Overview

• Location: Wasco County, Deschutes River (Wild and Scenic, near Maupin)
• Waterfall Type: Cascade
• Height: ~15 feet (5 m) — a treaty tribal fishing site of extraordinary cultural significance
• Trail Distance: Short walk from roadside; approximately 0.1 miles
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best Time to Visit: Year-round

History & Background

Sherars Falls is a powerful 15-foot cascade on the Deschutes River near Maupin in Wasco County — one of the most culturally significant natural sites in Oregon. The falls have been an important fishing site for Native peoples for thousands of years, and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs retain treaty fishing rights here to this day. Traditional tribal members fish using long-handled dip nets from precarious wooden platforms cantilevered over the roaring falls — one of the few places in the Pacific Northwest where this ancient practice continues in essentially unchanged form. The scene of tribal members working the platforms above the thundering falls is among the most powerful and moving sights in Oregon. The falls also create one of the most challenging whitewater obstacles on the lower Deschutes River, and boaters must portage around them. Sherars Bridge, which spans the Deschutes just above the falls, has been a river crossing point for centuries — prehistoric peoples, Oregon Trail emigrants, and modern travelers have all passed this way.

Geology

Sherars Falls cascades 15 feet across the full width of the Deschutes River over a resistant Columbia River Basalt ledge at approximately 773 feet elevation in the lower Deschutes canyon. The broad, powerful block character of the falls reflects the enormous volume of the Deschutes — one of the largest rivers in Oregon, carrying hundreds of thousands of cubic feet per second during high water from its vast spring-fed upper watershed. The lower Deschutes canyon walls expose magnificent cross-sections of the Columbia River Basalt flows, recording millions of years of volcanic history in their layered columns.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Maupin, OR (~10 miles north); The Dalles, OR (~40 miles north)
• Trail Information:
  • Sherars Falls is visible from Sherars Bridge Road off Highway 216; a short walk from the road pullout brings visitors to the falls viewpoint and the tribal fishing platforms. Google Maps lists the location slightly incorrectly, the correct location is the one listed here.
  • Topographic maps list two falls, ‘Sherars” which is north of the bridge, and “Sherar’s” south of the bridge, on the south end of a small island in the river. The south one is the one you’re looking for.
  • The treaty fishing operations are an active cultural practice — observe respectfully and do not approach the tribal fishing platforms; the lower Deschutes River corridor is a world-class fly fishing and rafting destination
• Parking:
  • Roadside pullout near Sherars Bridge; no fee
• Accessibility:
  • Short, flat walk from the roadside; generally accessible for most visitors

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Most impressive water volume; spring Chinook salmon congregating below the falls; tribal fishing season active
• Summer: Lower Deschutes flows; hot canyon conditions; rafting season in full swing
• Fall: Fall Chinook and steelhead; tribal fishing continues; the canyon is beautiful in fall light
• Winter: Full flows; accessible year-round; dramatic in high-water winter conditions

Nearby Attractions

• Maupin (Deschutes River rafting hub)
• White River Falls State Park (~15 miles southeast)
• Deschutes River State Recreation Area
• The Dalles (~40 miles north)
• Warm Springs Reservation (~30 miles west)

References

• Links:
  • Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
  • Travel Oregon – Maupin and Deschutes River
• Books:
  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb
  • Waterfall Lover’s Guide: Pacific Northwest