Green Peak Falls

Details

Region: Mid-Willamette Valley / Central Coast Range

Location: Hubert K. McBee Memorial Park, South Fork Rd (BLM), Alsea, Oregon 97324

DEN Rating: 8/10

Trail Length: 1 mile total

Trail Type: out-and-back, can be extended to include Alsea Falls

Hike Time: 30-40 minutes total

Trail Difficulty: moderately easy 4/10

Elevation Gain: 80 feet

Trail Surface: dirt, stairs

Popularity: 4/10

Family friendly: yes

Pet friendly: yes

Handicapped Accessible: no

Swimming: yes

Camping: yes at Hubert K. McBee Memorial Park camground at the trailhead, with additional camping at BLM’s Alsea Falls Campground (1 mile up the road).

Restroom: vault toilet in campground

Open Hours: day use only on trail (dawn to dusk)

Season: year-round

Pass or Permit: none required

Managed By: Bureau of Land Management. McBee Campground is managed privately by Hull-Oakes Timber Company and is open for public use.

Green Peak Falls drops twice - once down a long horsetail, then again over a short, wide ledge before entering its pretty pool in the forest. — *Green Peak Falls at low flow in early October. The inviting-looking pool at the bottom is pretty cold!*

Green Peak Falls is by far the more impressive of the pair of waterfalls found in the Alsea River headwaters. It splashes and slides down a 50-foot chute with a lower 5-foot ledge falls which fills a big pool below. The falls are gentle and approachable in summer and fall, when you can climb up on the lower ledge and explore around the pool. At high winter and spring flows the falls gush down with force, becoming much wider – almost a steep tumbling rapid. Between the mist and the trees in the now more limited viewing area, Green Peak Falls is more difficult to get a clear view of when the water is high. There are some discrepancies in how tall the falls are reported to be. From what I saw, I think NW Waterfall Survey’s 45-foot total height is an underestimate.

The trail leads from a big dirt parking area at the back of the Hubert K. McBee Memorial Park campground. The trail winds through the pretty forest for about 1/2 mile, with the difficulty increasing in the second half. A somewhat sketchy set of stairs (the wood is getting soft) leads down to the falls base. I imagine this hike would feel magical on a foggy spring or autumn morning.

Overall this is a great and fairly quick hike. The falls look good at low water and the pool is deep and clean (but very cold), making this a nice summer hike with a refreshing finish. The forest is enchanting, with a few nice views of the creek from the trail. Near the parking area you can take the trail to Alsea Falls, which is about 1/2 mile away as the crow flies. I’ve never hiked this trail (Alsea River Trail) but reviews describe various conditions, which leads me to believe there was a landslide and the trail has been rerouted. I do plan to hike this section in spring of 2025 so expect an update.

Cautions

Overall this is a pretty safe hike. Be careful on the stairs – the wood is starting to rot and they will need to be replaced soon. Make sure of your footing if you climb up onto the lower tier rock. Exercise normal cautions if you swim here, and get out if you get cold! The pool is not super deep so look before you jump or dive!

Swimming Hole Info

The pool is fairly big, definitely better than the hard-to-reach small pool at Alsea Falls. Just don’t expect warm water! The short ledge that forms the lower tier of the falls is a perfect short jumping spot.

summer water temp: cold 60-65F
water clarity: 6-10ft
color: clear / colorless to cloudy dark green
Depth: 6-10ft
Current: 0-2
Shoreline & stream bottom surface: dirt / roots, muddy bottom with some rocks

The lower portion of Green Peak Falls dances down a short ledge in a few side-by-side streams before landing in a large pool surrounded by shadowy forest. — *A side view of the lower tier of Green Peak Falls. At higher flows all of the channels form one wide, solid sheet.*

Getting There

From Junction City (near Eugene), take Hwy 99-W north to Monroe. Turn left onto Alpine Rd and follow the signs to Alsea Falls in about 13 miles. The forest becomes extremely pretty on this drive – tons of ferns, cool light…beautiful. Go 0.6 miles past Alsea Falls and turn left into the Hubert K. McBee campground. Cross the little Alsea River bridge then turn left into the parking area signed for Green Peak Falls. From Corvallis, take Hwy 34 West to Alsea, then turn south at the sign for Alsea Falls. Turn left onto South Fork Road in one mile, and follow it for 8 miles to the right turn into the campground. Some of this route is gravel road but is passable by an average car.

Photographer’s Tip

The falls face west, and around the equinoxes a beam of light shoots up the canyon near sunset and creates bright patches on the falls. You’ll have even light in the morning. When the water is low and the falls are tame there are a lot of great angles to work with, including up close and more distant shots with the waterfall reflected in the calm pool. At high flows there is a lot more mist and good viewpoints become submerged.

Links

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/alsea-falls-trail-green-peak-falls-trail

https://www.theoutbound.com/oregon/hiking/hike-to-alsea-and-green-peak-falls

https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Green_Peak_Falls

https://www.hikeoregon.net/alsea-falls-and-green-peak-falls.html

https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Green-Peak-Falls-4820