1. Chush Falls

Trail Stats:

• Distance from Bend:
• Distance: 5.5 miles
• Elevation Gain: 853 ft
• Starting Elevation: 4,446 ft

Chush Falls is about 40 minutes past Sisters, OR but is one of my favorite hikes, but is probably for more experienced hikers as there are sometimes trees to climb over and a couple of scrambles. You will drive on a bumpy gravel road for the last couple of miles, until you reach the small parking area. There was a fire up there, so the beginning and end of your out-and-back hike will be sunny and exposed. The trail to Lower Chush falls is easy and technically ends at the top of the hill where the waterfall is visible.

2. No Name Lake & Broken Top

I’m usually a “waterfalls or bust” kind of hiker, especially in Oregon. But what this lacks in waterfalls makes up for with a varied trail, stunning views, and a “nameless” glacial lake. This is one of my favorite hikes of all time. Although long and strenuous, it is super rewarding. Just note it is very busy in the summer and you’ll need to make reservations in advance online through www.recreation.gov. (here’s the Three Sisters – Todd Trailhead link where reservations can be made. The All Trails link below starts at the Todd Lake Trailhead!)

Trail Stats:

• Distance: 14 miles
• Starting Elevation: 6,200 ft
• Elevation Gain: 2,657 ft

3. Misery Ridge & River Trail at Smith Rock State Park

This is a super unique hike in the Bend area. Misery Ridge is actually misery and all of the elevation gain is right at the beginning. There are many areas to pull over and rest on the way up though, no shame in that game. Once you get through Misery Ridge, you’re rewarded with an amazing view at the top and really the entire way down the backside next to Monkey Face Rock. The river trail is beautiful and you’ll likely see rock climbers.

Trail Stats:

• Distance: 3.6 Miles
• Starting Elevation:
• Elevation Gain: 908 ft

5. Proxy Falls

Proxy Falls Trail #3532 is an easily accessible and very popular waterfall. The first part of the trail is very exposed (think lava fields), so get an early start! This waterfall is over 200 feet tall and absolutely stunning.

Trail Stats:

• Distance: 1.6 miles
• Starting Elevation: 3,100 ft
• Elevation Gain: 164 ft

4. Tumalo Falls

Tumalo Falls has endless trail variations, and I normally do the loop that is about 10 miles, but by the last mile, I’m never having fun, so I recommend doing an out-and-back from Tumalo Falls to Happy Valley. You’ll see plenty of waterfalls, and Happy Valley really is so happy on a sunny day!

Trail Stats:

• Distance: 7.5 miles
• Starting Elevation: 5,000 ft
• Elevation Gain: 1,230 ft

6. Tamolitch Falls (Blue Pool)

You’ve probably seen this stunning blue pool all over Instagram. This is a “looking” pool, not a “swimming” pool with ice-cold temperatures of 37 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. You can learn more about this pool on the Willamette National Forest website.

Trail Stats:

• Distance: 3.9 miles
• Starting Elevation: 2200 ft
• Elevation Gain: 351 ft

7. Three Creek Lake Trail

This specific trail is a short out-and-back with a beautiful view of the lake.

But like any trail system, can be combined with many other trails to make it a little lengthier.

Harder option: Take this to Tam McArthur Rim trail and go all the way to Broken Hand & No Name Lake (roughly 9-10 miles out & back).

Trail Stats:

• Distance: 1.1 miles
• Starting Elevation: 6,550 feet
• Elevation Gain: 278 ft

Now that you know where to hike, where are you going to stay? Check out our blog post on Where to Stay In Bend, Oregon.

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Looking for the best hikes in Salt Lake City? Here are some of the best and most scenic hikes near Salt Lake City, ranging from just 1 mile long, to up to 8 miles long roundtrip.

