Sahalie & Koosah Falls

The Sahalie and Koosah Falls Trail, located along the McKenzie River in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains, offers a stunning 2.6-mile loop featuring two magnificent waterfalls and scenic river views. This popular trail is part of the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail and provides up-close views of the wild McKenzie River as it cascades through a lush, old-growth forest.

Trail Summary

Trailhead: Sahalie Falls North of McKenzie Bridge

Length: 2.6 Miles

Elevation: 400 ft. Gain

Difficulty: Easy

Surface Conditions: Overall Well Maintained with Roots & Rocks in Places

Featured Landmark: Sahalie Falls

Trailhead Locations and Access Points

The Sahalie and Koosah Falls loop hike offers multiple access points, with the main trailheads located at Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls. The Sahalie Falls parking lot, situated near milepost 5 on Highway 126, is the most popular starting point but tends to be crowded. For a quieter alternative, hikers can begin at the Koosah Falls parking lot, located about 1/4 mile south on Highway 126. This lot is set farther back from the highway and typically less busy.

  • Additional access points include:
    • Carmen Reservoir Trailhead, offering a connection to the southern part of the loop
    • Ice Cap Campground, providing access to Koosah Falls
    • Clear Lake, connecting to the northern extension of the McKenzie River Trail (1.5 miles beyond Sahalie Falls)

When parking lots are full, some visitors park along Highway 126, though this is not recommended due to safety concerns. For those seeking a less crowded experience, starting at Koosah Falls or Ice Cap Campground is advised, especially during peak seasons.

Scenic Highlights Along the Route

The Sahalie and Koosah Falls Loop Trail offers a spectacular journey through a lush, old-growth forest, showcasing the raw beauty of the McKenzie River. Hikers are treated to stunning views of two majestic waterfalls:

  • Sahalie Falls: A 70-foot wide, 100-foot high cascade that thunders over a lava dam, creating a misty veil visible from multiple viewpoints.
  • Koosah Falls: A 70-foot plunge waterfall with varying profiles depending on water levels, offering dramatic views from a head-on vista point.

Between the falls, the trail meanders alongside the McKenzie River, revealing picturesque cascades and rapids tumbling through a mossy, conifer-lined corridor. The vibrant blue water, a result of minerals in the lava rock, provides a striking contrast against the verdant forest backdrop. Interpretive signs along the route offer insights into the area’s unique geology, formed by lava flows about 3,000 years ago.

MCKENZIE BRIDGE

Trail Surface and Conditions

The Sahalie and Koosah Falls Trail offers varied surface conditions throughout its 2.6-mile loop. The path is primarily composed of dirt and gravel, with exposed tree roots and rocks in some sections. Hikers should be prepared for potentially muddy or slippery conditions, especially during rainy periods or in early spring when snowmelt is common.

  • Trail conditions to expect:
    • Uneven terrain with roots and rocks
    • Stairs in some sections, making it unsuitable for wheelchair access
    • Possible ice and snow in winter months, requiring appropriate footwear
    • Well-maintained trail overall, particularly on the McKenzie River Trail portion

While the main viewpoints at Sahalie Falls are accessible via a paved, wheelchair-friendly path, the loop trail itself is considered moderately challenging due to its terrain and elevation changes. Hikers should wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for changing conditions, especially when visiting outside the peak summer season.

 

Sources:

Go Wander Wild, Hike Oregon, Oregon Hikers, Forest Service

All Trails, Melia in the Mountains, Eugene Cascades & Coast

Related Articles

Biking, Events, Outdoors, Sports & Wildlife

Inner Limits Live at Bohemia Park

Inner Limits Live at Bohemia Park

by | Jul 24, 2025 | Events, Local Attractions | 0 Comments

🎶 Inner Limits Live at Bohemia Park – Blues That Burn Bright The Oregon summer is winding down—but Cottage Grove isn’t going quietly. On Tuesday, July 30, the Inner...

Tri County Business Expo

Tri-County Business Expo

by | Jul 22, 2025 | Business, Events, Food & Drink, Markets, Uncategorized | 0 Comments

🌟 Tri-County Business Expo & Summer Sounds Concert — Thursday, July 24 Get ready for a community celebration with a local-business flair! On Thursday, July 24,...

Awning Repair Eugene Oregon

Awning Repair Eugene Oregon

by | Jul 21, 2025 | Business, Home Maintenance | 0 Comments

Awning Repair Eugene Oregon: Restore Shade & Style to Your Home Enough with the torn fabric flapping in the breeze and the sagging frames that scream "I need help."...

Lane County Tuesday Farmers Market

Lane County Tuesday Farmers Market

by | Jul 20, 2025 | Events, Business, Food & Drink, Markets | 0 Comments

🌽 Fresh Picks and Community Vibes: Lane County Tuesday Farmers Market, July 22 You can smell it before you see it—ripe peaches, wood-fired flatbread, fresh-cut herbs...

