Benham Falls is the largest falls on the upper Deschutes River in central Oregon, a Class 5 stretch of rapids between Sunriver and Bend. It formed about 6,000 years ago when an eruption at nearby Lava Butte dammed the river, created temporary Lake Benham, and later left the falls when the Deschutes cut through the dam and drained the lake. The site took its name from J. R. Benham, who around 1885 unsuccessfully sought a land claim there. Now within Deschutes National Forest and Newberry National Volcanic Monument, it is a popular, easily reached destination known for overlooks, trails, wildlife, and wildflowers.