Fall River Falls: An Easy Hike at LaPine State Park in Central Oregon

Looking for more to explore near Fall River Falls and LaPine State Park?
It’s a short drive to Newberry National Volcanic Monument, with opportunities for hiking, biking, paddling, and even swimming under a waterfall.

DIFFICULTY

Easy/Moderate — There is little elevation gain, and the sandy dirt trail is well maintained, but there are a few brief rocky sections.

WE HIKED IT

August, 2025, not quite 3 hours starting from LaPine State Park Campground

CURRENT INFO

Reviews and maps for the loop hike to Fall River Falls are available on the AllTrails website. Additional information is found on the National Forest Service website. Visit the Oregon State Parks website for information about LaPine State Park.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Parking is free at the McGregor Memorial Viewpoint parking lot or at the small lot near Fall River Falls.
• Vault toilets are available at both parking areas.
• If you are camping at LaPine State Park, you can start your hike from the campground. This adds about one additional mile to the loop hike.
• Longer and shorter hikes are possible. For the shortest hike to Fall River Falls, park at the lot near the waterfall. From here, it’s about a quarter-mile to the falls, perfect for a quick stop or side trip following a picnic by the river. You can lengthen your hike by adding on additional trails within LaPine State Park. Check the map below for a few options.

• Trails are open to bikes and horses as well as hikers. We saw a few bicyclists on our hike, and some evidence of horses (if you know what I mean).
• Pets on leash are welcome on the Fall River Trail.
• I recommend taking a photo of the trail map at the trailhead or downloading the map on AllTrails before you start. There are many trail options, and they aren’t always clearly marked. I used the AllTrails map a few times to make sure we stayed on the correct course.
• Bring water, hats for shade, sunscreen, and bug spray when hiking in the summer. Although much of the trail winds through the forest, there’s still plenty of sun exposure.
• Always follow Leave No Trace principles.

HIGHLIGHTS

Gorgeous views of both the Deschutes and Fall Rivers are the highlights on this gentle winding trail at LaPine State Park. Fall River Falls is nice, too. It may not be the most impressive waterfall you can hike to in Oregon, but it sure is pretty. And the clarity of the water — wow! Our group spent several minutes just staring into the crystal waters of Fall River. The trail isn’t crowded, and is a great introduction to this area of Central Oregon.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

The Fall River Falls Trail is a great option for families. It’s relatively easy, but long enough that little legs may tire out. Consider planning a lunch or snack break at the picnic area near the falls to break it up. Although Fall River Falls may lack the wow factor that many of Oregon’s taller waterfalls claim, it’s a beautiful spot, and kids will delight in the clarity of the water along Fall River. Keep an eye out for fish! Hint: you’re more likely to spot some if you’re quiet.

On our hike, a sign noted that a cougar had recently been spotted in the area. While this isn’t a common occurrence, it’s a good reminder to stick together when hiking and keep kids within sight. And while you may not want to scare the fish away with your chatter, a lively conversation can be a good way to keep other wildlife at bay.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

The Fall River Falls hike is a great option when camping at LaPine State Park. We spent six nights in this lovely campground, and never ran out of things to do.

One big draw in this region is the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. The Paulina Lake Area lies a half hour drive east of La Pine State Park. We kayaked to hot springs at Paulina Lake, hiked the Big Obsidian Flow Trail, drove to the top of Paulina Peak, and picnicked at Paulina Falls. Just outside the monument at McKay Crossing Campground, the Peter Skene Ogden Trail leads to a natural waterslide. The campground also provides access to McKay Falls, another fun place for a summer dip.

Further north along Highway 97, the Lava Lands Visitor Center is another great stop in Newberry National Volcanic Monument. From here you can hike the short Trail of the Molten Land, or bike the paved Sun-Lava Trail to Benham Falls. Check the schedule for ranger talks, and pick up a Junior Ranger booklet if you have kids. This area is very near Sunriver Resort. Even if you aren’t staying at the resort, I recommend checking out the Century Commons Taps & Trucks if you’re looking for a tasty beer or food.