Auto Repair Eugene Oregon

Auto Repair Eugene Oregon

by | Jul 19, 2025 | Business | 0 Comments

Auto Repair Eugene Oregon: The No‑Nonsense Guide to Keeping Your Ride Road‑Ready Trust over torque. Reliability over rip‑offs. Imagine your car sputters on the...

Aluminum Siding in Eugene Oregon

Aluminum Siding in Eugene Oregon

by | Jul 17, 2025 | Home Maintenance, Homebuilding | 0 Comments

Armor Your Home: The Ultimate Guide to Aluminum Siding in Eugene Oregon Last spring, as I watched rain batter my Eugene bungalow, I noticed my old wooden siding peeling...

Lane County Fair 2025

Lane County Fair 2025

by | Jul 15, 2025 | Community, Events, Food & Drink, Local Attractions | 0 Comments

🎡 Lane County Fair 2025: Five Days of Food, Fun & Family Festivities Cotton candy in hand, music in the air, and the sound of kids laughing as carnival rides whirl...

Air Conditioning Installation in Eugene Oregon

by | Jul 13, 2025 | Heating & Cooling, Home Maintenance | 0 Comments

Beat the Heat: Your Ultimate Guide to Air Conditioning Installation in Eugene Oregon Summer in Eugene can turn your cozy home into a sweltering oven, and I learned this...

Outdoor Movie Night at Umso Park

Outdoor Movie Night at Umso Park

by | Jul 12, 2025 | Community, Events | 0 Comments

🎬 Outdoor Movie Night at Umso Park: Family Fun Under the Stars Grab your picnic blanket, your favorite snacks, and the kids—because Outdoor Movie Night at Umso Park is...

Basement Waterproofing Eugene Oregon

Basement Waterproofing Eugene Oregon

by | Jul 11, 2025 | Home Maintenance | 0 Comments

Basement Waterproofing Eugene Oregon: Keep Your Home Dry in the Rainy Northwest The moment you step into a soggy basement, you realize something: This isn’t just an...

Oregon Country Fair: Where Art, Music & Magic Collide in the Woods

by | Jun 29, 2025 | Community, Art & Theater, Culture, Events, Food & Drink, Local Attractions | 0 Comments

🎭 Oregon Country Fair: Where Art, Music & Magic Collide in the Woods Every July, a patch of forest outside Veneta, Oregon, transforms into a world unlike any other....

The Fourth of July in Lane County

by | Jun 17, 2025 | Events, Community, Food & Drink, Local Attractions | 0 Comments

🎆 The Fourth of July in Lane County: Where to Find Parades, Pancakes, Fireworks & Pure Americana When it comes to celebrating Independence Day, Lane County doesn’t...

Lane County History

Lane County History

by | Jun 13, 2025 | Culture, Community, History | 0 Comments

Lane County History: Indigenous Roots Establishment and Naming Lane County was created on January 29, 1851, from parts of Linn and Benton Counties, named after Joseph...

NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field

by | Jun 10, 2025 | Events, Local Attractions, Sports | 0 Comments

🏟️ Speed, Spirit, and Stadium Roars: NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field From June 11–14, 2025, all eyes in the track & field world turn toward...

Malicious Monster Truck Tour & Megasaurus

by | Jun 4, 2025 | Community, Culture, Events, Local Attractions, Sports | 0 Comments

Feel the ground shake. Hear the engines roar. Smell the burning rubber. This isn’t just another weekend—it’s pure, unfiltered horsepower unleashed. From June 6–7, 2025,...

Emerald Dog Obedience

by | May 29, 2025 | Community, Events | 0 Comments

🐾 Emerald Dog Obedience & Rally Trials: Where Paws Meet Precision Picture this: a focused border collie glides through a rally course, every movement guided by...

Mokwheel on the Willamette

by | May 28, 2025 | Biking, Community, Events, Health | 0 Comments

Imagine gliding along the Willamette River at golden hour—sunlight flickering through the trees, the breeze gentle on your face, and the electric hum of your Mokwheel...

Chrome & Community: Function 4 Junction

by | May 27, 2025 | Community, Culture, Events, Local Attractions | 0 Comments

Some events don’t just happen—they cruise into town with style, heart, and horsepower. If you're looking for that perfect mix of small-town Americana, nostalgia-fueled...

Oakridge Tree Planting Festival

Oakridge Tree Planting Festival

by | Apr 23, 2025 | Community, Events, Local Attractions, Outdoors | 0 Comments

Festival Overview The Oakridge Tree Planting Festival, now in its 72nd year, is a vibrant celebration held from May 1-4, 2025, in Oakridge, Oregon. It’s known for...

Framed in Light Discover Local Art in a Whole New Way at the River Gallery Window Show

Framed in Light: Discover Local Art in a Whole New Way at the River Gallery Window Show

by | Apr 20, 2025 | Art & Theater, Community, Culture, News, Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Eugene, OR – April 21–27, 2025 –Some art demands your attention. Other art invites it—gently, unexpectedly, like sunlight filtering through a window you hadn’t noticed...