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Chasing Frozen Waterfalls in Central Oregon

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Bend Premier Real Estate 200009031

Peter Skene Ogden Trail is a Great Fall Hike

We have hiked the Peter Skene Ogden trail many times, but we never tire of doing this when the weather turns cold.  Paulina Creek freezes and the multiple waterfalls along the trail turn into beautiful works of art with ice sculpted into interesting shapes. The sounds of the running water are also muffled when the ice gets deeper and the quiet and isolation of the hike will amaze. On November 26, 2022 we hiked Peter Skene Ogden trail from McKay Crossing campground up Paulina Creek planning on going as far as the early snow permitted.  We we pleased to find we could trek the entire way to Paulina Falls using our micro spikes as the trail was icy; the deepest snow was roughly a foot in a shadowed gully roughly 2/3 of the way to Paulina Falls. During the hike we enjoyed total privacy with no other hikers seen the entire day. But the views of the partly frozen waterfalls were lovely and the 13 miles in and out were well worth the experience.  We highly recommend this hike in the winter, but be prepared for deep snow as the season progresses.

Paulina Creek Paulina Creek
Paulina Creek Paulina Creek

Paulina Falls

Original blog can be read at Bend Premier Real Estate's blog.

Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I enjoy hiking and that looks beautiful but I am not going to be chasing any frozen waterfalls myself, haha.

Dec 03, 2022 04:52 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Lynnea, this does look like a very chilly hike, but those frozen waterfalls are stunning!

Dec 03, 2022 06:40 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Lynnea Miller it will not be long before all our waterfalls are frozen as well.

Dec 03, 2022 12:29 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Hi Lynnea... I really hate the cold... I mean, really, really hate it! But I do love your pictures and I'm glad I can enjoy this beauty through your photos without getting cold, myself.

Dec 03, 2022 12:29 PM
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

Hi Nina Hollander, Broker . We hiked this morning with the temperature at 28 degrees. But it was a beautiful, sunny day. When it is cold, we just bundle up and stay warm by all the activity.

Dec 03, 2022 03:04 PM
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

Hi George Souto . Then you know how beautiful those frozen waterfalls can be!

Dec 03, 2022 03:05 PM
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

Hi Joan Cox . Thanks for checking in and enjoying the photos of the waterfalls.

Dec 03, 2022 03:05 PM
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

Hi Brian England . My husband is thinking Arizona in the winter should be an option for us in retirement.  He is tired of shoveling snow.

Dec 03, 2022 03:06 PM
Brian England

Your husband is a smart man and many people from cold weather states spend their winters in the East Valley!

Dec 03, 2022 03:11 PM
Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho
Sandpoint Realty LLC - Sandpoint, ID
North Idaho Real Estate - 208-255.6227

Great shots all Lynnea.  That first shot though sends a shiver just thinking of the water temp.  mdm

Dec 08, 2022 08:03 AM
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

Hi Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho . That photo was taken on a day the highs got into the 30s.  I am sure the water was cold, but the temp was good for a great long hike. We have had colder days since then.

Dec 08, 2022 12:27 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Lynnea Miller  what an awesome post, amazing photos, just to be clear that is how I want to see those, not from close up... that is an LA Realtor's perspective, Endre

Feb 11, 2023 09:36 PM
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

Hi Endre Barath, Jr. We took that same hike last weekend and the ice was thicker than it was in early December. But no one was around and that experience is priceless.

Feb 12, 2023 07:01 AM