I took a short hike yesterday to get a memorable view of an icy Cline Falls. Visitors can park at Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint and hike a 1/2 mile trail along the river. There’s also a place to view them from above near NW Eagle Drive and NW 74th.
Cline Falls is on the Deschutes River, 4 miles west of Redmond, Oregon. The river splits into several channels and the waterfalls are 20-feet high and 50-feet wide.
This area is part of the Deschutes River Paddle Trail. Cline Falls is classified as Class-3 and paddlers are required to portage their watercraft around the falls.
In the early 1900s, hydroelectric power from a dam here provided electricity to Redmond and Prineville. Part of the water was diverted for irrigation and, eventually, there was no longer enough to provide consistent power. The town of Cline Falls existed here from ~1902 – 1919. By 2017, the powerplant, dam, and diversion canals were all removed.
Temperatures fell below 0° F earlier this week and these icy Cline Falls views offered great opportunities for photos. I plan to return in the spring when leafed-out willow and alder plants will host a wide variety of wildlife.
