Abiqua Falls, Oregon

swooshdave · May 4, 2025

For my birthday, I set out to visit waterfalls in and around Santiam State Forest, joined by my friend Mike. We traded our usual motorcycles for the Bronco this time. First up was Abiqua Falls, which required a challenging hike—really more of a climb—down a steep, rope-assisted trail. We reached the falls safely, and I used my drone to capture a unique view from the top, different from other shots I’ve seen. The climb back up was demanding, though we took a less difficult route. A locked gate blocked our planned loop to another waterfall, so we had to head north to Molalla and backtrack. Since it was lunchtime, we stopped at The Humble Pig Cafe for sandwiches, which were as good as expected. Afterward, we visited Panther Rock, where clear skies offered views of Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Hood, and Mt. St. Helens. We finished with a quick stop at the Eye of Molalla along the Molalla River before heading home. Like, subscribe, and share your thoughts on waterfall hikes in the comments.

Aside from the stunning waterfall as soon as I found out the road to the falls trailhead required a "capable" vehicle I was in. While most high clearance vehicles wouldn't have much trouble, the Bronco didn't even notice the road.