Squaw Creek Falls is a perfect hike for those times when you feel like getting your gratification quickly.

Not instantly, but at three-quarters of a mile from the trailhead, you’re knocking on the door before you break much of a sweat.

Even so, if you count the drive in, Squaw Creek Falls makes for a nice half-day outing.

Soon, after turning west off the main road seven miles south of Sisters, you see North, Middle and South Sister loom into view; it’s a stunning sight and worth the drive even if you never set boot to trail.

The last couple of miles to the trailhead are rocky and rough and the going is slow, but once you’re parked and striding out, the payback is sweet.

The trail ascends moderately from 4,800 feet to 5,200 feet. There’s a pair of steep sections, but they don’t last long. Just focus on the pine and fir and the way the sunlight dapples the forest duff, and you probably won’t even notice the burn.

Three-quarters of a mile in, there’s an unimproved overlook from which you can admire the grandeur of these spectacular falls. There’s a whole lot of serious hydraulics at work here.

The Cascades, another falls, is about a half-mile beyond the overlook. The trail peters out, but if hikers keep the creek in sight, they can travel cross-country and extend the outing.

According to the Forest Service, the water flowing over these falls begins as snow and glacial ice on Broken Top and South Sister. Sometimes Squaw Creek carries a red tinge from eroded volcanic cinders. Right now, the creek is a milky gray. That’s from ”glacial flour,” particles of rock ground by glacial action and deposited in the stream.

From Sisters, take Road 16 (Elm Street) south for seven miles. Turn right on Forest Road 1514 and continue 4.8 miles to Road 600. Turn left and follow Road 600 for two miles, then turn left on Road 680. The trailhead is about one-quarter mile down the road. Take it slow; these roads are rough.