Upper Tumalo Falls is a dramatic 65-foot cascade on the North Fork of Tumalo Creek, encountered approximately 2.5 miles up the North Fork Trail from the Tumalo Falls Trailhead — the third significant waterfall reached on the trail after the iconic Tumalo Falls (97 ft) and Double Falls below. While the main Tumalo Falls at the trailhead draws enormous crowds with its 97-foot plunge, Upper Tumalo Falls rewards hikers who continue upstream with a comparably impressive cascade in significantly quieter surroundings.

The North Fork of Tumalo Creek drains from the volcanic highlands above Bend, and the trail corridor passes through a succession of named and unnamed falls — Double Falls, Upper Tumalo Falls, North Fork Falls, and others — making it one of the finest waterfall-per-mile hiking corridors in Central Oregon. The Tumalo Creek watershed supplies drinking water to the City of Bend; on the upper section of the loop (past the Swampy Lake Trail junction), the trail enters the City of Bend Watershed where hiking is permitted but dogs, bikes, horses, camping, and fires are prohibited. Upper Tumalo Falls itself is reached before the watershed boundary.

Nearest City: Bend, OR (~14 miles east)

Trailhead: Same trailhead as Tumalo Falls — see that entry for complete driving directions and parking information. In brief: from Bend, head west on Galveston Avenue/Skyliners Road approximately 10.5 miles, then turn left onto Forest Road 4601 (signed for Tumalo Falls); follow 2.5 miles of gravel road to the trailhead.

⚠️ Parking is very limited at the trailhead — arrives by 8 AM on summer weekends. If the lot is full, approximately 20–30 cars can park along the road below the trailhead. Overflow parking is available approximately 1.2 miles from the trailhead. See the Tumalo Falls entry for full parking details and Google Maps links.

Trail Information: From the trailhead, take the North Fork Trail (#24.2) upstream past the Tumalo Falls viewpoint and overlook. Continue past Double Falls (reached at approximately 1 mile) to Upper Tumalo Falls at approximately 2.5 miles. The trail continues beyond Upper Tumalo Falls past North Fork Falls and toward the Swampy Lake Trail junction, where the full 7.5-mile Tumalo Falls Loop returns to the trailhead via the Bridge Creek Trail.

Upper Tumalo Falls can be visited as:

• An out-and-back of approximately 5 miles RT (Moderate, 2–3 hours)
• Part of the full Tumalo Falls Loop (7.5 miles, Moderate, 3.5–4 hours) — see the loop on AllTrails

Northwest Forest Pass or $5 day-use fee required. Vault toilets at trailhead. Cell service is spotty — download maps offline before leaving.

Dogs: Permitted on a leash in the lower section of the trail. The City of Bend Watershed section (encountered later on the loop past the Swampy Lake Trail junction) prohibits dogs. Upper Tumalo Falls is reached before the watershed boundary, so dogs may accompany you on the out-and-back to this falls.

Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible; moderate elevation gain on natural trail surfaces.

The Tumalo Falls Loop — What You’ll See

Upper Tumalo Falls is one stop in an exceptionally waterfall-rich corridor. The Tumalo Falls Loop passes the following named features in order from the trailhead:

1. Tumalo Falls (97 ft) — viewpoint steps from the parking area; overlook at top 0.5 miles up the trail
2. Double Falls — approximately 1 mile from trailhead
3. Upper Tumalo Falls (65 ft) — this falls, ~2.5 miles from trailhead
4. North Fork Falls — continuing upstream
5. (Swampy Lake Trail junction — creek crossing without a bridge: wade thigh-to-waist deep ~50 ft, or balance a downed log)
6. Happy Valley Meadow — ~300 yards past the Swampy Lake Trail junction, a worthwhile side trip
7. (Bend Watershed boundary — no dogs past this point)
8. Bridge Creek Falls — on the return leg via Bridge Creek Trail
9. Return to North Fork Trail and trailhead

Recent reviewers note that the second half of the loop (return via Swampy Lakes and Bridge Creek) has numerous downed trees requiring scrambling over or under (as of May 2026), and some trail sections can be muddy or have snow into early June.

Best Time to Visit

Spring (late May–June): Peak flows from snowmelt; all falls running strongly; snow may persist on upper sections; trekking poles recommended for muddy sections.

Summer (July–August): Moderate flows; trail is popular but thins out past the main Tumalo Falls viewpoint; arrive early at the trailhead for parking.

Fall (September–October): Excellent conditions; quieter; fall colors in the mixed conifer canopy; road closes with first significant snowfall.

Winter: Road closed to vehicles; accessible by snowshoe or cross-country ski.