Coastal Cascade Adventures: Waterfalls Near the Pacific
The Oregon Coast has waterfalls accessible from the Pacific. These coastal cascades offer unique beauty. They combine rainforest scenery. The roar of the ocean is nearby. Some of these falls drop onto the beach or into the sea. Starting from the south and working our way up to the northern border and back toward Portland, we’ll take you on hikes to Oregon’s Pacific Coast majestic waterfalls.
Coquille River Falls: Crazy Hike After Storms
This was one hard hike after the storm we witnessed passed. There are no services here. Park on the side of the road at the trailhead. Here’s what the falls look like from overhead.
And here’s a video of us scaling the hills where downed trees blocked the trails.
Here are some still shots we got of the trail and the waterfalls.
Elk Creek Falls: By the Side of the Remote Road
These falls are not very far from Coquille River Falls. And if you’re going to drive all the way out to Coquille River Falls, you might as well stop to see Elk Creek Falls, too. The walk to the falls from the road is not very far.
Cape Arago: A Fall Onto the Beach
Now this is a waterfall we didn’t even know was here. We went on a walk out to check out the seals and sea lions at Cape Arago and noticed this waterfall dropping onto the beach. Luckily I had my big lens with me to get the seals and sea lions. Here are a couple of shots from that area, plus a video of the seals and sea lions that I got at Simpson Reef Overlook.
Golden and Silver Falls: Demur Falls, Quiet, Adventurous Hike
These two are at the Golden and Silver Falls State Recreation Area. We had the place mostly to ourselves when we were there, but there wasn’t a lot of water. The Silver Falls are particularly interesting because of the gigantic rock they fall over. Getting different perspectives of these falls is difficult because climbing around the landscape below them is particularly hairy.
Sweet Creek Falls: A Beautiful Chain of Falls
These falls are near Mapleton, which is inland from Florence. It’s a fascinating place to explore and it seems like it’s relatively unknown, making it a peaceful escape from the busier coastal town of Florence. It’s especially colorful in the fall.
Alsea Falls: Secluded Falls in a Remote Area, Beautiful Hike
This small waterfall is not really on the coast, but it’s west of Eugene, so I’m counting it as one of the coastal falls. It’s a bit of a drive out to what seems like the middle of nowhere. But it’s a beautiful area to hike around.
Thor’s Well: A Waterfall in the Ocean, Short Hike
This phenomenon is in Yachats, a town on the coast pretty much parallel to Alsea Falls. Thor’s Well is a hole surrounded by rock where water drains into it as the ocean waves surge toward the beach. Researchers believe it was once a cave where the roof collapsed, creating the hole. It is fascinating to watch because each time waves roll toward the beach, the water drains into the hole, making different patterns each time. I could watch it for hours.
Larson Creek Falls: Small Streams Falling onto the Beach, Rocky Beach Hike
We did look for these falls. We got to the beach and found the man-made version of a waterfall, but not the one that falls onto the beach. I suspect we didn’t find it because the water level was too low when we went. But here’s a look at the man-made version.
Blumenthal Falls: Falls Dropping onto the Beach, Gorgeous Hike
This best thing about this waterfall is getting to it. It’s on the beach, but the hike to it runs through a beautiful forest. You access the trail from the other side of the highway where you can park at Short Sand Beach parking lot. There is more information about the trail in my Google review and in our AllTrails map.
When we got here, it was raining and the wind was blowing. Getting a photo seemed unlikely. But we waited a while, and the rain subsided. Then I was able to get a photo.
Youngs River Falls: Fun Swimming in the Summer, I’m Told
This waterfall is about a twenty minute drive from Astoria. Hiking down to the falls is a quick walk but it can be slick. An acquaintance who grew up in Astoria told me she used to come to these falls as a kid in the summer because it was a fun place to swim. When we were here, it was too chilly to swim. But it is a pretty waterfall.
Beaver Falls: On the Way to/from the Coast and Portland, Littered Hike
This is one of the prettiest waterfalls. So pretty, it looks man-made. It’s beautiful in the fall with the colors surrounding it. The hike had a lot of litter and glass, which I wrote about in my Google review. Here’s what it looks like when you’re at the bottom of the trail, and if you go to the top up the road from the parking area and look down over the chain-link fence.
Conclusion
The waterfall hikes near and on the coast are beautiful and worth the effort to get to them.
If you’re new to hiking or new to Oregon, you might want to take a look at our final post in this series, which is how to prepare to hike to the majestic waterfalls of Oregon.
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