Benham Falls, Dillon Falls, and Lava Island Falls sit on the Deschutes River Trail between Sunriver and Bend. Each Forest Service day-use site charges $5 per vehicle per day. The Sun-Lava paved path runs 5.5 miles. This guide covers parking, distances, float warnings, dog rules, and how 12 to 30 people split into walkers and riders.
Updated October 2026 · First published October 2026
Benham Falls, Dillon Falls, and Lava Island Falls at a glance
The three falls are separate stops on one river corridor, each with its own Forest Service day-use site. The Forest Service describes whitewater and dangerous cataracts that start at Benham Falls and run past Dillon Falls to Lava Island Falls, about 5 miles south of Bend. Visit Bend rates Benham the largest and best known, and calls it more cascading rapids than classic waterfall.
| Stop | What it is | Parking fee |
|---|---|---|
| Benham Falls East | Trailhead with vault toilets and several picnic tables; the Deschutes River Trail leaves south toward Sunriver and north toward Bend | $5 per vehicle per day, or a pass |
| Benham Falls West | About 50 yards down a trail to a viewing platform over the falls | $5 per vehicle per day, or a pass |
| Dillon Falls | Steady whitewater plunge; a 0.3-mile accessible trail joins the river trail | $5 per vehicle per day, or a pass |
| Lava Island | Day-use area with a raft take-out; the 15-foot Lava Island Falls is a short stroll | $5 per vehicle per day, or a pass |
| Big Eddy | Trailhead with a vault toilet and a picnic table | $5 per vehicle per day, or a pass |
Parking and fees at Benham Falls and the Deschutes River Trail
Every site here wants a recreation pass or $5 per vehicle per day, and an annual pass is $30. The Forest Service lists the same $5 and $30 at Benham Falls East and West, Dillon Falls, Lava Island, and Big Eddy. Passes are sold at Forest Service offices and through vendors.
At Dillon Falls and Lava Island, on-site payment is not available. The nearest fee tube is at the junction of Forest Roads 41 and 46, so buy the pass before you reach the lot. The sites are day use only, with no overnight camping. Benham Falls East is open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
The fee is per vehicle, not per person. A group of 30 in six vehicles pays six fees, or hangs six passes. The estate has parking for up to 15 vehicles, so the convoy forms in the driveway and the count stays small. Lava Island has vault toilets but no potable water, so fill bottles at the house.
How to reach Benham, Dillon, and Lava Island from Sunriver and Bend
The Forest Service gives directions from Bend, and the sites sit on two different access roads. Benham Falls East is off Highway 97: from Bend, drive about 8 miles south, exit at Lava Lands Visitor Center, and continue about 4 miles on Forest Road 9702. This guide gives no drive time from the house, since no source posts one.
The other sites are off the Cascade Lakes Highway (Highway 46) west of Bend. For Dillon Falls, drive 7.9 miles west, then 2.6 miles south on Forest Road 41. For Lava Island, drive 7.9 miles west, 0.4 miles south on Forest Road 41, then 0.8 miles east on Forest Road 4120. Big Eddy is about 7 miles west, then 1.5 miles south on Forest Road 41. Benham Falls West uses Forest Roads 41 and 4120.
Because the sites use different roads, a one-day plan usually picks two. Read each Forest Service page for current alerts the morning you go. The pages carry fire-restriction and trail-closure notices that change.
Distances on the Deschutes River Trail and the Sun-Lava path
The Sun-Lava path is paved and 5.5 miles long. It is a non-motorized multi-use path that runs from Lava Lands Visitor Center to the Benham Falls area and continues to Sunriver. It starts at the southwest corner of the west lot at Lava Lands. A recreation fee applies to that lot from May 1 through Columbus Day weekend.
On the river trail, Visit Bend gives about 6.5 miles out-and-back from Dillon Falls to Benham Falls, rated easy. The Forest Service gives short links: a 0.3-mile accessible trail from Dillon Falls, crossing a short bridge to join the river trail, and about 50 yards to the Benham Falls West viewing platform. Lava Island Falls is harder to reach because of steep slopes and nearby riverside homes, so use the day-use area and stroll.
Riders have more to choose from than the paved path. For the singletrack and rental shops near Sunriver, see mountain biking near Sunriver.
Float warnings above Benham Falls on the Deschutes
Take out before Benham Falls, every time. The Forest Service describes whitewater and dangerous cataracts from Benham Falls through Dillon Falls to Lava Island Falls. Most of the river is unwadable, with steep banks and deep, powerful water, and between Sunriver and Bend the water is fast and dangerous.
