Overview

• Location: Deschutes County, Crooked River (Deschutes National Forest / BLM, near Redmond)
• Waterfall Type: Cascade
• Height: ~12 feet (4 m)
• Trail Distance: ~0.5–1 mile round-trip via easy trail
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best Time to Visit: Year-round

History & Background

Odin Falls is a modest 12-foot cascade on the Crooked River near Redmond, one of the few natural waterfall features in Central Oregon’s high desert landscape west of Smith Rock. The Crooked River is a designated Oregon Scenic Waterway and National Wild and Scenic River in its upper reaches, flowing through a dramatic basalt canyon before joining the Deschutes River at Lake Billy Chinook. Odin Falls is accessible from Crooked River Ranch and provides a pleasant trail destination in the otherwise flat high-desert plateau country north of Redmond. The name ‘Odin’ is one of several Norse mythology names used in the Crooked River area, reflecting the naming conventions of early Euro-American settlers in Central Oregon.

Geology

Odin Falls cascades over a low Columbia River Basalt ledge on the Crooked River at approximately 3,000 feet elevation in the Central Oregon high desert. The Crooked River has carved a shallow canyon through the basalt plateau here, and the falls reflect a resistant bedrock riffle across the channel. The semi-arid landscape — receiving only 10–12 inches of annual precipitation — creates the dramatic contrast between the green, spring-fed river corridor and the surrounding sagebrush and juniper plateau above.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Redmond, OR (~8 miles south); Terrebonne, OR (~3 miles south)
• Trail Information:
  • Access via trail near Crooked River Ranch or from a BLM/Deschutes National Forest access point on the Crooked River; the path follows the canyon rim or riverbank to the falls viewpoint
  • The Crooked River canyon here can be combined with visits to Smith Rock State Park (world-class rock climbing and hiking) for a full Central Oregon day
• Parking:
  • Limited parking at the trail access point; no fee at most access points
• Accessibility:
  • Short, relatively flat trail; generally accessible for most visitors

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Good flows from spring snowmelt; Crooked River canyon wildflowers
• Summer: Consistent year-round flow (the Crooked River is spring-fed above Prineville Reservoir); hot high-desert conditions
• Fall: Excellent hiking weather; golden rabbitbrush on the canyon rim
• Winter: Open year-round; the high desert is accessible most winters

Nearby Attractions

• Smith Rock State Park (~5 miles south)
• Crooked River Gorge
• Lake Billy Chinook (~20 miles west)
• Redmond, Oregon
• Prineville

References

• Links:
  • Deschutes National Forest – USFS
  • Travel Oregon – Smith Rock and Redmond
• Books:
  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb
  • Waterfall Lover’s Guide: Pacific Northwest