

Kids at the peak finder on top of Dee Wright Observatory with a Cascade peak behind them — Naming every mountain, butte and crater from the top of the observatory.

If you’ve never driven the road up to the summit, be aware that it’s narrow and winding on the way up, over and back down. Near the summit, the road was literally cut through the lava fields, so you’ll find towering walls of lava rock on both sides. It’s a unique area to drive through!

As you pass the summit and start your descent, the road winds back and forth with sharp drop-offs. Because of these tight turns, vehicles (or vehicles with trailers) over 35 feet aren’t allowed on this route.

Coming from Eugene or the Willamette Valley? Take Highway 126 east to Highway 242, and you’ll reach the trailhead in about 9 miles without crossing the summit. (The 35’ vehicle limit still applies.)

The Hike

There isn’t a designated parking lot at the Proxy Falls trailhead, so be prepared to parallel park along the highway. There’s a vault toilet near the trailhead, and a Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) is required. If you don’t have one, you can pay the $5 day-use fee at the trailhead.

Cars parallel parked along both sides of Highway 242 near the Proxy Falls trailhead, surrounded by tall evergreens — Parking is along the highway, and it fills up fast. Arrive early!

The hike itself is a relatively easy, short loop (about 1.25 miles) that takes you first to Lower Proxy Falls, then on a short walk to the second waterfall, Upper Proxy Falls.

Carved wooden sign pointing the way to Lower Proxy Falls — First stop on the loop: Lower Proxy Falls.

Starting at the trailhead and working your way counterclockwise, the trail takes you to where the lava flow meets the forest. The first stretch is a bit rocky, but nothing too challenging, and it eventually levels out. Heads up: a stroller or rolling cooler would be tough to bring on this hike.

Rocky section of the Proxy Falls trail where the lava flow meets the forest — Where the lava flow meets the forest. A little rocky, but nothing too tough.

The Lower Proxy Falls viewing area is quite a distance from the waterfall itself, but the view is truly stunning.

Lower Proxy Falls cascading over a mossy cliff in the Willamette National Forest — Lower Proxy Falls, one of the most photographed waterfalls in the Northwest.

If you’re up for a little more adventure, leave the beaten path behind and get up close and personal with Mother Nature. There are a couple of different paths down to the base of the waterfall. The path right next to the viewing area (just to the right of the big log barrier) is a much steeper trek.

Child scrambling over rocks and fallen logs on the way down to the base of Lower Proxy Falls — Leaving the beaten path behind for a closer look.

A second path, a little farther to the right of the viewing area, gets you to the bottom with less of a challenge.

Don’t get me wrong: once you reach the bottom, it still takes some creative maneuvering to get closer to the falls. Climbing over and under logs and hopping across big rocks in the stream make it an outdoor playground for kids and adults alike! The highlight for my kids was crossing a huge “moving” log to get to the other side of the stream.

Kids with backpacks climbing over a large fallen log in the forest near Proxy Falls — Nature’s playground: climbing over and under the logs.

Dad helping his young daughter rock-hop across the stream below Proxy Falls — Rock-hopping our way across the stream.

You can make your way up to the pool at the base of the waterfall on either the right or left side. Just decide early which side you want to conquer, because it didn’t look easy to cross over once you reach the base.

Family posing together at the base of Lower Proxy Falls — We made it to the base!

Fun fact: Lower Proxy Falls is one of the most photographed waterfalls in the Northwest, featured every year in magazines, hiking guides and countless calendars. Bring your nice camera!

Once we made it back to the main trail, it was a surprisingly short walk to Upper Proxy Falls. As you approach, you’ll notice the pond at the base of the falls doesn’t drain anywhere. Wondering where all that water goes? It soaks right into the lava rock below. So cool!

Young hiker walking along the creek toward Proxy Falls through the forest — Almost there!

We explored the area to the left of the trail first, hoping to capture a view of Upper Proxy Falls from across the pond. It takes a bit of climbing, but the massive root system along the bank works like nature’s stepping stones.

Trust me, it’s worth it!

Upper Proxy Falls spilling over mossy rocks with a fallen log in the foreground — The view of Upper Proxy Falls is worth the effort!

