Inhale the White River Falls

Ssshhh! Don’t tell anyone, but White River Falls State Park just opened the other day, March 15. Until this week I had not heard about it, and apparently few others know about also. Go there before it becomes famous!

From pictures on the state parks website it is a double waterfall—my favorite kind! There is something about the repeating cascades in multiple falls that keeps my attention. There is depth and variety and more to visually explore.

The moving water helps still the mind. (photo by parachute.mapquest.com)

With the huge snowpack this year, the falls should put on a great show!

The White River plunges 90‘ through basalt. (photo by oregonbeatsheet.wordpress.com)

Find the spot to get this view and your spring is off to a great start! (photo by pnwphotoblog.com)

Negative ions are so positive!

Besides the visual interest and soothing auditory experience, waterfalls benefit us in another way—negative ions. Those are normal atoms that have extra electrons (negative charges) added to them. Just like the negative ion generators used to clean the air in many homes, lightning, waterfalls, the ocean, and even pine forests do the same thing.

An article on WebMD says that Columbia University studies of people with winter and chronic depression show that negative ion generators relieve depression as much as antidepressants. “The best part is that there are relatively no side effects, but we still need to figure out appropriate doses and which people it works best on,” says ion researcher Michael Terman, PhD, of Columbia University in New York.

As this gray, wet winter drags on, you might want to consider a little trip to the sunny side of the mountains to enjoy a walk and a sit with God. Breathe deep and don’t forget your Bible!

Directions

25 miles south of The Dalles and 5 miles north of Maupin on Hwy 197. At Tygh Valley go east 2 miles on Hwy 216.

Click here for an interactive map.

PS. I read that there are at least 238 waterfalls in Oregon. Anybody have a list?