As you may imagine, Oregon is a dream come true for anyone who loves the outdoors. Its rainy and lush environment nurtures growth of all sorts. Not only that, I find Oregon extremely grounding and fertile soil for soul rejuvenation. This past weekend, I was blessed to make a solo trip out to Oregon. It was a fairly quick trip with a lot of driving involved, but so worth it. The first stop was Proxy Falls.
To preface this post, I whole-heartedly agree that we must preserve wild spots An unfortunate repercussion of Instagram’s rise, are crowded hiking trails and seemingly hidden spots feeling not quite as magical as before.
On the other side of the spectrum though, I know that we are innately connected to nature. In an increasingly noisy world, we need to escape to these remote places, in order to re-charge and reflect. Our souls need it, and personally, I know that my mental health depends upon it. I choose to mindfully share my experiences with my friends and my audience, and hope that you respect these amazing places. I mean, just take a look at this!
Why go to Proxy Falls in the Winter?
Because no one is there! That’s why. It is about a 3 hour drive (161 miles) from the Portland International Airport, however very scenic and you won’t regret taking the time to drive down.
I recommend putting “Camp Yale” (Camp Yale, 58980 McKenzie Hwy, McKenzie Bridge, OR 97413) into your phone when searching for the trailhead, because Google Maps will not direct you to the trailhead. Highway 242 is closed during the winter. Essentially you will drive up 242 as far as you can go, until you see a gate blocking the road. At this point, you will then park your car and hike to the trailhead. It is approximately 2.5 miles up Highway 242, and you can’t miss it.
Once you arrive on the trail, the adventure begins. You will walk through ancient lava flow fields, surrounded by volcanic rock of all shapes and sizes.
The first stop is lower Proxy Falls, and in my opinion, the best part of the hike.
After that, you will head back to the main Proxy Falls Trail and hike towards the Upper Falls.
Congratulations, you made it to the Upper Falls!
I recommend booking a place to stay in Eugene. Eugene is nice college town with a lot of restaurant options, and much closer than trying to make a trip back up to Portland. Let me know if you have any other must-see hikes in the Willamette National Forest!