Is swimming allowed at Lower Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Lower Falls.

Nearby gauge (South Fork Crooked River) · 21 ft³/s · Lower than usual

Lower Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Lower Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Lower Falls.

Oregon

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Also For 18 other waterfalls also named Lower Falls, see below

Prineville Central Oregon Field Office PUB · Bureau of Land Management

Before you go

No trail or public route to this waterfall is documented. Check BLM Prineville District land-status maps before trying to reach it, since private ranch land is common in this area.

Photo Credits (5)

Bill Badzo CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 · Flickr

AirHaake CC BY 2.0 · Flickr

Bill Badzo CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 · Flickr

jim.choate59 CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 · Flickr

Bill Badzo CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 · Flickr

About Lower Falls

Lower Falls is a small waterfall named on USGS maps in the high desert of Crook County, Oregon, near Bracket Canyon about 10 miles west-northwest of Paulina. Land records for the site show Bureau of Land Management (Prineville District) land. We found no trail, photos or published visitor information for this waterfall, so its height, flow and access are unconfirmed.

The Setting

Lower Falls sits at 3,865 feet within Prineville Central Oregon Field Office, in the mountains of Oregon.

Trail & Hike Details

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Lower Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🤑 Fees are required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Lower Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

Seasonal Access

The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited.

Safety Information

Water temperature is currently 41°F — cold enough to cause numbness quickly. Avoid prolonged water contact and use caution near the falls.

Current Water Conditions

Updated 43 minutes ago Low

These readings come from the USGS gauge on South Fork Crooked River, 10.4 miles away, not on Lower Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

21 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

Lower than usual for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

Based on 1 years of record

4.02 ft

Water depth at gauge

41°F

Warm

Very comfortable

7-Day Discharge Trend

What does this mean for your visit?

Flow is lower than usual for this time of year. Water temperature is very cold at 41 degrees F, expect numbness within minutes. Expect crystal clear visibility and excellent dissolved oxygen levels. PH is normal at 8.3 and mineral content is moderate.

Water Quality

10.3 mg/L

Dissolved Oxygen

Excellent

Supports aquatic life

8.3

Normal

Within healthy range (6.5-8.5)

1.0 FNU

Water Clarity

Crystal clear

Excellent visibility

516 µS/cm

Conductance

Dissolved minerals in the water

About This Gauge

This gauge is on a nearby waterway and may not reflect exact conditions at the falls.

SF CROOKED RIVER NEAR BELL BUTTE, NEAR PAULINA, OR

USGS 14078260

10.4 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 988 sq mi

Altitude: 3,795 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge SF CROOKED RIVER NEAR BELL BUTTE, NEAR PAULINA, OR (17 km away).

Moderate confidence

Low right now

21 cfs

→ Holding steady

Today

Low

21 cfs

6/10

Tomorrow

Low

20 cfs

6/10

Fri

Low

20 cfs

6/10

Sat

Low

20 cfs

6/10

Sun

Low

20 cfs

6/10

Mon

Low

20 cfs

6/10

Tue

Moderate

21 cfs

5/10

Best window: Today — low flow, mostly sunny (trip score 6/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from mid October to early December, peaking in November.

How we calculate this

This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.

Know when to go.

Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Mitchell hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Is Lower Falls Frozen?

Updated about 2 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately

Lower Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 55°F to 34°F.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: 21 ft³/s

Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.

Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail. See every frozen waterfall in Oregon.

Weather Forecast

The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR

Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.

1-meter lidar measures about 147 feet of descent through Lower Falls, a steep tiered drop rather than a single free fall. The brink sits at about 3,861 feet above sea level.

Steep ground runs through the entire stretch: about 289 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the pin and 98 feet in the 500 feet below it. Facing east, the falls catch soft morning light.

Aerial photo of the same ground around Lower Falls near Mitchell, Oregon, for comparison with the lidar view

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Lower Falls near Mitchell, Oregon, showing about 147 feet of drop, a steep tiered drop, facing east

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.

Ground elevation: 3,861 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 147 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: East; Catches soft morning light.

Ground profile through the falls

A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading east).

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Location & Access

Elevation

3,865 feet above sea level

Coordinates

44.193330° N, -120.147369° W

Land Management

Prineville Central Oregon Field Office PUB

Managed by BLM

Visitor Tips & Gear

Where to Stay

Hotels & Lodges Booking.com

Find hotels, lodges, and B&Bs near the trailhead

Cabins & Rentals VRBO

Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby

Glamping Hipcamp

Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses

RV Rentals Outdoorsy

Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip

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Nearby Campground

Cold Springs Cabin - Ochoco NF (OR)

11.3 miles away · 1 sites

Reservable

Overview Cold Springs Guard Station, constructed in 1934, is a historic site tucked into the Ochoco National Forest. It served a special role as the switchboard station connecting phone calls between various fire lookouts and guard stations during the summer months, as well as housing for the fire guard and his family. The current cabin replaced an earlier one that was destroyed by fire. Cold Springs Guard Station continued to be used by Forest Service employees into the 1990s, and remnants of it

Book on Recreation.gov