Koosah Falls in Oregon lie roughly along the McKenzie River National Recreation trail, a 26.4 mile excursion that begins at the base of Mt. Washington in an ancient lava bed. It winds through the Willamette National Forest, visiting old growth giants, skipping across dry creek beds and ending near the Foley Ridge. Lava issuing from the Sand Mountain area poured down the McKenzie River valley about 3,000 years ago in two separate flows, creating the benches over which two large waterfalls, Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls thunder.

In between the trail’s auspicious beginning and its rather anti-climactic end are unforgettable sights, such as the aqua depths of Tamolitch Blue Pool and the astounding drops of Koosah and Sahalie Falls.

The area is steeped in Native American history, part of an ancient trade route where the Kalapuya, Molalla, Sahaptain and Chinook peoples traveled to trade their bounty in obsidian or huckleberries. The names for both waterfalls originate from Chinook Jargon, a trade language once developed to help neighboring tribes to communicate area news.

In the Chinook jargon, Koosah and Sahalie have important meanings. Translated, the lower Koosah Falls refers to the sky, while the upper Sahalie Falls means heaven.

The only way to really transcend from earth to heaven is to begin the hike at the Carmen Reservoir, the lowest elevation point of the loop. From here, Waterfall Loop Trail #3503 travels uphill along the eastern edge of the McKenzie River. Taking this journey, you’ll encounter Koosah Falls (sky) first, before ascending to the heavenly Sahalie Falls.

In order to achieve this photograph, we climbed over the wood fence along the trail and slid down some loose terrain for this vantage point. The plant life and nature surrounding this waterfall make it a truly beautiful place.