Destination: Abiqua Falls

At 0.8 miles, the hiking distance was not foreboding.   IF you could find the trail head, that is.  All the directions we read said it was tricky to find ... and get to, especially if you didn't have 4WD. 

 "But a family car can make it if it goes slow," they said.

Game on.  

Never underestimate a minivan.

Note:  On the way back up the mountainside, as the van grappled for traction, we did find ourselves hoping that when the yellow triangle with an exclamation mark, VSA warning and engine lights came on all at once, that it wasn't something serious.

But let's get on with the Hike Report!

Any time you need to rope up for a hike, you know you've got a winner on your hands.

Clara wasn't convinced at first.  Briton is strategizing how to help her down.

Going up was much easier.

(Have these "ups" and "downs" been confusing?  Quick orientation:  We drove down a mountainside to get to the trail head, and then continued to hike down to the valley floor to follow the river up to the waterfall.  

A sisterly hug, also known as The Choke Hold.

Enjoying the adventure.

Intrepid little hiker dude.

Of course, this photo doesn't do the falls justice.  It was so beautiful.  We were hiking along the river, minding our own business, when, all the sudden, we round a big rock and whammo -- this scene appears:  waterfall crashing over pixilated basalt columns into a huge splash pool.

   On a warm day I will do this hike again and bring a swim suit and/or raft.

And a four wheel drive.

And now, quickly!  Family photo shoot!!!!

What you want to notice in the above picture is the kid on the far left with the large boulder in her hands.

Time to head back.  The lighting was so pretty in the late afternoon, against the mossy trees and clear river.  

Oregon is such a great place to live.