Alsea Falls and Green Peak Falls

IMG_8034

Heather and I went up to visit Alsea Falls and Green Peak Falls in the Oregon Coast Range today.

IMG_8035

The bridge over the Alsea River above the falls.

IMG_8036

The top of the falls.

IMG_8038 IMG_8040

Heather is a master of the self portrait.

IMG_8041
IMG_8043

Don’t fall in!


IMG_8048

Checking out some interesting moss.


IMG_8050IMG_8052IMG_8056 IMG_8057 IMG_8060 IMG_8062IMG_8071 IMG_8072 IMG_8073 IMG_8077 IMG_8078 IMG_8079 IMG_8080 IMG_8081 IMG_8082

Big trees lurk in this part of the forest.  Most of the old growth is gone in Oregon but in a few small isolated pockets the elders of the forest still live.

STA_8083-STI_8091

 

This is a very large, very old tree.  I am happy that it hasn’t been cut down yet and still lives on in the primordial forests of the Oregon Coast Range.

IMG_8109 IMG_8110 IMG_8112

These plants look inviting on the surface.

IMG_8113

Underneath they are full of needles!

IMG_8114

Don’t touch that trunk!

STA_8092-STI_8100

IMG_8119 IMG_8121

Walking up a different fork of the Alsea River toward the Green Peak Falls.

IMG_8122

A secret little garden.

IMG_8126

The path to Green Peak Falls.

IMG_8128 IMG_8132 IMG_8135

Green Peak Falls.  I think this is a bigger falls in terms of vertical distance than the Alsea Falls but perhaps the other falls pushes a larger volume of water over.

STA_8149-STH_8156

IMG_8138

Heather is telling me to come quick with the camera.

IMG_8139

Heather found a newt climbing the falls!

IMG_8141

A crayfish was just under the surface of the pool below the falls, too.


IMG_8144 IMG_8146

During times of high water, the falls expand to encompass this area, too.

IMG_8157

Go newt, go!

IMG_8167

From above the falls.

IMG_8170

It is a placid pool above.

Looking around at the top of the falls.

IMG_8172 IMG_8173

STA_8101-STH_8108

Big trees lurk around every corner.

IMG_8184

Back at the top of the Alsea Falls.