Thanks so very much for the Earthcache placement at this location! I can see why it is a favorite hike. We also checked out the hike upstream which leads off the road as it levels out. That was a cool little location as well. I got to meet Krillkat for the first time yesterday as she had been wanting to make this hike but had been unsuccessful in finding the trailhead. She contacted me, and we chatted over a couple weeks about this and other hikes, then had the opportunity to make this run yesterday. I played the navigator and with a few odd but successful turns was able to locate the turnoff heading down to this area. The road down the hill is steep in places, where many folks wisely chose to leave their street vehicles at the lower parking area. There were a few, tho, that should have done the same and make the hike. We were surprised at how many were attempting to drive their street vehicles to the trailhead. There is one particular steep rutted spot that can be a challenge; even I had to stop and analyze the section to select a workable passage. We parked at a very nice shady spot near where the road levels out, then hiked the remaining 3/4 mile to the trailhead. I located the trail easily, and we started down. During the trip, Krillkat helped me pronounce Abiqua... AB-i-QWAH. I had to keep asking and practicing... I think I got it now! B^) Notes: Be sure to stay left on the trail. There is another trail that connects not far from the start, but that trail is treacherous and will not take you to the intended destination. (It might take you via lifeflight to the hospital, if you survive at all!) The steeper section has ropes on this well used trail; they provided much needed assistance and a bit of security on the way down. Grippy shoes are a must! We arrived at the bottom, then started our hike upriver. The grandeur of the amphitheater became apparent as we emerged into the bowl. Wow! There were 2 groups of 2 & three already present, folks that were enjoying the sun & pool. The water was cool but very swim-able. I wanted to... but didn't. We headed to the side of the bowl & found a suitable log to take a seat & take it all in. I, as usual, took lots of pictures; a selection of those is part of this log. Once we had our fill, we started back, and met a mother/son (assumption!) coming in. We started back up the hill, stopping occasionally to catch our breath and take in the views. Near the top, we checked out the other trails, only to find the aforementioned treacherous trail where we encountered another pair, (mother/daughter or sisters, another assumption!) and chatted about the correct trail to get to the falls. BTW, we hadn't spotted any poison oak until we stopped at this point, where we were surrounded by the "plant of no redeming value"! After getting back to the GeoMC (aka Snowball), we enjoyed lunch and chatted with folks heading to the falls on foot. One disappeared down a trail in front of snowball; she we "just exploring". After lunch, we decided to take that trail just to see where it went, and encountered drops with ropes that were more challenging than those on the falls trail. At the destination, however, we found yet another falls, perhaps 30' high but with a neat swimming hole & atop a lot of columnar basalt. Fascinating! It was a very fun day, though there is was surprising how many people were heading in as we were heading back up the hill. Most seemed to be first time visitors, and surprisingly, many were in small street cars that had no business being on these roads.