The High Desert Museum of Bend is another highlight (see what I did there?). Located south of the city, it’s only a 20-minute drive from La Pine State Park. With its many outdoor and indoor exhibits and live presentations, plan to devote several hours to your visit.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; I’m a fan of hikes that start from the campground. It’s such a pleasure to ease into a hike after a leisurely breakfast, no driving required. At LaPine State Park Campground, we were lucky enough to have access to a number of hikes, but the one that caught my eye was the loop to Fall River Falls.

To start the hike, we left the north loop of the campground and crossed the main road. Although it wasn’t clearly marked, we soon spotted the trail heading into the woods on our left. We quickly turned right onto the LaPine Parallel Trail and began walking toward the Fall River Loop Trail.

Originally, I planned to take the loop in a clockwise direction and join the McGregor Loop Trail shortly after passing the RV dump station (don’t worry, this is the only dump station near the trail). Unfortunately, the turnoff wasn’t marked, and we missed it. Fortunately, this didn’t really matter, as we could just as easily hike the trail in a counterclockwise direction. Rather than backtrack, we kept on going and joined the Fall River loop Trail after passing the McGregor Memorial Viewpoint parking lot.

Before long, we caught our first glimpse of the Deschutes River through an opening in the trees. What a glorious view! The kids and I paused to watch a paddle boarder glide silently downstream. We caught an even better view further down the trail, which briefly followed the bluffs overlooking the Deschutes.

We soon came to another trail intersection and followed the signpost toward Fall River. Perhaps somewhat confusingly, there were two arrows for Fall River, one pointing in the direction from which we’d come, and the other pointing straight ahead. We did the logical thing, and continued straight ahead.

In addition to the usual trail markers, we also passed a sign warning of a cougar sighting only a few days earlier. We reminded the kids to stick close to an adult, and hoped our frequent chatter would scare off any unfriendly beasts.

By now, it was quite warm, and despite the fact that the Fall River Trail rarely strays from the forest, plenty of dappled sunlight dances through the slender pine trees. Dominated by ponderosa pine, the experience of walking through the woods in Central Oregon is markedly different from hiking in Western Oregon.

As we neared our destination of Fall River Falls, the trail narrowed and led through a small clearing. The sun shone hotly, but in the distance I heard the sound of running water.

Fall River appeared, a delicate shimmering stream winding through a maze of ponderosa. Taken in by its beauty, I paused for several photos, then ran ahead to catch up with the others.

The trail grew rockier as we approached the falls. Thus far, it had been a pretty easy hike, but you’ll have to maneuver past a few rocks before you reach your ultimate destination: Fall River Falls!

What Fall River Falls lacks in stature it makes up for in sheer loveliness. We were mesmerized by the clear water that deepened to turquoise at the base of the falls. The frothing water served as nature’s own air conditioner, cooling the air as we stood by the shore.

We paused for a few snacks and enjoyed the view of the waterfall before continuing on. Rather than backtrack, we continued on the narrow trail past the waterfall, which led directly to a small parking lot and picnic area along Fall River. This would be an excellent lunch stop, and we were vocal in our admiration of Fall River’s beauty.

This is also a popular spot for fishing, and unfortunately I think our enthusiasm was scaring the fish. I motioned for everyone to head back to the trail. From this spot, another trailhead is located on the other side of the fence from the parking lot, not far from the vault toilets. I think the fisherfolk were relieved to see us go.

By now we had completed more than half the hike, and the heat had intensified. The return trip rarely strayed from the forest, so shade was plentiful although not constant. Thankfully, with temperatures in the 80s, this wasn’t as hot as some Central Oregon summer days, but this Western Washington dweller was definitely feeling it.

We followed the trail back to the campground entrance station, then down the hill to the Deschutes Riverfront Trail. I’m pretty sure we strayed from the official trail system when we took the steep path to the Riverfront Trail. In retrospect, I recommend walking a little further down the road to the trash depot for LaPine State Park Campground, where a short connector trail leads to the Riverfront Trail. Once on the Riverfront Trail, it’s a short walk back to the north loop of the campground, filled with pretty views of the Deschutes.

Back at our campsite, it was time for a late lunch and relaxing in the hammocks. But what a beautiful start to our trip this had been! Whether you are camping at LaPine State Park or just passing through, I highly recommend a detour to Fall River Falls.