Oregon · Hiking

Kentucky Falls

Kentucky FallsPhoto: Jonathan Lidbeck, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
4.1 mi
round trip
2,097 ft
climb
1,559 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Feb–Nov
best months

Is Kentucky Falls open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Siuslaw National Forest. It doesn't name Kentucky Falls, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Siuslaw National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Kentucky Falls is a 4.1-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon's Siuslaw National Forest, within the Central Coast Ranger District-ODNRA. The trail rises from about 786 feet to 1,559 feet, with a total gain of 2,097 feet over the round trip, and is rated moderate. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trailhead is at Kentucky Falls Trailhead, open year-round. Summer and early fall are the mildest times to go. A nearby weather station at Mapleton, about 8 miles away and well below the trail, records typical average highs of 73°F in June and 80°F in July, with temperatures on the trail running cooler. The trail is natural-surface and allows bikes. It is not an accessible route. Plan about 2.5 hours for the hike. The North Fork Smith River Trail lies about a mile away, and the North Fork Smith River offers canoeing about 2.8 miles off. Archie Knowles Campground is about 6.4 miles away, and the Whittaker Creek Old Growth Trail is about 7.5 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Feb–Nov

    Best time to visit Kentucky Falls

    Best months: February–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      52° / 41°

    2. Feb

      55° / 41°

    3. Mar

      58° / 42°

    4. Apr

      62° / 44°

    5. May

      68° / 48°

    6. Jun

      73° / 51°

    7. Jul

      80° / 54°

    8. Aug

      80° / 54°

    9. Sep

      77° / 51°

    10. Oct

      66° / 47°

    11. Nov

      56° / 44°

    12. Dec

      50° / 40°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mapleton, OR, 8.2 mi away at 17 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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