A single rowboat sits on the shore at the secluded north end of Clear Lake. I'd like to stay here sometime--spend time at nature's pace and let myself think without the myriad distractions of our rushed human-centric world.

Heading home, we stopped to see Koosah Falls just a few miles from the lake. Here the McKenzie takes its second 100 ft. plunge in roughly a mile (the first being at Sahalie Falls.) Well-kept trails lead to several convenient observation points. Far below you, waters plunge roaring into a fern-and moss-bordered bowl before continuing their rush down the mountains and into the McKenzie Valley.

Head-on view of Koosah Falls. Note two small waterfalls along the left-hand border of the bowl where additional water pours into the river.

Close-up of the falls. The amount of water pouring through here is difficult for the mind to grasp. Some people suggest sighting on a particular bit of water at the top as it begins to fall. Doing this gives you a virtual 'ride' over the falls as you realize how fast and how far out the water travels as it plunges downward.

Misty pool at the base of the falls, where water churns and the water is a beautiful deep, almost teal blue. Places like this remind us of the forces that have shaped our landscape, and of the natural beauty around us that we so often fail to notice.

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