2020 edit: The trail to Shellburg Falls was burned in the 2020 Labor Day wildfires. Access to the waterfall is currently closed.

This 3-mile out-and-back hike takes you to gorgeous Shellburg Falls. What’s more, you can hike under the waterfall like at Silver Falls State Park, but without the hundreds of other visitors. (For details about visiting Silver Falls as well as other breathtaking spots in Oregon, see my post on the best day trips from Portland.)

This kid-friendly hike near Salem, Oregon was the perfect length for Max (4) and Edie (6). They had plenty of energy on the way up, and I only had to bribe them with M&Ms a few times on the gradual downhill to the Shellburg Falls trailhead. (M&Ms are my go-to treat to “entice” them to walk just a little farther. I dole them out individually and say the candy gives them energy!)

No matter how you bribe your little hikers (or encourage yourself to trek one more mile), you’ll love this waterfall hike near Salem, Oregon.

If you want even more hikes in this area, check out William Sullivan’s 100 Hikes in the Central Oregon Cascades (affiliate link). This book is pretty much a must-read for any Oregon hiker. We refer to it often!

Hiking through pasturelands

The beginning of the Shellburg Falls trail is unmistakable: From the parking lot at the trailhead, simply walk past the yellow gate blocking the road to vehicle traffic.

The Shellburg Falls hike begins on a gently sloping unpaved road. Keep an eye out for wildflowers here, including foxglove, buttercup and stinking chamomile (which Edie has called “daisy funk” since she could talk).

This wide path crosses several cattle guards. (Maxine spotted a garter snake in one!) It’s clear why this path needs the grates: Cattle graze on the grasses along either side of the path. This is private land, which the owners have graciously allowed hikers to use.

The cattle are friendly but are still large animals. Keep dogs on a very short leash here, and don’t make sudden movements—especially around a calf. Mother cows can get defensive.

(Fun trivia facts to impress your fellow hikers: A female cow is called a cow, unless it hasn’t yet had its first calf, in which case it’s called a heifer. Male cows are bulls, unless they’ve been castrated, in which case they’re called steer.)

A little farther along the trail, you’ll pass a tree farm on your right and enter a forested area.

Hiking in the Santiam State Forest

A mile in, you’ll enter the Santiam State Forest. Here, the trees grow more tightly together and sunlight doesn’t reach the trail easily. (That’s a welcome relief on a hot day!) Keep an eye out for Rocky Mountain irises growing here.

A few side paths spur off from the main trail in this section. Just be careful you do not worsen erosion, which you’ll see along the hike. The exposed roots and tumble of dirt and rock offered a clear example to teach my kids about erosion.

About a quarter-mile past the Santiam State Forest sign, you’ll reach a small bridge that crosses Lower Shellburg Falls. A few brave/reckless hikers crawled out onto a boulder overlooking the falls, and experienced hikers can bushwhack down to the base of the 40-foot falls from the far side of the bridge.

I, though, have a paralyzing fear of heights and kept my kids far from the edge. We opted instead to hike the short remainder of the hike to the dramatic Shellburg Falls.

Hike to Shellburg Falls

At the bridge over Lower Shellburg Falls, take a left up the stairs to hike to the real star of the show: Shellburg Falls. Here, the path becomes significantly more narrow. It was also a bit muddy and slippery in parts, so I held Maxine’s hand as we walked the quarter-mile to the waterfall.

You’ll hear the falls before you see it. The roar of water tumbling 100 feet over a cliff alerts you that you’re close!

A very short path spurs on your left that gives you an unobstructed view of the falls from below. We held off on this path until our hike back down the trail. After all, we wanted to hike behind the waterfall as soon as possible.

Just up the trail, the path curves under a natural overhang. Above the path, basalt—a hard, volcanic rock—withstands the power of rushing water. Time and water has carved out the softer rock below, leaving a natural grotto. This cave allows you to hike behind the waterfall without getting wet (though don’t be surprised if you feel a few drops).

The grotto has two layers. In theory, you can easily climb up to the waist-high tier, but I didn’t let my kids walk up there. It’s not reinforced, and even little feet add to the erosion.

Max and Edie saw the names of people who had carved in the soft rock. They wondered if this was cave art left behind “ancient people,” as they said. Whether you consider yourself ancient or not, please don’t add to the carved names. Remember, leave no trace.

At about the halfway point behind the falls, take a rest on a wooden bench. This is a good place to turn back, especially if you have kids: The trail tends to be muddier and more slippery past the bench.

