Alsea Falls is a 30-foot cascade on the South Fork Alsea River in Benton County, Oregon, where the river slides down a staircase of smooth rock into a pool. It is the centerpiece of the Bureau of Land Management's Alsea Falls Recreation Site, a campground, picnic area and trail network in the Coast Range forest.
The falls
The falls drop 30 feet in a single descent at a 41-degree pitch over a 150-foot run, about 20 feet wide. Flow averages around 25 cubic feet per second at high water and drops to almost nothing at low stage. Broad rock slabs line the channel, and several informal viewpoints sit along the banks, though some are underwater during high flows.
Getting there
From Corvallis, the BLM route follows Highway 99W south about 15 miles, then Alpine Road west about 9 miles. From Alsea, take the Alsea-Deadwood Highway south about 1 mile and turn left on South Fork Road for about 8.5 miles, where the approach includes gravel sections. The falls are a three- to four-minute walk from the picnic-area parking, while a 5.5-mile hike connects Alsea Falls with Green Peak Falls.
Every vehicle pays a day-use fee, set by the BLM at $5 to $20 depending on vehicle capacity, or $30 for an annual Northwest Oregon day-use pass. Payment is made by QR code through the Recreation.gov app; because cell service is limited or absent at the site, visitors should download it beforehand. Parking is first-come, first-served. In May 2026 the BLM approved improvements including trail hardening, a pavilion, a viewing area and new signs.
When to go
Day-use areas are open year-round. The falls run strongest in winter and spring, with peak flow from March through May, and snow is possible on the access road and trail from December to March. The 16-site campground operates from the first weekend in May through the end of September.
On site
Smooth rock slabs draw swimmers and sunbathers, and wading in the pool below is among the site's listed activities. In fall and winter, salmon can be seen attempting to leap the falls. The campground provides drinking water and vault toilets, and campfires are regulated by seasonal fire danger.
History and name
The name likely derives from Alsi, a historical term for the native people living near the mouth of the Alsea River.
Nearby
Green Peak Falls is about 0.7 mile away and shares the recreation site's trail system. Fish Hatchery Falls is about 7.8 miles away, and Alder Creek Falls about 10.4 miles.
Distances are straight-line.