Epic Oregon Waterfall Road Trip Itinerary with Dog and Toddler

Traveled in May 2021

This Oregon road trip itinerary is an adaptation of the actual road trip that we took with our dog, but modified to be more toddler-friendly. The waterfalls in Oregon are astounding. There are so many different waterfall features that make each waterfall unique. So even though you think you might get tired of seeing waterfalls every day, you won’t because each waterfall is different and more awe-inspiring than the last.

The road trip that we took with our dog was more fast paced and we stayed in a different place every night. This Oregon road trip with a dog and toddler includes all the same amazing waterfalls, but visits them as day trips so that you can stay in one place for a couple nights at a time. The hikes to the waterfalls are not too strenuous, so they would be doable with a toddler in a carrier. And best of all, they are all dog-friendly! I love that so many of our early travel memories as a family are road trips where we could bring our dog and have her with us for all of the activities.

If you are ready to become a waterfall snob, then follow along for all the details on how to see these waterfalls for yourself!

Oregon Waterfall Road Trip with Dog and Toddler Itinerary

When to Go

We did this Oregon road trip with our dog and toddler at the end of May. Obviously it wouldn’t be the Pacific Northwest without rain, so we definitely did some of these hikes in the rain. Bring proper gear and plan for rain and you’ll be pleasantly surprised if it ends up being dry. Also goes without saying to keep a towel in the backseat for your wet and probably muddy (but hopefully happy) doggo. I can imagine this area being very pleasant in the summer since it does not get too hot on the coast, but there is a risk of wildfires when traveling inland through California and Oregon.

How to Get Around

We started this road trip from California and drove up to Oregon. Alternatively, you could fly into Portland (airport code PDX) and do this road trip as a loop from Portland. Either way, you will need a car. If renting a car from Portland airport, check out my booking tip below.

Booking tip: if the car rental agency has a free membership program, sign up for it! Members usually get extra perks like a free additional driver, discounts, or faster reservation check ins (all very desirable things when you have an overtired toddler in tow).

Where to Stay in Oregon with Dog and Toddler

When traveling with a small kiddo, I have found that it is easiest on the parents to stay in one place for as many nights as possible so you don’t have to pack and unpack every day. There will be a bit more driving back and forth because of this since all the activities will be done as day trips. But it is worth it to save yourself from setting up your kiddo’s sleeping situation every night. For this itinerary, you will stay 3 nights in Bend, 2 nights in Portland, and 2 nights in Medford.

Since we traveled shortly after the pandemic and because we were traveling with our dog, we opted to stay in home rentals because it seemed the safest and the most dog-friendly option. Oregon seems super dog-friendly, and we did not have trouble finding nice and clean home rentals that allowed dogs. We also find that having a kitchen and more space is very helpful when traveling with a small kiddo since it is easier to replicate the conveniences of home.

Bend Dog-friendly Rentals:

• This house with 2 bedrooms has excellent reviews. The location is great, close to downtown but in a quiet neighborhood. And there is a fenced in yard for the doggo!
• This renovated house with 2 bedrooms also has excellent reviews. The location is also very close to downtown and in a quiet neighborhood. A little cozier, so might be easier for keeping an eye on energetic toddlers!
• If neither of those fit the bill, check out these other dog-friendly rentals in the River Bend and Old Bend areas. Both of those neighborhoods were charming and convenient to both the downtown area and the highways.

Portland Dog-friendly Rentals:

• This newly renovated 2 bedroom bungalow in the Laurelhurst neighborhood looks very cute. No reviews yet because it looks like a new listing, but great price for the area (likely since it is a new listing).
• This 3 bedroom house in the Laurelhurst neighborhood is beautifully decorated with pops of color! No reviews yet either, but it is in a great location for a great price.
• If neither of those are available, check out these other dog-friendly rentals in the Laurelhurst and Mt. Tabor neighborhoods. Both of these neighborhoods are only a couple minutes drive downtown, but in a more family-friendly and quiet area than staying in downtown itself.

Medford Dog-friendly rentals:

• This newly renovated 2 bedroom cottage in Medford has excellent reviews. It is conveniently located with easy access to the freeways. Also has a fenced in yard for the doggo.
• This newly renovated 2 bedroom home is in Central Point, which is slightly north of Medford. However, it is close to Highway 5 so is very convenient for travel. This rental has excellent reviews, many of which mention that it is located in a quiet neighborhood with a park walking distance away.
• If neither of these options seem just right, check out these other dog-friendly rentals in Medford with easy access to Highway 5.

