Sahalie Falls, Oregon

Just below Sahalie Falls on Oregon’s McKenzie River, I found a scene that felt almost unreal. About a quarter of a mile downstream from the falls, the river tumbles through a series of beautiful cascades surrounded by deep green moss, ferns, and old-growth forest. The water here is astonishingly clear, with rich shades of blue and turquoise flowing through the rocks. I was completely alone, down on my hands and knees in the moss with my tripod and camera positioned in the middle of the river, capturing this peaceful stretch of water as it flowed down from the waterfall above. As the camera slowly moves upstream, the quiet cascades eventually give way to the enormous Sahalie Falls, a powerful 100-foot waterfall on the McKenzie River in Oregon’s Willamette National Forest. Standing at the foot of the falls was an entirely different experience. I walked out into the river until my boots were wet, surrounded by the roar of the falling water and the mist billowing through the canyon. The name “Sahalie” comes from Chinook Jargon and means “heaven,” “high,” or “above.” Standing there beneath this magnificent waterfall, the name seemed especially appropriate. Sahalie Falls is located just off Oregon Route 126, approximately 34 miles west of Sisters, Oregon. One of the most beautiful places I encountered during my travels through Oregon.