Gorgeous Gorge – Volcanic Lava Island + Wild Deschutes River – Central Oregon – 4K

My goal of these wilderness trail videos is to 1) show reverence for the beauty of the land, and 2) give YOU actionable trail information that can assist you in planning your own hike here.

This was a day-hike in Central Oregon, Deschutes National Forest, starting at Meadow Day Use Area Trailhead and hiking to Lava Island, Big Eddy, Aspen, and then Dillon Falls along the Shoreline of Deschutes River as an Out and Back hiking approximately 8 miles with only a couple hundred feet elevation gain. I call this the "Northern Half" of Deschutes River Hiking (the "Southern Half" starts at Sun Lava Path Trailhead and goes to Benham Falls and then also Dillon Falls, approximately 8 miles). The temperature was in the upper 30's when I started and it rained heavily intermittently with occasional sunbreaks and a rainbow. This was hiked on 5/6/2022 and there were of course NO Mosquitoes. As far as road conditions, it's highway and then a relatively well maintained road to the parking lot. In my opinion, the road most definitely DOES NOT require 4-Wheel Drive, however do watch for road conditions, particularly snow/ice depending on the time of year.