1. Bloods Lake to Clayton Peak Hike

Even though we didn’t make it to the tip top of Clayton’s Peak (there are some pretty sketchy boulders for the last 500 feet and we hit some bad weather) the view on this hike was breathtaking. There is transit to the Bloods Lake trailhead and a few others since parking fills up early. Visit UtahOpenLands.org to learn more about public transit. We decided to wait in line for parking and it was only about 30 minutes.

Trail Stats:

• Distance: 5.3 miles
• Starting Elevation: 9,219 ft
• Elevation Gain: 1,650 ft

2. Red Pine Lake and Gloria Falls Hike

This out-and-back has a significant elevation gain, but is varied and beautiful. You can even see down to Salt Lake City from portions of the trail. At the top, you’re rewarded with a beautiful and serene lake. In early August we still saw tons of wildflowers. Gloria Falls is only about a quarter mile round trip off the main path and worth seeing. A lot of people just went to Gloria Falls, so the crowd lessened after the Gloria Falls turnoff about a mile in.

Trail Stats:

• Distance: 7.7 miles
• Starting Elevation: 7,714 ft
• Elevation Gain: 2,288 ft

3. Stewart Cascade Trail #056 Hike

About an hour from Salt Lake City is the Stewart Cascade Trail. This is a heavily trafficked out & back which leads you to Stewart Falls, a two-tiered waterfall. When you hit the rock vista (which seems like the end), stand on the rock and turn away from the falls and you’ll see where the trail continues.

Trail Stats:

• Distance: 3.5 Miles
• Starting Elevation: 6,800 ft
• Elevation Gain: 652 ft

4. Ensign Peak Hike

This short hike is best at the end of the day, so you can watch the sunset over the Great Salt Lake, while getting a great view of the city and the Wasatch Mountains. This is a popular place to end the day, so get there early for parking and to give yourself time for the walk up. If you’re not used to the elevation, it might take you a little longer than usual.

Trail Stats:

• Distance: 1 mile
• Starting Elevation: 5,367 ft
• Elevation Gain: 374 ft

Looking for other outdoor activities in Northern Utah? Check out my post on the 12 Best Things to Do in Park City, Utah in the Summer.

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There are 2 main hiking areas in Auburn, Ca. Hidden Falls Regional Park, and The Auburn State Recreation Area. The Auburn State Recreation Area (Auburn SRA) is hilly and beautiful, with literally hundreds of miles of hikes. As a local, I like to stay away from the trails crowded with visitors as much as possible. So here are my favorite hikes in the area. As always, be mindful of your environment, leave only footprints, and remember that you’re walking through the homes of many wild animals. Fair warning…none of these are easy, but if you have fairly good cardio, this will be enjoyable for you, even if you’re newer to hiking. Follow me on AllTrails to see what I’m hiking!

Training Hill Loop

Distance: 4.5 Miles

Starting Elevation:

Elevation Gain: 1,047 (nearly all in the first mile)

Closest Parking Spot: Parallel parking is free if you’re on the El Dorado County side. You can also park at the Quarry Parking area (fee required) and use the trail directly across from the entrance to start on a slightly different part of the loop. Parking in the Confluence Area can be an issue on the weekends, so consider using Auburn’s On Demand Shuttle

Some people call this K2. I wouldn’t get that carried away. Don’t get me wrong, it is a struggle up the first mile, but not only are you rewarded with a beautiful 3 miles on the backside of Training Hill, but this really is one of the best trails to train on. There are about 5 false peaks, which is sad on your first couple of times up, but believe me, it’s better knowing this going into it. 

When you’re getting close to the top and need that breather, don’t be afraid to look back on that monster of a hill you’re conquering, plus you’ll get an awesome view of the mountains and the Foresthill Bridge (the tallest bridge in California). And when you get to the top on your first time, add your rock to the pile on the left… It’s tradition. You did it!

The rest of the trail is diverse with creeks (in the winter and spring) and fields.

