When I first saw an image of the stunning lower proxy falls, I did not fully understand its size. I knew it was a giant waterfall but was not prepared for the size of it. We also visited a waterfall called fairy falls on that trip, which has a similar form, near Portland, which was way smaller than I imagined at around 20 feet. So I think visiting the fairy falls might have biased my sense of scale.
Once we reached the base of lower proxy falls, we realized its massiveness at 226 feet. The water spray from the falls was quite intense that day, and I had trouble keeping my front element and filters clean. I had forgotten to pack the little microfiber wipes in my haste and learned that they are indeed worth their weight in gold, especially near a waterfall. While we had some technical challenges, what a refreshing break this hike and waterfall turned out to be. We reached the trailhead around noon after some much-needed sleeping in and a pretty heavy breakfast. The 2-mile-long trail along lava fields and dense woodland was the perfect way to enjoy a beautiful day.