Lincoln County is home to the Central Oregon Coast. If you can get away from the beach, magnificent Drift Creek Falls awaits deep in the woods. A couple other waterfalls are better visited on the way to the central Oregon Coast or on the way home. By no means a conclusive list of waterfalls, but here are three worth your time.

DRIFT CREEK FALLS

Most visitors to the central Oregon Coast come for the beaches, seashore and little towns to visit along the ocean – Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Newport. Hiding away in the mountains to the east of Lincoln City roars a veritable gem, Drift Creek Falls, one of the most majestic of waterfalls found near the Coast. Water running over the falls actually comes from the North Fork of Drift Creek, but that name seems a bit long. Falling 66 feet dramatically into a confluence with Drift Creek proper – waterfall rating of 51.53, the scene is made even more dramatic from a nearby 250-foot-long walking bridge suspended 100 feet above the gorge of Drift Creek below.

the drive

Waterfalls are not what people normally come for when they venture to the Coast, but they don’t know what they are missing. Normal access for Drift Creek Falls is via Forest Highway 17. Do not look for the number, however. Follow signs pointing towards “Drift Creek Falls Trailhead”. You used to be able to drive on a ten-mile access road directly east from Lincoln City. At the time of my visit, though, a landslide closed that route. Instead, head on Oregon Highway 18 to Rose Lodge, a hamlet a couple miles east of the intersection of US Highway 101 and Oregon 18. Turn south onto Bear Creek Road which is signed for the “Drift Creek Covered Bridge”.

Drift Creek Falls trailhead lies nine miles to the south. Follow the signs along the way. There is a short mile where the road becomes gravel ascending to the crest of the range, but most of the way is a twisty paved one-lane route with frequent turnouts for when you do meet oncoming traffic.

At the trailhead, there is a large parking lot for about thirty cars. The parking lot fills up as the waterfall’s popularity is well-known to both locals and visitors. This translates to come early or come late.

accessing the falls

The trail to the falls descends over 300 feet in one mile and a half through second-growth forest. A sidetrail reveals the more ancient original growth. The main trail is wide and you normally are not alone.

At the bridge, a plaque remembers a forest service foreman who died in the first attempt at building the bridge in 1993. It was not until 1999 before the bridge was finally completed with many of the components brought in by helicopter.

the falls

As you cross the suspension bridge, look at the large chunk of basalt which cleaved off the cliffs into the plunge pool below altering the appearance of the falls. The waterfall is well worth a visit, just time it early or later in the day for a visit. A link to the Forest Service brochure covering the trail and falls hides here. This is one of the best waterfalls to check out along the entire Coast.

ALSEA RIVER FALLS

The Alsea River runs a bit south of Newport, dumping into the ocean at Waldport. The river begins near the crest of Coast Range close to where the mountains descend into the Willamette Valley just south of Corvallis and Philomath. This is one of the waterfalls you visit on the way to or from the Coast. Even though the waterfalls truly sits off the beaten path, it remains well known to locals. There is both a day-use area – some 25 picnic sites – for visitors to the falls and a nearby campground with 16 campsites. The area’s administration falls to the Bureau of Land Management.

Full view from the bottom of Alsea Falls – 360 view click and drag mouse for full effect.

access

Access is easiest from either Corvallis-Philomath or Monroe-Eugene from the Willamette Valley side. From Corvallis, two options: first, head west through Philomath on US 20 and turn left onto Oregon Highway 34. Head up over the shoulder of Mary’s Peak and through the little town of Alsea. On the west end of town, turn left onto the Alsea-Deadwood Highway – technically, Oregon Highway 501. Signs point to “Alsea Falls, Lobster Valley and Grange Hall”. One mile south on this road and turn left onto South Fork Road. Alsea Falls is nine miles away – Monroe is 25 miles. South Fork Road becomes eventually the South Fork Access Road (BLM) and lists as a National Back Country Byway.

Top of Alsea River Falls – click and drag mouse for full 360 effect.

Option two heads south out of Corvallis – north out of Eugene – on Oregon 99W. From Corvallis, drive south for 15 miles turning right – west – onto Alpine Road. Pass through the hamlet of Alpine in five miles and continue on Alpine Road following signs to Alsea Falls. Near the top of the mountain divide the road becomes the South Fork Access Road (BLM). Alsea Falls is nine miles from Alpine.

From Eugene, the drive north on Oregon 99W to Monroe covers 20.8 miles with another mile north to Alpine Road.

the falls

Walking down to the bottom of Alsea Falls – click and drag mouse for full 360 effect.

Alsea Falls drops 30-feet rated at a mere 35.31. The rating is wintertime probably pushes the score into the 50’s. The BLM Park attracts lots of locals on the weekends and during the warm summer months. Just downstream from the Huckbert B. Lee Campground, a short half-mile trail wanders to Green Peak Falls. This falls drops 45-feet and rates a more majestic 47.53. A trail also runs over to Green Peak Falls from Alsea Falls taking in both falls on a 4.2-mile trek.

From the top of Alsea Falls, a 360 view – click and drag mouse for full 360 effect.

FALLS CITY FALLS

Having seen summer pictures of this waterfall on the Little Luckiamute River in the foothills of the Coast Range on the Willamette Valley side, you might wonder why the spotlight here?!? Timing is everything. Here is another of the waterfalls to check out when going to or from the Coast.

The waterfall, named after the little lumber-oriented town of Falls City, features a 60-foot drop. Northwest Waterfall Survey puts the falls on its list and map but gives little else in the way of information, failing even to rate the falls. Having only seen the waterfall in its early spring glory, the rating should equal Youngs River Falls near Astoria putting Falls City around a 50 rating – remember, Multnomah Falls rates highest in Oregon at 73.52.

access

Falls City lies 6 miles southeast of Dallas on Oregon Highway 223, and then 4 miles right – west – on Falls City Road. To reach Dallas from Salem, head west on Oregon Highway 22. Take the Dallas exit – Oregon 223 Ellendale Avenue – covering 15.4 miles. Drive through Dallas – county seat for Polk County – moving south on Oregon 223 towards Kings Valley. From Corvallis, head north on Oregon 99W to Airlie Road – 10 miles. Turn west – left – and drive to where this road dead ends into Oregon 223 – 12 miles. Turn right – north – and then left in 2 miles onto Falls City Road.

Driving into Falls City, the road becomes Main Street as it comes into the town. Just before the street crosses over the Little Luckiamute, there are two forks. The right fork, Mitchell Street, takes you – 0.1 mile – up to a steep dirt road off to the left. Park on Mitchell and walk down for a great view from the north side of the falls.

With the left fork – Bridge Street – go over the bridge turning right at Parry Street. Another 0.1 miles brings you to the little Falls City Falls Park giving you access to the south side of the falls and a view from the rim.

the falls

View from the south side of Falls City Falls – 360 view click and drag mouse for full effect.

From the south side, you cannot really get a good view of the falls as it drops into a narrow basalt canyon. You do get a superb view of the crest of the falls, however. From the north side, walk down from Mitchell Street with care. Winter flows make things very wet. The views are worth patience on the walk down.