Sherar’s Falls

Downstream from the Sandy Beach raft takeout is Sherar’s Falls, a cascade that demands a portage if you’re rafting to the Columbia. A bridge crosses the Deschutes just downstream from the waterfall. At the bottom of the waterfall is a traditional Native American fishing area, still used by Warm Springs [1] community members. You’ll see the rather rickety-looking fishing platforms perched over the river, and you may also see people dip-netting from the platforms.

If you’re in the mood for tooling around, cross the bridge to the west side of the Deschutes and follow Route 216 a few miles to White River Falls State Park, a day-use park with another excellent waterfall and a short trail to the remains of an old hydroelectric power plant.