As this is an out-and-back hike, simply turn around and head back the way you came. If you haven’t paused at the viewpoint yet, don’t miss it on the hike back.

Maxine wanted to be in the picture and also didn’t want to be in the picture. Hard choices for a 4-year-old

Kid-friendly hike near Salem, Oregon

Many Oregon waterfall hikes aren’t, in fact, kid-friendly. I don’t take my children on many of the hikes in the Columbia River Gorge because the drop-offs are simply too steep and too close to the trail.

That’s one reason why I was so thrilled to find Shellburg Falls.

The paths are easy for little legs to walk. The entire hike gains only 410 feet in elevation—not a problem for my 4- and 6-year olds.

Plus, not many Oregon waterfall hikes also give you up close and personal introductions to cows! Max and Edie are city kids so were beyond thrilled to meet this docile calf. I had to remind them several times to walk calmly around the cows, as I’m pretty sure the bovines didn’t appreciate Edie’s bubbly enthusiasm.

Finally, pretty much every kid will be thrilled to see the waterfall from behind.

Details to hike Shellburg Falls, Oregon

Shellburg Falls is conveniently located near many of Oregon’s cities. This waterfall hike is about an hour from Portland, 45 minutes from downtown Salem, just over an hour from Corvallis and an hour and a half from Eugene.

The Shellburg Falls trailhead has a small parking lot, but it fills up quickly, especially on weekends. But the shoulders of the roads are easy to park on—just be careful when crossing the road.

Make sure to use the facilities elsewhere, as this trailhead does not include a toilet.

This trail is open to mountain bikes, so be aware and give bikes plenty of room to pass.

Small, seven-site Shellburg Falls Campground is accessible by the trailhead. The campground has a vault toilet and potable water. I haven’t yet camped here but it would be lovely to camp in such a secluded spot that still has amenities.

There is no fee at the Shellburg Falls trailhead.

Hike under a waterfall in Oregon

Chances are, you’re now more than a little excited to hike Shellburg Falls for yourself. I don’t blame you! This kid-friendly hike near Salem, Oregon is close enough to Portland to feel like an easy day trip but far enough that you leave big crowds behind.

Plus, the payoff—a hike behind the waterfall—is just one more example of gorgeous Oregon waterfall hikes.

A final safety reminder: Keep dogs on leash (the forest trails are narrow, and there are cows on the lower part of the trail). Keep kids very close, as the drop-offs near the waterfall are steep. And observe social distancing while you hike. That way, everyone can enjoy the outdoors while remaining safe and healthy.

See you on the trail!

PS – If you’re looking for more Oregon hikes, click over to my post on exploring Lost Lake. This picturesque Mt. Hood lake is ringed by a kid-friendly trail that’s easy even for the littlest hikers. 

The post Beautiful Shellburg Falls: A kid-friendly + easy waterfall hike near Salem, Oregon appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

After all, fall in Bend, Oregon is this Central Oregon city’s shoulder season. Most people visit Bend in the summer for all its outdoor fun or in the winter for snow sports. But I can’t get enough of all the things to do in Bend, Oregon in the fall.

After all, most of the crowds clear out once the school year starts. The weather turns mild and absolutely gorgeous: think cold mornings, sunny days and close to zero rain. Finally, many hotels in Bend and other businesses offer discounted rates in the fall, since the number of visitors drops during this season.

In fact, our friends at Pine Ridge Inn invited us to stay in one of their suites for our anniversary weekend. This lovely boutique hotel in Bend has a front-row view to Bend’s fall colors, and our suite overlooked the Deschutes River from atop the canyon that runs through town. The Pine Ridge Inn served as our starting point for all the fun things to do in Bend, Oregon in the fall.

To read about all the best things to do in Bend and where to stay in between your adventures, keep reading. And don’t forget to pin this post for later, when you’re planning your own trip to Bend, Oregon!

1. Hike Tumalo Falls in Bend, Oregon

Tumalo Falls is one of the busiest spots in Bend, Oregon to explore the outdoors—but this fairly easy hike is way less crowded in the fall.

Just a half-hour drive from Downtown Bend, Tumalo Falls drops nearly 100 feet from a pine tree-covered bluff. After you park in the (admittedly tight) parking area, you walk just a few minutes to see Tumalo Falls. (Just make sure to pay the day pass parking fee. In fact, we bought our pass at our hotel in Bend, Pine Ridge Inn, which was *such* a convenient and thoughtful perk!)

