One of Oregon’s most beloved waterfalls may soon belong to everyone.
Abiqua Falls, a striking 28-metre cascade tucked into the forest near Scotts Mills, is set to be purchased by the state after its longtime owners placed the property on the market.
For more than a century, the waterfall and surrounding land have been owned by Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary. The abbey’s foundation has held the property since 1908 and has allowed visitors to experience the site for decades.
Now the organization says it is ready to pass the responsibility on.
Rather than selling to a private buyer, the abbey worked with state officials on a plan that would keep the falls accessible to the public.
State Senator Fred Girod moved quickly to negotiate a deal and include funding for the purchase in Senate Bill 5701, a $500 million statewide funding bill for construction and maintenance projects.
The proposal sets aside $2 million to acquire the waterfall, about 17 hectares of surrounding land, and roughly 65 hectares of additional property upstream owned by a timber company.
Girod said the abbey made the process possible by agreeing to a lower price so the land could remain open to visitors.
“If the abbey insisted on getting top dollar, then this wouldn’t have happened,” Girod told the Statesman Journal. “They’ve been good stewards and bent over backward to make sure public access was guaranteed.”
Abiqua Falls has become a favourite destination for hikers and photographers in the Pacific Northwest.
The plunge waterfall drops over dark columnar basalt cliffs coated in moss before crashing into a deep pool below. Surrounded by forest and reached by rough back roads and minimal trails, the site offers a rugged and relatively quiet experience compared with more developed parks.
Even after the purchase, officials say the goal is not to transform the area into a large new state park.
Instead, leaders are considering ways to protect the fragile environment while keeping access similar to what visitors experience today. Expanding parking lots or building large trail systems could overwhelm the delicate landscape.
Possible options include transferring the property to the county or placing it under the care of Oregon’s forestry department.
For Mount Angel Abbey, the agreement represents the next chapter in a long history of caring for the land.
“It is with deep gratitude and hope for the future that the Abbey Foundation of Oregon entrusts the stewardship and legacy of Abiqua Falls to the state of Oregon,” said Amanda Staggenborg, director of communications for Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary.
“The beauty of Abiqua Falls will be enjoyed by generations of Oregonians and all those who love Oregon’s natural wonders.”
If the funding bill moves forward as planned, the iconic waterfall will soon shift from private ownership to public protection.
And the same view that has drawn visitors for decades could remain just as wild and quiet for many years to come.
