Sylvie Dale

Sylvie Dale

Beginner

Beaver Falls Trail

12/28/23

Beaver Falls Trail near Clatskanie, Oregon. Google Maps: 4V3G+R7, Clatskanie, OR 97016 Easy hike to a spot that is not crowded. We visited on a drizzly Wednesday in December. It was only an hour and 14 minutes from our home in Beaverton, with all paved roads. There is a small parking area near the trailhead on the south side of Beaver Falls Rd.  We drove West on Beaver Falls Rd and missed it, went over a bridge, and found a large parking area (space for about 20 cars, but only 3 were there). At first thinking this was the trailhead (no signs), we got out and looked down the hill at the creek. There are narrow, rocky dirt tracks down the hill, but I opted out after going about halfway down because it was steep and muddy.  We got back in the car, went east over the bridge, and parked in a smaller pull-off (maybe 3 cars) to the right. There is a break in the chain link fence but you have to hop over the guardrail to continue.  A wide, easy trail continues from there to the west, staying between the road and the creek, ending up at the top of the falls. The water feeding the falls was spread out to about 10 feet wide and only ankle deep but running fast due to the rain.  The trail continues on the other side of the creek and probably continues down to the base of the falls, which I hear is pretty beautiful. I opted not to wade into the fast-moving water, but it should be safer when it hasn't been raining so much.  Side note: We drove home via Quincy, Clatskanie, Vernonia on 47, and finally Highway 26. It was misty/foggy, dark, and difficult to see the winding road past the headlights of oncoming traffic.  I wouldn't do that again if I can help it. Luckily you can double back to Hwy 30 pretty easily.  I'm looking forward to returning for a longer visit.

3.0