OLALLIE STATE PARK

NORTH BEND

Activity: Day Hike, Chasing Waterfalls

4 miles, 1165′ elevation gain, 2.5 hour duration, rated Moderate

The forest is plush with thick greenery. The trails well kept and simply nature at it’s finest, but the only bummer to me was this particular trek starts our on a gravel road with power lines. The worst part was that the journey parallels the freeway and the traffic noise is always within ear shot until you reach the falls and that is where the magic is.

There is no question where the magic begins. A wonderful and proper PNW trail, green as green can be, thundering, tumbling, cascading water to set all the senses on overload. The music of the water flowing in the stream across smooth rounded rocks leading to a big bountiful falls. The sights, the sounds, the mist from the crashing water, the scent of fresh damp earth it is so powerful in it’s rejuvenation of the soul. What can I say, “Ya’ just gotta’ luv’ it!”

You will need a Washington Discover Pass for parking in this area. There are other routes to the falls. This particular passage is a little longer and more rugged. Since there is not a lot of signage to the falls from this location it would be helpful to have downloaded a GPS map such as I did as you can see from the picture. Also keep in mind this is a very popular hike, Summer weekends would be the most crowded.

Thanks for chasing waterfalls with me, a favorite activity when I am ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’. Listening to the sound of the water as it plunges down the rock face and into the collecting pool below is so relaxing. A peaceful feeling of tranquility takes root. This is in direct contrast to the hustle and bustle anxious feeling that a fast paced world leaves us with much of the time. Balance from wondrous outings like chasing waterfalls and thus experiencing Nature’s reward is so important to quality of life. This my friends is what ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’ is all about. Stay with me for more adventures that I expect will provide ideas and inspiration so that you will hit the trail and experience that Balance that we all need as part of our soul’s diet. Follow along by doing this: COMMENT, LIKE, FOLLOW and SHARE. The menu above will enlighten you to many other locations and activities that you can enjoy. Each location is a separate website and thus needs to be FOLLOWED independently.  SHOP APPAREL is the place to go for purchases of my fine line of Adventure Wear.

Happy Trails-

Roger Jenkins

Pursuing Balance Through Adventure