ADO Loop

Name: ADO Loop

Distance: 5.16 miles

Elevation Gain: 656 ft

Closest Parking Spot: Overlook Park (Free)

ADO stands for Auburn Dam Overlook, so the big cement thing you’ll see near the river (shown in the picture above), is the never completed Auburn Dam (the work on the dam was halted in the 1970’s). Contour Trail has a steep section of the trail leading to/from the parking lot, so be aware of that as you select which direction you want to go on the path. This trail is beautiful and varied, complete with a tiny wooden bridge, which I’m a sucker for.

Bridgeview-Stagecoach Loop

Name: Bridgeview-Stagecoach Loop

Distance: 3.47 miles

Elevation Gain: 820 ft

Closest Parking Spot: There is a lot of paid parking in the area (unless you have a State Park Pass it’s included), although parking in the Confluence Area can be an issue on the weekends, so consider using Auburn’s On Demand Shuttle.

Stagecoach is a very popular trail, but if you just go a little off the beaten path, you will not be disappointed. 

You’re going to start on this trail by going up (and up and up) on Bridgeview Trail. The first mile is definitely the hardest part of the loop – but you might as well get the hard part of the workout/hike over at the beginning. You’ll eventually take a left on Mossy Rock Trail, then continue up Flood Trail until you get to Upper Stagecoach. On Upper Stagecoach you’re rewarded with a bench overlooking the canyon. Upper Stagecoach will eventually meet Stagecoach and you’ll continue down until you hit Tinkers Cut -Off Trail on the right. (Please note parts of this trail do not allow bicycles, so if you’re a biker, don’t follow this one!)

Hope you enjoy your time exploring Auburn! If you found this helpful, please follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest. And if you’re looking for more hikes, check out our post on the Best Waterfall Hikes in Auburn!

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Clementine Dam

Name: Clementine Trail

Distance: 4.5 miles, out and back

Elevation Gain: 682 ft

Closest Parking: There are a lot of paid parking options near this trailhead, but parking in the Confluence Area can be challenging on the weekends, so consider using Auburn’s On Demand Shuttle.

The most popular waterfall in Auburn is not a waterfall at all, it is the Lake Clementine Dam. But the fact that it is a dam does not take away from how Instagram-worthy the “falls” are.  Most locals have been here a ton of times and avoid it on the weekends.  With that said it is a beautiful trail that lines the river, takes you under the tallest bridge in California (and third highest bridge in the United States at 730 ft tall), and is totally worthwhile.

This is a heavily populated trail on the weekends,  so if there is any chance you can get out there on a weekday I definitely recommend it.

Calcutta Falls

Name: (Black Hole of) Calcutta Falls

Distance: 2.2 miles, out and back

Elevation Gain: 269 Feet

Closest Parking Spot: Parallel parking is free if you’re on the El Dorado County side. You can also park at the Quarry Parking area (fee required) and use the trail directly across from the entrance to start on a slightly different part of the loop. Parking in the Confluence Area can be an issue on the weekends, so consider using Auburn’s On Demand Shuttle

This is an easy out and back Trail with beautiful views. The waterfall is a trickle in the late summer and fall but gets pretty majestic (for Auburn at least) in the winter and spring after we’ve had plenty of rainfall.

If you take a left off of the main trail and go down to the river you can see all three Bridges from the water’s edge.

Hidden Falls

Name: Hidden Falls

Distance: 3 miles, out and back

Elevation Gain: 515 feet

Closest Parking Spot: You have to park at the Hidden Falls parking lot which does require reservations in advance on weekends. You can make half-day or full-day reservations click here to reserve your parking. Or view the Hidden Trails website for more information!

Hidden Falls Regional Park has 30 miles of trails, but the trail leading from the parking lot to the falls is another heavily trafficked but beautiful trail. In the winter it can be very buggy so bring your bug spray. You end up at a cute little deck that overlooks the falls.  If you go a little further you’ll come across a bridge and can go to an upper deck for a better vantage point of the canyon.

So there you have it! Which waterfall you chase first is up to you! Let me know which was/is your favorite in the comments below. Looking for other hikes in Auburn? Check out my favorite hiking loops!

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