THINGS TO DO

Hiking and Biking

The Siuslaw National Forest features dozens of beautiful hiking trails, both primitive and constructed.

Sweet Creek Falls
Just on the east side of the Siuslaw River Bridge in Mapleton is Sweet Creek Road, paved, little-traveled, and perfect for a bike ride up to 20 miles roundtrip.

Or if you want to hike, drive 10.2 miles to the Homestead Trailhead turnaround where a traveled path heads upstream past multiple waterfalls and through old Douglas firs.

Clay Creek and Kentucky Falls
Head 12 miles east on Hwy 126 to Clay Creek, and turn right on Whittaker Creek Road, also called Siuslaw River Road.

If you are biking, you can park in the parking lot near the bridge, and bike from there.

To hike Clay Creek, continue to follow the Siuslaw River Road for about 8.2 miles and bear left on Siuslaw River Access Road. Proceed another 6 miles and turn right to reach the entrance of the campground.

To get to Kentucky Falls, drive 1.5 miles on the Siuslaw River Road, then turn left onto Dunn Ridge road. Go 6.9 miles, then turn left. Go 2.7 miles, then turn right onto Forest Service Road 919. The trialhead is in 2.6 miles. Major functions enroute to the trailhead are signed. The North Fork Smith Trailhead is approximately 5.5 miles from the 919 road junction on the 23 road.

Bicycling Sweet Creek Fall Road in October (above)

The hike to Sweet Creek Falls is improved with a newtrail, making it possible to walk alongside the sometimes steep river banks. (left)

For more information

• Mapleton Ranger district. You can get a Siuslaw National Forest map here.
• Recreation.gov's Oregon site. Select a recreational area. Here's the Siuslaw National Forest site.
• USDA's Forest Service website, Siuslaw National Forest
• Oregon State Parks. From here, select Find a Park, or Bikeways.

Fishing

While you can certainly fish off the dock, you may wish to join other anglers on the river, by boat. If your boat is too big to launch off the dock here, a public boat ramp is down river just below Mapleton. You can tie it up to the dock, but be aware of the low tides.

Early morning Fall fishing across the river

Above Mapleton, you'll find winter steelhead, while Chinook, searun cutthroat, and shad are primarily in tidewater below Mapleton. Near the Siuslaw River mouth in Florence are many varieties of saltwater fish, as well as crabbing and clamming from jetties and in the bay.

More information:

Oregon Dunes Recreation Area
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Other Activities/Information

On the coast

Oregon Coast Aquarium, Newport at the south end of the Yaquina Bay Bridge.