Booking tip: because traveling with a toddler is so unpredictable, I always look for refundable bookings. That way I can book way ahead of time for my peace of mind, but also have the flexibility to cancel without losing any money if our plans should change.

Oregon Waterfall Road Trip with Dog and Toddler Itinerary at a Glance

The time in parentheses is the approximate time it takes to drive from the previous location to the next.

Day	Activity	Sleep In
1	Drive from Bay Area to Bend Oregon (8 hrs)	Bend
2	Tumalo Falls (30 min) Smith Rock State Park (30 min)	Bend
3	Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls (1 hr) Tamolitch Blue Pool (5 min)	Bend
4	Drive from Bend to Portland (3 hrs) Explore Portland	Portland
5	Day trip to Historic Columbia River Highway Multonomah Falls (30 min) Bridal Veil Falls (20 min) Latourell Falls (5 min)	Portland
6	Morning exploring Portland Afternoon drive to Medford (4 hrs)	Medford
7	Toketee Falls and Watson Falls (2 hrs) Whitehorse Falls (7 min) Clearwater Falls (9 min)	Medford
8	Drive to the Bay Area (6 hrs) with a stop for lunch at Seka Hills Olive Oil Mill

Day 1: Drive to Bend, Oregon

The first day of this road trip is a loooooong driving day, but a relatively easy one since it’s just a straight shot up the 5 after leaving the Bay Area. We decided to head straight for Oregon from the Bay Area because we had limited time, but you can also stop for the night in Redding/Mt. Shasta region after 4 hours of driving to break up this drive.

We loved the vibe in Bend – it felt peaceful, like walking through a forest. Definitely get dinner at Wild Rose Thai. It was highly recommended by all of our friends and it did not disappoint. We recommend the crab fried rice and the khao soi.

Day 2: Tumalo Falls and Smith Rock State Park

Grab a pastry or breakfast sandwich at Sparrow Bakery to start your day.

Tumalo Falls

Tumalo falls is 30 min east of Bend. The parking lot is small and there is a $5 fee. There are self pay stations in the parking lot that accept credit cards.

There are 3 waterfall viewpoints where you can view the waterfall from different perspectives, and a longer hike on the Tumalo Falls Loop trail after the last viewpoint. Lower falls viewpoint is just a short walk from the parking lot.

Dogs on leash allowed at the viewpoints of the waterfall, but not in the Bend Watershed (which comprises the second half of the Tumalo Falls Loop trail). Just to be safe, we only visited the 3 waterfall viewpoints with our dog.

After Tumalo Falls head back to Bend to pick up lunch.

Smith Rock State Park

Smith Rock State Park is 30 min north of Bend. The big draw of Smith Rock State Park is the rock climbing. Even those of us who enjoy keeping our feet firmly planted on the ground can marvel at these views of the river snaking through the cliffs, while watching the climbers make their way up the cliff faces.

There is a steep trail that heads down from the parking lot to the river, and a flat path (the River Trail) that follows the river. Dogs allowed on leash. There is a $5 day use fee, which can be paid at self pay stations in the parking lot.

Day 3: Sahalie Falls, Koosah Falls, and Tamolitch Blue Pool

Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls

From Bend, it is a 1 hour drive to Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls. Parking is free. The parking lot at Koosah falls is bigger and less frequented if the lot in Sahalie Falls is full. Park at either lot. There is a short hiking trail that connects the two waterfalls.

We parked in the lot next to Sahalie Falls. There is a paved path to the observation deck for Sahalie Falls. From the observation deck, hike 1 mile south to Koosah Falls following the McKenzie river. There is a 2.4 mile loop trail that takes you to the other side of the McKenzie river, but we opted to just go back the way we came in the interest of time. Dogs allowed on leash. 

Tamolitch Blue Pool

Tamolitch blue pool is a 5 min drive away. This pool is the color of blue Gatorade and was well worth the 2 mile muddy hike in the rain with our white dog. This was probably the most strenuous hike we did on this trip because it was over rocky terrain, but may also have been because it was raining and muddy. We saw some people continuing the hike over the waterfall ledge to get to the edge of the pool itself. It is important to realize that the water itself is freezing and the hike down to the pool seems pretty treacherous, so we skipped that in the interest of not dying. Parking is free. Dogs allowed on leash.

Day 4: Drive to Portland

The drive from Bend to Portland takes 3 hours. This can be a rest and playground day to give you and your toddler a break from all the scheduled activities. Or, check out the International Rose Test Garden and let me know how it is! We didn’t make it there, but I included it in our list because I was pleasantly surprised that it is dog friendly. This is a test garden for new rose varieties, so it sounds like a beautiful walk to take with your dog and kiddo!