Next, we made our way up the right side of the waterfall. You can take the scenic, more slippery route right next to the falls, which is the path my husband chose.

Close-up of Upper Proxy Falls cascading over moss-covered rock — Up close on the right side of the falls.

The kids and I played it (somewhat) safe and took the dry path on the far right to climb our way up. Along the way, there are chances to see the waterfall up close and get a little wet!

Upper Proxy Falls tumbling over mossy boulders seen from the side of the falls — The view from our climb up the dry side of the falls.

Farther up, you can venture near the edge of the trail to see the waterfall from a different vantage point.

Be especially careful here. I know I’ll sound like a broken record (if you’ve read any of my other “The Great Outdoors” posts), but in my opinion, the key to a safe off-trail adventure is legit hiking shoes. The traction they provide on rocky, slippery paths like these beats a pair of sneakers every time. Plus, your feet are more likely to stay dry!

Rocky creek bed scattered with fallen logs near Proxy Falls — Rocks, roots and logs everywhere: legit hiking shoes make all the difference.

Once you’re back on the main trail, it’s a quick walk to the car. Overall, we spent about two hours exploring both waterfalls. If you’re just passing through and short on time, you could easily complete the loop and see both waterfalls in about 30 minutes.

Post Hike

Our kids were so famished after all that exploring that they ate everything we had with us once we were back in the car. We even stopped in Sisters for a bite on the way home, and they cleaned their plates! Sisters is a great place to grab a meal on the way home, and even if you skip dinner, my kids will tell you a stop for ice cream is a MUST! Sno-Cap Drive In is the perfect little spot (hours are seasonal, so call ahead to confirm they’re open). The fact that it’s always packed says it all about the quality. Add in the fun, throwback diner atmosphere, and you have yourself a winner!

Sno Cap Drive In storefront with its vintage Home Made Ice Cream sign in Sisters, Oregon — Sno Cap Drive In in Sisters. The kids will tell you this stop is a must!

In the mood for a sit-down meal after your hiking adventure? Three Creeks Brew Pub in Sisters is the perfect stop. Be sure to order the pretzel! (Call ahead to confirm hours.)

One thing I learned from my handy-dandy Bend, Overall book is that the drive and hike to Proxy Falls are even more magnificent in mid to late October, when you can witness an “explosion of vibrant Fall colors as the Vine maples change with the season.” This picture is just the beginning!

Vine maples turning red, orange and gold beneath evergreen trees near Proxy Falls — The fall colors are just beginning, and the reason to go now!

We were so enamored by the beauty of Proxy Falls that we always planned to return in the fall to see the colors change before McKenzie Pass closed for the season. Life (and a move to Texas!) got in the way, and that fall visit is still on my bucket list. If you can get there before the pass closes, go for me! Soak in the colors, breathe in that forest air and make some memories of your own. We hope you love it as much as we did!

Know Before You Go:

Do:

Start early in the morning

Bring water and snacks, or grab a picnic lunch on your way. Sisters Meat and Smokehouse makes sandwiches to go and opens at 9 a.m. every day (call ahead to confirm hours).

Bring raincoats if you want to play near the base of the falls and stay dry

Wear sturdy shoes

Pack layers, bug spray and sunscreen. The forest stays cool no matter the temperature in Bend, and my kids often reach for their fleece to stay warm!

Check TripCheck.com for McKenzie Pass road conditions

Tag #HelloBend in your social media posts when you go!

Don’t:

Leave any trash behind

Bring a stroller or rolling cooler

Bring an RV or trailer longer than 35 feet

Forget your Northwest Forest Pass (or cash for the $5 day-use fee)

Be disrespectful of the trail or other hikers

Looking for more falls to chase? My free Oregon Waterfalls Guide covers 37 waterfalls worth the drive from Bend, listed from the easy stops closest to town to the ones farther out that make a perfect day trip. It’s coming soon, so sign up here and I’ll send it to you as soon as it’s ready! In the meantime, check out our Central Oregon Waterfalls post and our recap of Tamolitch Falls (Blue Pool).

Want to see what our family is up to now in Texas? Follow along at Community Home Girl on Instagram and Facebook, or visit CommunityHomeGirl.com.