Visit Bend names the Sunriver Canoe Takeout as the exit just before Benham Falls. It estimates about 4 hours by canoe, kayak, or paddleboard, and 5 to 6 hours on a tube, with a car shuttle. Besson Picnic Area, just before the marina, cuts the float roughly in half. At the Lava Island raft take-out, the Forest Service advises against going downstream because of dangerous rapids, and the site has no trailer boat ramp.
Two more rules apply. The boating speed limit on this stretch is 5 mph, per the Forest Service, and flows change sharply with the irrigation season, which diverts much of the river near Bend from April to October. Children 12 and under must wear a life jacket under state law, per Visit Bend. The river itself is covered in the Deschutes River near Sunriver.
Dogs on the Deschutes River Trail near Sunriver and Benham Falls
Dogs must be on a leash at all of these trailheads, all year. On the Deschutes River Trail itself, the leash rule runs from May 15 to September 15, per the Forest Service pages for Benham Falls, Dillon Falls, Lava Island, and Big Eddy. Visit Bend reports that the trail is heavily used by bikers, runners, and dogs.
For the rest of the Forest Service rules, plus Bend parks that allow dogs off-leash, see the large dog guide for Sunriver and Bend. The pet policy for the house is on the pet-friendly page.
How 12 to 30 people split into walkers and riders at Benham Falls
Split the group by pace and meet at the falls. Send the riders on the 5.5-mile Sun-Lava path, and send the walkers to a short trail. Because the path runs through the Benham Falls area, both groups can reach the falls without sharing a vehicle.
- Riders: park at Lava Lands, pay the lot fee if it applies, and ride the paved path toward the Benham Falls area.
- Short-walk group: drive to Benham Falls West for the 50-yard walk to the viewing platform.
- Strong hikers: take the Dillon Falls trail toward Benham, about 6.5 miles out-and-back by Visit Bend.
- Everyone: regroup at the Benham Falls East picnic tables, where the Forest Service lists vault toilets and several tables.
Keep the vehicle count to five or six. Give each driver a pass, and assign one adult to watch the clock, since Benham Falls East closes 30 minutes after sunset. Bring water from the house; Lava Island lists none. The estate has a 12-foot table and four 8-foot picnic tables for the debrief meal when the group returns.
Where to stay near Benham Falls, Dillon Falls, and Sunriver
Stay at Deschutes Riverfront Retreat, an 11-bedroom, 6-bath estate near Sunriver that sleeps up to 30, with a maximum of 24 adults. It sits on 450 feet of private Deschutes River frontage in the Three Rivers area, about ten minutes from Sunriver Resort and about 30 minutes from Bend and Mt. Bachelor. The six-bedroom Lodge sleeps up to 18 and can be booked alone.
The river runs past the dock. The Big River boat ramp, a public put-in, is 2.5 miles up the road. Bring your own water toys and life jackets, because none are provided. Dock fishing is subject to seasonal regulations.
Every booking has a 2-night minimum, quiet hours run 9 PM to 8 AM, and the renter must be 30 or older. For larger groups see large group rentals near Sunriver. Floor plans and the 3D tour are on the whole estate page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to park at Benham Falls and Dillon Falls?
The Forest Service lists $5 per vehicle per day, or a valid recreation pass, at Benham Falls, Dillon Falls, Lava Island, and Big Eddy. An annual pass is $30. At Dillon Falls and Lava Island the nearest fee tube is at the junction of Forest Roads 41 and 46.
How long is the Sun-Lava path?
The Forest Service lists the Sun-Lava paved path at 5.5 miles, running from Lava Lands Visitor Center to the Benham Falls area and on to Sunriver. It is non-motorized. A recreation fee applies at the Lava Lands lot from May 1 through Columbus Day weekend.
Can we float the Deschutes from Sunriver past Benham Falls?
No. The Forest Service describes dangerous cataracts and whitewater from Benham Falls on. Visit Bend names the Sunriver Canoe Takeout as the exit just before Benham Falls. Take out there, and arrange a car shuttle.
Are dogs allowed at Benham Falls and Dillon Falls?
Yes, on a leash at the trailheads all year. On the Deschutes River Trail, the Forest Service leash rule runs May 15 to September 15. The pet policy for the house is on the pet-friendly page.
Sources
- USDA Forest Service, Benham Falls East Day Use and Trailhead
- USDA Forest Service, Benham Falls West Day Use and Trailhead
- USDA Forest Service, Dillon Falls Day Use Area
- USDA Forest Service, Lava Island Day Use Area
- USDA Forest Service, Big Eddy Trailhead
- USDA Forest Service, Sun-Lava Paved Path
- USDA Forest Service, Deschutes River: Wickiup Reservoir to Bend
- Visit Bend, Find Top Bend and Central Oregon Waterfalls
- Visit Bend, Deschutes River Tubing, Surfing, and Paddling Guide