Day 5: Historic Columbia River Highway

The Historic Columbia River Highway runs parallel to the highway and connects a series of jaw dropping waterfalls. Many folks just go to Multnomah Falls, but you would be missing out on one of the most amazing waterfalls of your life if you did not also check out Latourell Falls while in the area. The pictures speak for themselves! From Portland the drive to Multnomah Falls takes just 30 min.

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls is the most well-known and accessible waterfall in this area. There is a small parking lot right next to the waterfall, or overflow parking is located across the highway. There is a walkway that connects the overflow parking to the waterfall. A timed use permit is required from late May to early September, which can be reserved here.

The best view of the waterfall is a large, round viewpoint within a very short walk from the parking lot. From there, a paved path leads up to a viewpoint at the top overlooking the entire waterfall as it rushes down the cliff.

Dogs allowed on leash.

Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls is a 20 min drive east from Multnomah Falls.

Parking is free. The Bridal Veil Falls trail is a 0.6 mile hike down to the base of the Bridal Veil Falls. This aptly named cascading waterfall resembles a bridal veil. The best view of the Bridal Veil Falls is located at a wooden viewpoint half a mile in.

Dogs allowed on leash.

Latourell Falls

Latourell Falls is a 5 min drive east from Bridal Veil Falls. This was our favorite waterfall of the entire trip because you could walk right up to the base of the waterfall and feel fully enveloped by the power of it.

Parking is free. There is a viewing platform right off the parking lot. There is also a 2 mile Latourell Falls loop trail accessed from the viewing platform that will take you to the top of the upper falls, but it is an uphill hike and this pregnant lady was too tired to attempt it after a day full of waterfalls. 

To get to the base of the Lower Falls look for the path to the right, it is a short flat 1 mile walk to the base of the falls.

Dogs allowed on leash.

From Latourell Falls it is about a 30-45 min drive to Portland, depending on traffic.

On the way back to Portland, stop at the Sugarpine Drive-In. This cute drive in restaurant is on the way from the waterfalls to Portland. Their soft serve looks amazing – this would make a delicious treat after a day of waterfall chasing! Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Day 6: Drive to Medford

Today is another driving day. The drive from Portland to Medford takes 4 hours. If you want to explore more of Portland, then you can start the drive in the afternoon and hope to catch a good car nap. Remember that shopping in Oregon is tax free, so if there are any big ticket items you were eyeing then this would be a good opportunity to save!

Day 7: Toketee Falls, Watson Falls, Whitehorse Falls, and Clearwater Falls

The drive from Medford to Toketee Falls takes about 2 hours.

Toketee Falls

The trail to Toketee Falls is a 0.4 mile down and back trail that includes over 200 steps. The trail ends at a viewing platform that overlooks the waterfall, which plunges over a wall of basalt columns. We saw some daring youths who somehow climbed over the safety fencing and made it to the side of the waterfall where they could jump into the pool. Overall, it looked very dangerous and not worth dying over just for that insta photo.  Parking is free. Dogs allowed on leash.

Watson Falls

Watson Falls is just down the road from Toketee Falls and worth the trek because you can get closer to the base of this waterfall. The trail is a 1 mile loop, and although it can get steep in certain spots it was one of the most enjoyable hikes because of the many smaller waterfalls along the hike. Parking is free. From the parking lot, go uphill and cross the road to get to the trailhead.  Dogs allowed on leash. 

Whitehorse Falls

Whitehorse Falls is a 7 min drive from Watson Falls. It is a very short walk from the parking lot to this waterfall. Those logs are begging to be climbed so watch out for your kiddo who will definitely attempt this!

Clearwater Falls

Clearwater Falls is a 9 min drive from Whitehorse Falls. The parking lot is off highway 138 near mile marker 69 (don’t follow google maps to forest road). This waterfall is another short walk from the parking lot, so it is a quick and easy stop.

Day 8: Drive Home

I hope you have enjoyed this waterfall-filled Oregon road trip with your dog and toddler! The drive from Medford to the Bay Area takes about 6 hours. To break up the drive, stop at Seka Hills Olive Oil Mill for lunch (4.5 hrs from Eugene). This was a bit of a detour, but I was lured by the promise of excellent sandwiches and olive oil after reading this SFGate article about it. I probably would not drive out here just for this, but since we were passing close by and needed to stop to eat anyway it was an opportunity to try something new. 

If you are ready to hit the road again with your dog and toddler, check out my dog and toddler-approved itineraries to the Central California Coast or San Diego to keep exploring as a family!