These falls are easily reached by walking along an old railroad bed through the pine forest.

The Deschutes, both a state and national scenic waterway, was named Riviere des Chutes or Riviere aux Chutes, French for "River of the Falls."

Lewis and Clark encountered the river on October 22, 1805 and referred to it by the Native American name "Towarnehiooks" and on their return journey they gave it the new name Clarks River.

This river was also a major obstacle for emigrants on the Oregon Trail.

A tributary of the mighty Columbia River, the Deschutes flows in the unusual direction of south to north.