Tygh Valley

After a very enjoyable hike in the Badger Creek Wilderness, I returned to Tygh Valley in Central Oregon. From there it was a short drive to White River Falls State Park. This turned out to be another one of Oregon’s seemingly endless secret hideaways.

White River Falls

The White River plunges 90 feet over a basalt shelf. A steep quarter-mile trail leads deep within the canyon to the historic hydroelectric power plant at the base of the falls. The power plant operated from 1910 to 1960.

The White River originates on Mt. Hood and flows about 50 miles to empty into the Deschutes River, only three miles below the White River Falls.

Old power plant below Falls

White River Falls

White River Canyon

Without slow-shutter speed “smoothing” of the water