Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Deschutes National Forest

Points of Interest

Paulina Creek Falls Day Use / Trailhead

Deschutes National Forest - Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District

Bears are a common occurrence in Newberry Caldera. Please be Bear Safe and be aware of and follow all food storage regulations.

Paulina Creek Falls is located just west of Paulina Lake outside Newberry Crater. This double falls drops 60 feet onto the jumble of rocks below. The jumble of rocks is the result of the falls slowly eroding their way upstream. The upper viewpoint overlooks the falls from the south side of the creek. The lower viewpoint is accessed via a quarter mile trail down to the creek below the falls.

Paulina Creek Falls Geologic Site

LOCATION: on Paulina Creek near Paulina Lake in Newberry National Volcanic Monument - D on location map

ACCESS: from Bend, 23.5 miles south on Hwy. 97, then 12.3 miles east on Rd. 21

ELEVATION: 6250 feet

FACILITIES: parking area, vault toilet

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES: viewpoint, Paulina Falls Trail (#3954)

OPERATED BY: Forest Service

FEE: Recreation Pass Site - Vehicle Permit - $5.00 Day Pass or $30.00 Annual Pass or other valid Recreation Passes

This short, scenic hike (about 0.4 miles) is a great way to enter Newberry Crater. Ideally, a car or bus driver lets people off at Paulina Creek Falls then drives to Paulina Lake Lodge. People then hike up Paulina Creek to Paulina Lake. At Paulina Creek Falls you are outside of Newberry Crater, but at the outlet of Paulina Lake, you are standing on the lowest point of the rim surrounding Newberry Crater. Things to notice:

• Two waterfalls, not one.
• Big, angular boulders lying at the bottom of the falls. Where did they come from?
• Undercut region behind the lower half of the falls. This area erodes and takes away support for rocks above it.
• Dam at outlet of Paulina Lake. It raises lake level about 4 feet. (The first dam was built in 1899. Water held by the dam is used for irrigation on the Kelldano Ranch in the La Pine Basin.)