Oregon Just Approved the Purchase of Abiqua Falls, and I Never Thought I’d See This Day

I’ve hiked to Abiqua Falls for years, and I never gave much thought to who owned it. You drive deep into the woods, work your way down toward the creek, and eventually step into that huge basalt amphitheater with the falls dropping into the pool below. I love coming back here, and for a long time I assumed I always could.

Seeing the property come up for sale earlier this year caught me off guard. I never thought I’d see the day when land containing a waterfall this well known would appear on the real estate market. We hear about ranches and timberland changing hands all the time in Oregon, but I hadn’t imagined Abiqua Falls being somewhere a person could buy.

According to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission approved a $2 million acquisition involving Abiqua Falls and surrounding property near Scotts Mills in Marion County on September 23. The land includes the waterfall area, forest, and the informal trails visitors have used for years. The transaction could close before the end of the year, moving a place I’ve loved hiking for so long into public ownership.

Public Access Has Depended on Private Owners

Abiqua Falls has historically been privately owned, with the land long associated with Mount Angel Abbey and the Abbey Foundation of Oregon. For generations, visitors could reach the falls because the owners allowed public access. Hikers, photographers, anglers, and day-trippers have been coming here under that arrangement for years.

A lot of people who have visited probably never realized they were crossing private property. There was no typical state park entrance, large paved parking lot, or maintained trail system. You went because access had been allowed, and for years that arrangement worked.

Once the property went on the market, continued access became less certain. A new owner might not have allowed visitors to keep hiking to the falls. For those of us who had been going for years, there was suddenly a reason to wonder whether we’d be able to return.

How the State Purchase Came Together

After the property went on the market, lawmakers from both parties supported an effort to bring Abiqua Falls into public ownership. During the 2026 legislative session, Oregon approved bond funding to help acquire the land. That funding allowed the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to pursue a purchase.

The September 23 vote brings the acquisition closer to completion, though the sale still has to close. State parks officials also have to work out how the property will be managed. OPRD has said it expects to have a clearer management plan as the transaction moves toward closing.

What Hikers Can Expect

Anyone who has made the hike knows there’s plenty to account for here. The roads can be rough, parking is limited, and the route toward the creek includes steep sections. The informal trails were never built to accommodate the traffic Oregon’s larger state parks receive.

Managing the property will mean addressing trail maintenance, sanitation, emergency access, erosion, and natural resource protection. The state will also have to consider how many visitors the area can reasonably handle. Hikers shouldn’t assume the purchase immediately changes the roads, trails, parking arrangements, or access rules.

If this news has you thinking about a trip, check current access information before heading out. Our Oregon waterfalls guide can also help you compare other waterfall hikes and viewpoints around the state. Abiqua’s rough approach and steep descent deserve some preparation, however short the hike looks on paper.

I Hope the State Is Careful With This Place

Part of what I’ve always liked about Abiqua Falls is that it doesn’t feel polished. The trip down into the canyon is a real hike, and the approach is part of the experience. The final view is still impressive no matter how many photos you’ve seen beforehand, or how many times you’ve been there yourself.

I’d hate to see that character lost to too much development. More visitors can also mean more erosion, damaged vegetation, trash, parking conflicts, and safety problems. Keeping the property open for the long term will take maintenance and some practical improvements, and I’ll be interested to see what the state proposes.

For years, I went to Abiqua because I loved the place and assumed I could come back. Seeing it listed for sale made me realize how much that depended on the owners continuing to let people in. I’m glad Oregon is moving ahead with the purchase, and I want to see a plan that keeps the trail accessible while taking care of the creek and canyon.