Written by Lexi Hall
One of the best things about staying at Running Y Resort is how many completely different landscapes you can experience within just a short drive. One day you’re exploring volcanic caves, the next you’re walking along rushing rivers, and sometimes you find yourself winding through towering forests toward a tiny mountain town that feels frozen in time.
Located about an hour from Running Y, Butte Falls makes for the perfect slow-paced Southern Oregon day trip. We started our morning leaving the resort with coffees in hand from the Ruddy Duck Restaurant before heading west toward the breathtaking Rogue River–Siskiyou National
Forest.
The drive alone is worth the trip. As the landscape slowly changes around you, it genuinely begins to feel like you’ve entered another world. Towering trees, winding mountain roads, and endless forest views make the entire drive feel peaceful and cinematic in the best way.
Eventually, you arrive in the tiny town of Butte Falls, complete with one traffic light and the kind of small-town charm that immediately makes you slow down a little.
The downtown itself feels like a hidden roadside treasure hunt. Who can spot the Paul Bunyan statue first? What about the tiniest caboose museum you’ve ever seen? There’s something nostalgic about the entire town. It’s quiet, quirky, and incredibly charming in a way that feels increasingly rare these days.
After exploring the one-road-in, one-road-out downtown area, we continued down the road for another five minutes until eventually reaching a dirt road just past the wastewater plant. That’s when you know you’ve officially made it to Butte Falls.
And before you even fully step out of the car, you can already hear the falls rushing in the distance.
The water here is unbelievably clear and almost surreal looking against the surrounding greenery and rock formations. It feels untouched in the best possible way. We brought along a pair of the complimentary binoculars available at Running Y and spent time scanning the area, taking in the rushing water, forest scenery, and wildlife around us.
This is one of those places that doesn’t need a massive visitor center or crowded overlook to leave an impression. It’s simple, peaceful, and incredibly beautiful.
On the drive back toward Klamath Falls, we were completely stopped in our tracks by the view of Mount McLoughlin towering in the distance. On a clear day, the mountain absolutely steals the show and serves as the perfect grand finale to the adventure.
And honestly, that’s what makes these day trips from Running Y so special. You can spend the morning chasing waterfalls and exploring tiny mountain towns, then head back to the resort for afternoon massages, golf, cocktails, or dinner back at the Ruddy Duck.
Adventure without having to sacrifice comfort is kind of the sweet spot around here.
Plan your stay at Running Y Resort and make Southern Oregon your basecamp.