From Tumalo Falls, you can hike for miles through the Deschutes National Forest. Hubs and I hiked about 1.25 miles past Tumalo Falls to Middle Tumalo Falls, a two-parter waterfall where we saw pretty much no one else.

Middle Tumalo Falls is a great turnaround spot if you have plans for lots more things to do in Bend. The trail is also moderately easy. Maxine and Edie, ages 4 and 6, would have a fine time hiking this trail in Bend.

2. Feel like a local at Bend’s Fall Festival

Hubs and I were lucky enough to visit Bend, Oregon during its annual Fall Festival, which takes place at the beginning of every October. This weekend-long event takes over Downtown Bend, closing streets to make room for live music, food carts, local artisans and breweries.

I joke that Bend is pretty much obsessed with street fairs because one is happening almost every time we’ve visited this Central Oregon city. Tons of people turn out for these outdoor fests—and the Fall Festival should be on your list of things to do in Bend in the fall!

3. Get a lay of the land on Pilot Butte

Central Oregon is basically one big volcano. Pilot Butte in Bend, Oregon was formed when debris from a volcanic eruption fell to the ground and cooled, leaving a flat-topped mound from which you can see all of the city.

Several hiking trails wind around the butte, but we drove up to the top. From Pilot Butte, you can see the mountains surrounding Bend—Mt. Bachelor, Sisters, Three-Fingered Jack and more. We could even see our own home mountain, Mt. Hood, since the fall day was so clear!

Pilot Butte tends to be one of the top things to do locals recommend to folks visiting Bend. It’s a terrific way to get a sense of Bend’s layout and take in the wide vistas around the city.

4. Take in the fall colors in Drake Park

One of my favorite places to visit in Bend, Oregon in the fall is Drake Park. Hubs and I walked beneath all the fall foliage and along the park’s half-mile of trails along the Deschutes River.

It’s hard to get more beautiful than the colorful trees reflected in the park’s Mirror Pond. (Yep, that now-famed Mirror Pond from Deschutes Brewery!)

What’s more, my favorite stretch of Drake Park is just a few blocks from Downtown Bend’s main corridor. If you fancy a quick shopping stop, I love buying postcards, mugs, ornaments and other gifts made by local designers and artists at The Bend Store, about a 2-minute walk from Drake Park.

5. See the stars on a nighttime canoe trip

Hubs and I wanted to make our anniversary trip to Bend, Oregon extra-special. So when Bend-based Wanderlust Tours offered to host us on a nighttime canoe tour, we jumped at the chance.

Wanderlust Tours offers a variety of outdoor experiences, from kayaking trips to photography tours. They all sound fun, but canoeing by moonlight—pretty sure that can’t be beat.

Wanderlust Tours picked us up and drove a group of up Mt. Bachelor to Hosmer Lake. Before we got on the water, our tour guide Courtney gave us a quick tutorial on how to work together to paddle and steer. Hubs and I were the first ones to push our canoe out into the pitch-black water.

We followed Courtney as she led us past reeds and through the winding channels of this high-alpine lake. Above us, the half-full moon shone and stars twinkled. I spent my childhood on the water, whitewater kayaking all summer, but I’d never paddled in the middle of the night before.

One of the most magical moments of our entire trip to Bend this fall was when our entire group paused in the middle of Hosmer Lake. We were all quiet, listening to the nighttime world around us. The occasional drip of water or frog croak were the only sounds that broke the silence.

In our busy lives, it’s rare to be wholly immersed in nature like this. We will definitely be back to explore other parts of Bend with Wanderlust Tours.

6. Feel (really) small at Smith Rock

If you haven’t gathered this year, Bend, Oregon is a wonderful place to dive into the outdoors—especially in the fall. And one of the most stunning parts of this Central Oregon landscape is just a short drive from Bend at Smith Rock.

Around 30 million years ago, the area that is now Smith Rock State Park collapsed into a caldera of molten rock. (Cool, right?) Then that caldera filled with ash, debris and more rock when nearby volcanoes erupted. All that debris hardened together, forming the spires and cliff faces that make Smith Rock so imposing.

All these millenia later, Smith Rock makes an unforgettable day trip from Bend, Oregon. Its trail system is like a choose your own adventure story: You can climb up to the cheerfully named Misery Ridge, on the flat paths along the river, or in any of the other 10 official hiking trails.

