Wintertime is still hiking time if you live in Oregon, so there’s no excuse to laze around on the couch all season long. Shake off those winter blues, bundle up, and head to Terrebonne for a pretty winter hike that features a stunning waterfall.
The trailhead for Steelhead Falls is just a few miles from Terrebonne. The trail is open year-round, but check weather conditions before heading out.
Yelena Z/Tripadvisor If the trail is icy, you might want some traction cleats. Dress in layers - Central Oregon can get pretty cold in the winter, but if the sun comes out you might want to shed your heavy jacket.
The trail is short and sweet - just a little more than a mile out and back. The majority of it is easy hiking on flat surfaces, but there is a steep section that bumps this trail into the “moderately difficult” category.
Yelena Z/Tripadvisor
The trail makes its way along the wild, winding Deschutes River, and the canyon has a stark beauty, even on an overcast winter day.
Gabriella Smith/Alltrails
Check out the cliffs high above, and notice the various layers of rock that tell the story of more than a million years of erosion.
Shari T/Alltrails
Take some time to soak in the beauty of the river, landscape, and wide-open sky above. Bring your pup along for this adventure, too! He’s welcome to join you on this trail, just make sure to clean up after him.
Sarah Moomey/Alltrails
In no time at all, you’ll reach Steelhead Falls. This gorgeous, 20-foot waterfall is one of the more stunning waterfalls in Oregon during winter months.
Bureau of Land Management/flickr
Depending on the temperature and recent precipitation, the falls might be raging and foaming…
Melody/Tripadvisor
…or they might even be frozen!
James Dustin Parsons/500px Prime via Getty Images Summertime visitors enjoy a splash in the pool at the base of the falls, but in the winter you’ll obviously want to spend your time at the falls taking pictures and basking in the beauty of this winter wonderland while staying warm and dry.
Remember to practice Leave No Trace principles while hiking this trail and all trails in the Beaver State. Pack out everything you pack in, be considerate to other hikers, and stay on the trail to avoid unnecessary erosion.
Yelena Z/Tripadvisor
If the trail is icy, you might want some traction cleats. Dress in layers - Central Oregon can get pretty cold in the winter, but if the sun comes out you might want to shed your heavy jacket.
Gabriella Smith/Alltrails
Shari T/Alltrails
Sarah Moomey/Alltrails
Bureau of Land Management/flickr
Melody/Tripadvisor
James Dustin Parsons/500px Prime via Getty Images
Summertime visitors enjoy a splash in the pool at the base of the falls, but in the winter you’ll obviously want to spend your time at the falls taking pictures and basking in the beauty of this winter wonderland while staying warm and dry.
Have you hiked Steelhead Falls in the winter? Tell our readers about your experience!
While you’re in the area, you might want to peer over the bridge into the Crooked River Gorge.
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Address: NW Steelhead Falls Dr, Terrebonne, OR 97760, USA
