Koosah Falls is a freebie that comes along with a visit to Sahalie Falls. They’re both beautiful waterfalls. Well, actually, you don’t have to visit both falls since they can be accessed separately, but you’d be a fool not to visit both of them! So plan some time to visit both of them.
Sahalie Falls does have its own parking area, which means it is a short hike to the falls. There is a separate parking area for the Waterfalls Loop Trailhead and Ice Cap Creek Day Use Area. If you’d prefer not to do a hike between the two falls, you can head to that parking area and see Koosah Falls with another short hike. I didn’t remember how long the hike was between the two falls, and just looked. It’s not long, but I could understand why someone might decide to drive from one falls to the other. It’s a 2.5 mile hike round-trip. I rated it as an easy/moderate hike. I usually remember the really difficult hikes (or ones that were more difficult than I expected).
Directions:
- There are multiple ways to get to the falls, though they will all require some drive. If you’re in Albany/Corvallis, you could head east on US-20. From Bend, head west on US-20. If you’re in Eugene, head east on OR-126.
- The falls are found on OR-126…If you’re on US-20, you would turn and head south on OR-126. If you’re already on OR-126, it would obviously be a “straight-shot”, though it’ll be a curvy drive. There are two parking areas, one for Sahalie Falls and one for Koosah Falls, and there is a trail that connects both falls.
- The Sahalie Falls parking area is the further north of the 2 parking areas, and once you park there, it’s a short 100 feet to Sahalie Falls. Then veer left and follow the trail along the McKenzie River.
- Head further south to find the parking area for Koosah Falls. You may have to look for the Ice Cap Creek Day Use Area.
Accessibility: 8/10 (easy/moderate) for the 2.5 miles round-trip hike from Sahalie Falls
Height: 80′
Hike: 0.1 mile round-trip from the Koosah Falls parking area; 2.5 miles for the hike from Sahalie Falls
Where in the World is Koosah Falls?
The Waterfall Record 