Featuring incredible forest exploration options and access to many recreational opportunities, Alsea Falls Recreation Site is a perfect home base for RV lovers visiting the Oregon Coast Range. Unlike the majority of BLM managed areas, you will need to pay a camping fee to stay at Alsea Falls Recreation Site, but it will be well worth it. Alsea Falls Recreation Site is named after Alsea Falls, which is a 30-foot high waterfall that you can watch in the day-use area. The stunning waterfall is the main highlight of the recreation area, and most of the amenities that the area contains have been developed so that you can enjoy this marvelous natural highlight.
There are many different trails that you can explore, including the Alesa Falls Trail that will take you around the top of the waterfall. During the warmer months, you can also cool off in the south fork of the Alsea River or at Fall Creek in the southern part of the recreation area. You will have the choice of multiple picnic areas for you to enjoy, or if you are feeling adventurous, you can head to the nearby Fall Creek Day-Use Trailhead where there are over 12 miles of trails suitable for hiking or mountain biking. Other nearby attractions to Alsea Falls Recreation Site include Green Peak Falls and a trout hatchery.
RV camping suitable for rigs up to 32 feet long is available at the campground in the southern part of the recreation area. While there are no electric hookups, there are more amenities than the usual BLM camping area, including water collection points, vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. Peak season at Alsea Falls Recreation Site runs from the beginning of May until the end of September.
Driving to and from Alesa Falls Recreation Site is not too difficult and it can be accessed from the north and south via BLM South Fork Road. The road in and out of the recreation site is kept in very good condition and you should have no trouble navigating the surrounding roads that you will encounter along the way.
If you need to pick up any supplies for your trip you should be aware that there are no towns within 10 miles, so it is best to stop in on your journey so you won't have to leave once you have arrived. Most of the populated areas that contain stores are located to the east of Alesa Falls Recreation Site, such as Monroe (14 miles away), Harrisburg (around 23 miles away), and Junction City (around 23 miles away). The closest major city to the park is Eugene, which is around 37 miles southwest.
Alesa Falls Recreation Site is open all year round, but during the wintertime, it may be difficult to access it depending on the amount of snowfall in the area. Since there is no office at the recreation site we recommend calling the BLM office if you are concerned about the weather conditions.
There is plenty of parking available at Alesa Falls Recreation Site towards the northern section where the day-use area is. If you are planning on staying overnight you can also park your RV in the campground and walk to the day-use area.
The campground within the Alsea Falls Recreation Site is the perfect place for RV lovers to call home during their visit to the Oregon Coast Range. Suitable for RVs up to 32 feet in length, the campground does cost money to use, so you can't go dry camping for free when visiting this BLM land.
The campground is known for being very peaceful on weekdays during the peak season and features 16 RV campsites for you to enjoy. All of the campsites that are RV friendly do not feature electrical hookups, but each site does come with a picnic table and fire ring. Other amenities within the campground include vault toilets that are kept in good condition and numerous water collection points. There is no dump station, so you will have to take your waste out with you.
On the weekends the campground can easily fill up since there aren't many sites to choose from. If you plan on visiting during this time we recommend booking a reservation in advance. Alsea Falls Campground is open all year round and during the off-season, sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis only.
There is one other campground within close proximity to the Alsea Falls Recreation Site that is owned by a private company but is available to use free of charge. Located on the trail between Alsea Falls and Green Falls, the campground is very primitive with no services available besides trash collection.
There are a total of five RV-friendly sites to choose from and all sites are located on dirt pads. Reservations can be made in advance, but most travelers use the campground on a first-come, first-served basis since it isn't too popular. Please note that one of the campground sites is right in the trail between the two falls, so if you stay here expect some foot traffic from hikers using the trail.
During your visit to Alsea Falls Recreation Site, you will get the chance to cool off during the hot summer day by taking a dip in the Alsea River. Although there is no designated swimming area or sandy beach, the river is easily accessible from the day-use area and it is known for being extremely clear and refreshing. For visitors staying in campgrounds towards the southern section of the recreation site, you can also jump into Fall Creek.
Hiking is the most popular activity to do at Alsea Falls Recreation Site due to the incredible beauty of the untouched forests that surround the area. There are plenty of trails to choose from, but the most popular is the Alsea Falls Trail that takes you to the top of the waterfall.
Suitable for people of all ages, this is a must-do activity when visiting the recreation site. If it has been raining, be prepared for the trails to be muddy and slippery, so proceed with caution.
Thanks to the great amenities within the Alsea Falls Recreation Site you and your traveling buddies can have a relaxing picnic near the bottom of the falls. The day-use area features multiple picnic sites that are available on a first-come, first-served basis only.
Within the picnic area, you will find many great amenities to increase your picnicking experience, including water collection points, grills, and vault toilets. Be prepared for the picnic area to be quite busy on weekends since the area attracts many day-trippers.
Along with the 16 sites in the main campground, there are a further five campsites suitable for tent-only camping. These sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis or via reservation and are located closer towards the day-use area. A maximum of eight people can stay at one site with a limit of two vehicles being allowed.
Once the weather gets a little colder, many keen anglers flock to the area surrounding Alsea Falls Recreation Site to do some fishing. The South Fork of the Alsea River (which is located to the north) is known to be a premier destination for winter fishing, with popular species including salmon and steelhead.
If you are interested in doing some fishing you will have to bring all of your own gear, have a current fishing license, and be prepared for the cold temperatures that will greet you.
Another popular way to enjoy the great outdoors near Alsea Falls Recreation Site is to bring your mountain bike and take on the trails. To the east of the camping area are some of the best mountain biking trails in the area that contain many different jumps, drops, and switchbacks.
There are trails suitable for any skill level, but if you are a beginner rider we recommend taking it easy and enter the trail network near the gate.
Although not as well known, Green Peak Falls is another great place to explore not too far from the Alsea Falls Recreation Site. The falls can be accessed from the trail that leaves from the campground and there is a fun rope climb waiting for you when you make it there. Be prepared for the trail to be muddy if it has been raining and keep your eye out for salamanders hanging out in the water.
