B10 The BulleTin • Friday, april 30, 2021
TOP PICK OF THE WEEK
Benham
Falls as
seen
from the
viewing
area near
the west
trailhead.
Makenzie
Whittle/
Bulletin
photos
Benham Falls
BY MAKENZIE WHITTLE
The Bulletin
Chances are, you’ve ven-
tured down to Benham Falls
during the summer, maybe
showing off the beautiful sec-
tion of the Deschutes River to
visitors from out of town.
But before the summer
crowds arrive, grab your
Northwest Forest Pass and
check out the falls on your
own, which make for a great
and easy weekday afternoon
walk with a 1.5-mile, out-and-
back path from the Benham
Falls East Trailhead near Lava
Lands south of Bend.
Things are just starting to
bloom and turn green so the
river trail is buzzing with antic-
ipation and hungry bees hov-
ering around the few flower-
ing trees along the path. Since
most of the riparian vegetation
has yet to fill out in its spring
and summer looks, the lava
rock that forms Benham Falls
from Lava Butte are much
more noticeable and even
more impressive.
The walk itself is easy and
flat until you get to the falls
with the official viewing area
being a gentle descent to
the outlook. There are also
a few spots that can be ac-
cessed through the gaps in the
wooden fence and lead down
to the river’s edge.
If you’d rather just see the
falls and not make the walk,
the Benham West Trailhead
takes you directly to the view-
ing area above the falls.
Whichever way you go, the
Class 5 falls are worth the trip.
Getting there: To the Ben-
ham East Trailhead, from Bend
travel south on U.S. Highway
97 for about 11 miles then
turn right at Lava Lands, fol-
IN THE BALANCE OF COMPETING HARMS - WE SHALL PREVAIL
541-788-5858
905 SW Rimrock Way Suite 100A
Nolan Town Square • Redmond, OR
ladiesofl eadusa@gmail.com
Sharon Preston
A trail marker at the Benham Falls East Trailhead indicates
distance to the falls, to Sunriver and to Lava Lands.
lowing the signs to Benham
Falls along Forest Service Road
9702. To Benham West Trail-
head from Bend take Century
Drive west 13 miles and turn
left following the sign towards
the Deschutes Recreation Sites
(Dillon Falls Road). Drive 4
miles then turn left towards
Slough and Benham Falls on
Forest Road 400 then continue
down the gravel road for 1.2
miles and bear left towards the
trailhead.
e e
Reporter: 541-383-0304,
mwhittle@bendbulletin.com
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