top of page
Nicole

Hiking Abiqua Falls


Every hike is an adventure… and some days, no matter how much planning you do there will be times where perhaps you bite off a little more than you can chew. This is exactly what I think of when I explain and reminisce on my long awaited Abiqua Falls visit. I had decided while on this recent trip, visiting my family and friends in Oregon that I would finally make the drive and visit this epic and much photographed waterfall. I have long used All Trails when recording my track while hiking to make sure I take the right trail in order to end up at my desired end goal. So, I set off last week on a Tuesday morning where the skies filled with storm clouds and just as I started my hike down to the falls, it started DUMPING rain. I got about 2 miles down the trail and then realized there was no way the track I was following could be right. I considered turning around once the claps of thunder and lightning in the sky began, but I was there to meet a goal, so I pushed on despite my cautious nature. I kept following the supposed track in order to find the correct trail, but time and time again I failed. I decided that after many missteps along tree lined and overgrown ‘false trails’ that hiking along these old growth trees that this was nowhere to be during a thunder and lightning storm, so 3.5 miles in, I turned around. As an experienced hiker, I do believe turning around no matter what the circumstance, is never a bad or wrong idea. I got in my car with the intent to still see waterfalls, at nearby Silver Falls State Park. But… just as I was getting back into town and cell phone range, the skies opened up to a clear blue and sunshine. Abiqua was calling me back… So, this time, I reached out to a friend who gave me much better ‘girl’ directions and I sped back to the trail in my thankfully, high profile vehicle. I decided I would drive down as far as I could and then start the downhill trail to the falls. On my way back, I came across a couple who was stuck in their late 90’s Toyota Corrola and helped drive them back up to less treacherous ground so they could escape the rain storm. (In writing this, I hope we are able to connect) After that, I kept on and arrived at a locked gate marked private property. My friend, Jo’s directions were exactly what I needed all along! The directions were now to find the trail located about 10 yards going back the other way up the trail, so of course, I took the first thing I saw down. This trail was perhaps the most steep trail I had ever been on and the slick mud, pouring rain and rope needed to climb down were not part of the most ideal conditions. But, I was determined. After getting down this wall of mud, I looked up and wasn’t quite sure how I was going to make it back up, but I went on to hunt the falls. I even saw a snake as I was wiping the caked mud off my hands after self rappelling this trail down, and I merely rolled my eyes at it, having just accomplished something more scary than some coiled snake. As I made my way to the falls, I noticed another much more mild trail down with yellow ropes and apparently this is a much, much easier way down. Noted… This is the way I will return back to my car. You continue down an overgrown and tree fallen trail along a flowing creek and this is where you can have a sigh of relief and realize you are just around the corner of something incredible. An epic sight… perhaps the most incredible waterfall I have ever seen. The misadventure was worth every misstep, every bit of drama I put up with to get down here. I would gladly do it again. The aftermath of this trip included the following: poison oak around both ankles (from going down so many ‘false trails’, two tick bites (non lyme carrying, thankfully), and a water logged phone that shut off later that evening (despite life proof case and was saved thanks to a late night bath in a ziplock with rice a roni). Not to mention, a full day of being cold, wet and mud ridden clothes. And… I would do it all again and perhaps not change any of the circumstances that got me there.

Tags:

Recent Posts

Follow Us

  • Black Facebook Icon
  • Black Twitter Icon
  • Black Instagram Icon
bottom of page