Welcome!
For the first time, Outings! will cover an actual hike! Usually this series has reviewed a city or county park, but with Monday being a holiday I used it as an excuse to get out into the woods. I also managed to drag my spouse, our best friend Bolt, and her dog Yuki along for the ride!
Alsea Falls and Green Peak Falls
About an hour southwest of our house is an entire recreational site I’d never even heard of before. The Alsea Falls Recreational Area is located in the eastern side of the Coast Range, and follows the South Fork of the Alsea River. There’s a network of biking and running trails, hiking trails near the falls (which this post is about), as well as campgrounds. Swimming and fishing holes abound in the warmer months, but cold, wet weather doesn’t keep Oregonians from spending time in the park.
The drive up to the trailhead is a winding mountain climb, surrounded by gorgeous evergreen trees. You get some peekaboo views of farmland in the valley below, which our suprisingly sunny day transmuted into something truly stunning. If all we did was drive there and back, I would have been happy.
Luckily, we did more than just drive. We did manage to get slightly lost because I decided not to trust google maps (which, to be fair, can get confused when it comes to locating trailheads) and took a wrong turn. We parked at a different trailhead, consulted the map while a couple of mountain bikers prepped for their ride, and then waved our goodbyes, reloaded into the car and headed to the correct parking lot.
Once at our actual destination, there were only a couple of cars in the lot. It was about 10am, a chilly ~38 degrees, and the sun was shining through the moss-caoted trees. A perfect day for a hike after a weekend full of rain.
This trail features two waterfalls (for which it’s named): Alsea Falls and Green Peak Falls. Alsea Falls is a twenty-foot drop, easily viewed from multiple lookouts right off the trailhead. During the appropriate season, you can even watch salmon jump the falls on their way to their spawning grounds!
Green Peak Falls is tucked further back, about a mile along a winding, fairly technical trail. There’s a lot of up and down, scrambling over downed trees, and navigating rocks and root systems. But the falls are a gorgeous 45-foot drop that you can walk right up to. They are 100% worth the effort to get back there.
Stats & Specs
This is the part where I break down the trail by the numbers!
Trail Specs:
- Distance: 2.8 miles from the car and back
- Elevation Gain: ~570ft according to my Fitbit
- Hours: The trailhead is a Day-Use area, so Sunrise to Sunset
- Environment: This is the good stuff right here. The trail climbs through a forest of maples, old growth Douglas firs, and western red cedar, all while following the South Fork of the Alsea River. If you can’t see the water, you can definitely hear it. The air is crisp and clear, and smells of that bright cedar-y fragrance I love so much. This is a state recreation area, designed for hiking, camping, and mountain biking, so pristine nature is the point, and this trail delivers.
- Condition: We had some wind/ice storms in the last month and the effects are still felt on this trail. There were several downed trees (which we simply climbed over) and some damage to trail ralings/stairways. That said, the trail is still completely traversable and in otherwise great condition. It was a little muddy due to heavy rains over the weekend, but that day it was clear and dry. The falls themselves were overflowing, making for a breathtaking experience. The road conditions were great (paved the whole way), and the trailhead has two separate bathroom facilities.
- Popularity: We visited on MLK Jr. Day, which is a Free Parks Day here in Oregon. While cold (~40 degrees) it was clear and the sun was shining. By the time we hit the trail at 10am, there were four other cars in the lot, and cyclists unloading at a different trailhead nearby. By the time we finished the hike and got back to the car around noon, the parking lot was full. All of this is to say that this is a very popular trail, and I can imagine an early start is required in the summer months.
- Uses: This particular trail is used for hiking and maybe trail running, although it’s pretty technical for that I would think. The parking lot is ringed by a series of picnic tables, and Alsea Falls is right at the start of the trail and easily accessed. So picnics and small parties could also use the trailhead. Nearby are a series of mountain biking and trail running trails as well as a campground that’s open in the summer. I’ve read that swimming is a popular summer activity in the park.
My Stats
- Duration: 1 hour 54 minutes
- Pace: 37’26”
- Average Heart Rate: 118 BPM
- Max Heart Rate: 156 BPM
- Active Zone Minutes: 57
- Steps: 8,023 steps
- Calories Burned: 794
My Gear:
- Columbia Windbreaker/Rain Jacket in Teal
- Mystery Columbia Pullover with Throat Zipper in Black Heather
- Rupumpack 2.5L Hydration Backpack, in sky blue
- This is an affordable, entry level hiking bag that comes with its own hydration bladder. I’ve since replaced that bladder with a much higher quality 2.5L Osprey version. The upgrade was definitely worth it.
- Asolo Athena WP Boots
- I broke out the hiking boots for the first time this year! If you really want to know more about them, this is a wonderful review. I absolutely LOVE these boots and got them for just $25 after using a credit card reward at Sierra Trading Post. Best. Purchase. Ever.
- Fleece-lined leggings, black
- Columbia Pleasant Creek Convertible Pants
- In the winter I wear these over my leggings to add an additional moisture barrier. I am… prone to slipping and falling, and if my ass happens to land in mud, these pants help keep my base layer dry. They’re also a great summer option as they are UV blocking!
- Ancient (and Beloved) Chandler-Gilbert Community College Beanie, black
Trevor’s Gear:
- Columbia Windbreaker/Rain Jacket, Orange and Gray
- RuneScape Iron Man Letterman Jacket
- Jeans
- Salem Ale Works beanie, gray
- Boots, unknown make/model
Bolt’s Gear
- Puffy jacket, red, brand unknown
- Scarf and beanie
- Under Armor long sleeve shirt
- Corduroy overalls
- Rupumpack 2.5L Hydration Backpack, in purple
- Merrell Q Form 2 Select Dry Hiking Boots, in blue gray
Yuki’s Gear
- Harness, make/model unknown
- RuffWear Knot-a-Leash Rope dog leash, in Hibiscus Pink
The Verdict
There’s a lot here to love. A trail with a bit of challenge to it, gorgeous forest and water views, and relatively close to my house? This is a winner, for sure! I’m honestly a little worried that this trail has set the bar too high for the rest of this year’s hikes!
This was a really nice hike, though – yet again – it was a little harder than originally advertised. B. has a habit of tricking me into more physical activity than I’d like, but this time it really was worth it. The Green Peak waterfall was awesome!
This was a little tougher than I expected, which is rough for the first hike of the year. But it was so beautiful! There were SO MANY mushrooms to squeal about, and giant trees to hug! And the waterfalls? So pretty, dude.
Yuki wuz here.
That's All, Folks!
I’m still just floored that, after a dreary weekend, we had blue skies and sunshine for our first hike of the year. I’m not really a person to believe in signs, but if I did? This would be one heck of a good omen.
It’s also worth noting that, while Trevor and I both agree that our Sunday walks are really good for us, they cannot even begin to compare with the mood boost I get from a good hike. There’s a stillness that comes over me while I’m on the trail, like I’m on the best ADHD med possible for the duration and the hour or so afterward. I know that’s because working out releases dopamine which is what the ADHD brain craves, but I could lift weights or do yoga all damn day and not feel half as good as a two hour hike makes me feel.
It’s something in the alchemy of physical exertion and nature that just hits so so so good. As winter continues, it’s unlikely that we’ll have many more clear days that coincide with my time off, so I am incredibly grateful that we made the most of this MLK Jr. Day and spent time outdoors.
I’ll be back this weekend with another blog post, this time talking about what to do when you’re rought draft is done! If you’re the writerly type, you don’t want to miss it!
Until then, Bloggarts!
BZ
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