Make sure to pay the $5 day use fee (or use your annual Oregon State Parks Pass, which we have and use just about every week). And know that dogs are welcome in the park as long as they’re on-leash. Just make sure to bring water for yourself and your pup, as hiking here is thirsty work, even in the fall.

Autumnal hotels in Bend, Oregon

When we celebrated our anniversary in Bend, our friends at the Pine Ridge Inn hosted us for two complementary nights in a Canyon View Suite—they really know how to make an old married couple feel special! And this small, boutique hotel in Bend felt like a prime spot to experience fall in Central Oregon. I mean, just look at these colors!

Hubs and I spent so much time in front of the suite’s gas fireplace, getting cozy in between all our adventures in Bend. And you better believe I drank my tea every morning on the suite’s private patio.

We also couldn’t get enough of our view overlooking the Deschutes River.

One of the things that made the Pine Ridge Inn feel so perfect for our special getaway was how intimate the hotel is. With only 20 rooms in the entire property, we felt so well taken care of. The people working the front desk knew us by name and chatted whenever we came or went, and they got to know us a bit. That way their recommendations of what to do and where to eat in Bend were spot-on! (I’m still thankful they tactfully steered us away from a sub-par restaurant where we were going to eat out of convenience and recommended the delicious 10 Barrel West Bend pub instead.)

From when we first arrived (and were greeted with a complimentary glass of wine and craft beer) until our final morning (when we noshed locally made granola and other breakfast goodies in the complimentary breakfast bar), we felt welcomed and pampered at Pine Ridge Inn.

Already missing Bend, Oregon

As Hubs and I left Bend, Oregon in our rearview mirror, we talked about how much we love this Central Oregon town. One of my favorite things about Bend is how sunny it is year-round, including in the fall. And since I suffer from SAD during the winter months, we talked about coming back to Bend several more times this fall and winter.

With weeks and months of rainy, grey weather coming up, I feel so much better knowing we have a sunny destination just a few hours’ drive from Portland.

Bend turned out to be the ideal spot for Hubs and me to celebrate our anniversary. After all, everything we’ve done together—move across the country several times, support each other through graduate school, adopt a rescue dog, raise two incredible humans, and continue to love each other’s faces off throughout it all—deserves a little celebration.

No, nix that. It deserves a lot of celebration.

So cheers to us!

The post 6 things to do in Bend, Oregon in the fall + where to stay in Bend appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

What you’ll get visiting Gifford Pinchot National Forest

This 1.3 million-acre national forest surrounding Mt. St. Helens is an absolute treasure. Visiting Gifford Pinchot National Forest is a slam-dunk sure-bet for stunning views, gorgeous hikes, nature play and family-friendly camping.

From views of snow-capped mountains to second-growth forest (since some of this area was decimated during the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens), from pristine creeks to kid-friendly hikes, I can’t wait to revisit Gifford Pinchot National Forest with kids.

Explore, play, discover in Gifford Pinchot

With 1.3 million acres, it’s tough to write an exhaustive list on visiting Gifford Pinchot National Forest with kids, so I won’t even try. What I will do is share a few highlights.

Camping at Gifford Pinchot

We stayed at the Iron Creek Campground in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, which is about a 20-minute drive from Randle, Washington. The campground is large—it has just under 100 sites—but sites felt roomy. The campsites are divided between four loops, and we couldn’t even see our neighbors from our spot.

Campsites are shaded and are tucked in the forest, which means you don’t get hot, direct sunlight as soon as dawn comes. In fact, one morning the girls slept until 8 am!

The family-friendly campground in Washington includes flat, paved roads for bike riding and a 1.5-mile loop trail that winds along the Cispus River and around the entire campground. It was easy terrain for our kids to hike, and there were plenty of downed logs to climb on along the way. We also stopped at a river bank to throw rocks in the river, of course!

Note that the only restroom facilities are vault toilets. (The kids mostly peed outside anyway, abiding by my dear Uncle Dick’s rule to never miss an opportunity to pee outside!!)

Level 10 travel tip: You can get ice (or ice cream!) in Randle if you run out.

Hikes and waterfalls in Gifford Pinchot National Forest

At the recommendation of one of the campground hosts, we hiked to Covel Creek Falls, about a 10-mile drive from Iron Creek Campground. Park in front of the Cispus Learning Center (46.4399° N, 121.8486° W) then cross the road to catch the trail.

