Nestled alongside the Deschutes River, the Old Mill District is...
- Home
- Plan A Trip
- Play
- Benham Falls
Benham Falls


Benham Falls are rapids of the Deschutes River located between Sunriver and Bend, Oregon, United States. With a pitch of 22.5°, they are rated Class 5 for watercraft, and are the largest falls on the upper Deschutes. The falls were created by the eruption of nearby Lava Butte approximately 6,000 … read more
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/rec...
Benham Falls are rapids of the Deschutes River located between Sunriver and Bend, Oregon, United States. With a pitch of 22.5°, they are rated Class 5 for watercraft, and are the largest falls on the upper Deschutes.
The falls were created by the eruption of nearby Lava Butte approximately 6,000 years ago, as the lava flow dammed the Deschutes, forming a lake known as Lake Benham. The river eventually flowed over the dam, draining the lake and thus forming Benham Falls. Around 1885, J. R. Benham attempted and failed to file a land claim near the falls, though they were later named for him.
Today, there are forest roads connecting Benham Falls to Lava Butte, Lava River Cave, and Sunriver Resort. A footbridge connects the forest road to an easy-to-navigate trail near the river and falls. The shady area has lots of wildlife and flowers. The Forest Service has established a few lookouts over the gorge for viewers. Hikers and mountain bikers who continue on this trail pass Dillon Falls and Lava Island Falls, and eventually, the city of Bend. Benham Falls is relatively easier to see compared to the falls downstream, because it is not surrounded by lava flow from Lava Butte, but surrounded by forest. Because of its location, it is also much more popular.
This day use area is located in a beautiful stand of old growth ponderosa pines on the edge of a riparian area. There are several picnic tables and access to the Deschutes River Trail which leaves to the south towards Sunriver and north towards Bend. Dogs must be on leash at all trailheads throughout the year and on the Deschutes River Trail from May 15-September 15.

Benham Falls
Forest Service Rd 9702, Bend, OR - Near Lava Lands Visitor Center Get DirectionsListings Like This
Malls & Shopping Centers
Old Mill District
Sunriver Resort will make any vacation or day outing unforgettable!...
Activities
Go Play at Sunriver Resort
Our new state-of-the-art indoor facility has eight indoor courts. With...
Tennis & Pickleball
Pickleball Zone
Waypoint Hotel is a newly renovated, boutique hotel in Bend's...
Hotels & Motels
Waypoint Hotel
Back in the day, Bend was a logging town. Today,...
Food and Drink
Bend Ale Trail
Bend has a lot of special places. It also has...
Visit Like A Local
Voluntourism
The Twin Bridges Loop is part of the Three Sisters...
Three Sisters Scenic Bikeway
Twin Bridges Loop - Oregon Scenic Bikeway
Downhill mountain biking, zip lining, scenic lift rides, dining, and...
Mountain Biking
Mt Bachelor Ski Area - Summer Activities
Activities
Roundabout Art Route
Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe is on the Deschutes River!...
Canoe, Kayak & River Activities
Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe
Hiking
The Bend Pledge
The Downtown Bend Business Association is a local nonprofit dedicated...
Activities
Experience Downtown Bend

Is this your listing?
In order to deliver the best, possible visitor experience, Visit Bend will be launching a completely redesigned website this fall. As part of the new website, business listings will no longer exist. Instead, we will be sending all outbound clicks to your Google business listing. Please take some time in the next couple of weeks to view and update your Google Business listing, which you can do HERE. We can’t wait to share this new experience with you as we continue to drive visitors to your place of business.
Visitor Guide
Planning your trip? Start with your award-winning visitor guide, available online or by mail.
Read the GuideGive Us A Call
Want to talk with a real human? We get that. Our visitor center is ready and waiting for your call.
Call : 877.245.8484The Bend Pledge
Join countless visitors before you and take the Pledge to leave Bend better than you found it.
Take the PledgeBend Sustainability Fund
Investing in projects that create sustainable experiences in Bend’s community.
See the Projects