Paulina Creek flows around a small island before it cascades down the cliff face, creating two 80-foot waterfalls. Gary is standing in the red circle barely visible among the massive boulders.

We prefer hiking downstream to the falls from the single-lane bridge at the Paulina Resort. The creek is shallow with river rock visible just below the surface of the water.

A short quarter mile downstream from the bridge, the trail comes to a viewpoint above the awesome double falls.

Continuing past the viewpoint, the trail passes the Paulina Falls parking area to another overlook. We scrambled downhill from there to get a close-up shot of the falls, but were too close to fit both in one photo.

Continuing downward, the trail makes a switchback and crosses a wooden bridge before it comes out of the woods to the lower viewpoint (see top photo for view from this lower level).

Elevation: 6,370 feet (Paulina Resort)

Trail distance: A little over 1 mile round trip from Paulina Resort bridge to the lower viewpoint.

Rated: Easy

Latitude: 44.04989

Longitude: 121.22650

Directions: From Bend, travel south on Hwy 97. Turn left between milepost 161 and 162 at the Newberry Caldera sign. Travel 11 miles to the toll booth at the park entrance. Less than a mile past the booth there is a parking area for Paulina Falls, but we enjoy starting our hike from the single-lane bridge leading to Paulina Resort (turn left at the sign).

Fees: $5 at the toll gate, or a Northwest Forest Pass.