You’ll hike through old-growth fir and spruce forest and along Covel Creek. The intensity and variety of green hues had us stopping to marvel throughout the 3-mile kid-friendly hike. The girls loved crossing logs and climbing onto tree stumps—they’re like little forest fairies!

Note that signage isn’t great along the trail, and two bridges are out. That just means there are two places you have to scramble a bit, but we were far from the only family who managed. I helped Kiwi (aged almost 3) up and down some of the embankments, and Peeper (aged almost 5) managed on her own. “Obstacle conquered!” Peeper shouted each time, and she was so proud!

IMG_6576 from Catherine Ryan Gregory on Vimeo.

The real payoff is Covel Creek Falls, a gorgeous waterfall you can hike behind. The final ascent just before the waterfall is steep, but Peeper managed it. (By this time I was wearing Kiwi. Hey, she made it most of the way up!) We very carefully walked down behind the waterfall, and it was an unforgettable experience for the girls.

Level 10 travel tip: When it gets steep, you’ll be tempted to turn around if your kids start to complain. About halfway up the steep section there’s a level spot with fallen logs that’s perfect for a snack break. Power up here then tackle the rest of the ascent—you won’t be disappointed in Covel Creek Falls!

Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center

If you’re driving to Gifford Pinchot from Portland, make sure to stop at the Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center at the base of the volcano. For us on our road trip from Portland, it was exactly halfway to our destination in Gifford Pinchot and so was a perfect opportunity to use the bathroom (I have the world’s smallest bladder!) and stretch our legs. The Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center is almost exactly one hour from Portland.

Inside the visitor center, you’ll find an information desk that was more like a hotel concierge. The park staff were incredibly helpful in recommending kid-friendly trails around Mt. St. Helens and telling us about road closures. (Even in late May, several passes on Mt. St. Helens were still closed due to snow.)

We also walked through the interpretive displays ($5 admission for adults). My kiddos were much to antsy to wait while I read the (sometimes long) explanations so I didn’t get to learn as much as I’d like about the eruption, but they did enjoy some of the interactive parts of the exhibit—mostly pushing buttons and walking underneath a model of the volcano. There is also a short video that plays twice an hour at :05 and :35, but we didn’t watch it: The last thing I wanted for my kids after a road trip was to sit down!

Level 10 travel tip: If you’re pressed for time, feel free to skip the interpretive displays. We only spent about 10 minutes walking through, but I don’t mind spending the admission fee for such a short time: I figure it’s my way of supporting the park, since parking here is free.

Hiking Silver Lake at Mt. St. Helens

From the Mt. St. Helens interpretive center, you can access a 0.6-mile hike around Silver Lake—an ultimately kid-friendly and accessible trail. This short hike is entirely flat, goes through forest as well as wetlands, and has bridges—which are pretty much my kids’ favorite things on the planet.

(Our conversations about kid-friendly hikes go something like this: Me: “We’re going on a new hike today!” Kids: “Yeah but are there bridges?” Me: “…”)

We listened to the distinctive call of red-winged blackbirds, which nest in the cattails growing in the wetlands here. The girls also chased butterflies and loved looking for other wildlife. Thousands of migratory birds pause at Silver Lake, making it an excellent spot for bird-watching. Also, a fascinating bit of trivia: Silver Lake is also home to the Bladderwort aquatic plant, which is carnivorous! When insects brush against it, a piece of the plant closes around the unsuspecting bug and is slowly digested. Feed me, Seymour!

Stopping at Silver Lake is the perfect hike and way to stretch your legs when you’re traveling to Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Exploring Gifford Pinchot National Forest with kids

There’s so much to see in Gifford Pinchot National Forest—it’s like nature’s playground.

So much of kids’ lives today are scripted, scheduled and constrained, so I cherish time my girls spend outside. As we kept repeating all weekend, “We have no agenda.” So if the girls wanted to hold a centipede for five minutes, cross the same stretch of creek 10 times or get “lost” in the woods behind our campsite, it was all good. We had no place to be except present.

Covel Creek, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington from Catherine Ryan Gregory on Vimeo.

That’s the true treasure of going to a place like Gifford Pinchot National Forest with kids: It’s off the grid. It’s beautiful. It’s quiet. It’s the perfect environment to reconnect with each other and with nature.

We’ll be heading back to Gifford Pinchot, Washington again soon. There’s still so much to explore! See you out there!

PS – Don’t miss my post all about the Best Camping Hacks!

The post Stunning Gifford Pinchot National Forest: Camping, Waterfall Trails + More appeared first on To & Fro Fam.