Heart of the Dunes 2009

Falling for Smith River Falls

Published: Thursday, June 4th, 2009 Falling for Smith River Falls Looking for a little relaxation? Try the Smith River Falls, at right. The Smith River is great for fishing and the falls offer kids a respite from the summer heat.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management campground offers a peaceful setting along the Smith River and provides the opportunity to setup camp in the shade of towering trees. It is past the falls themselves, has eight tent or trailer sites, vault toilets, but no water.

Smith River is about 75 miles long. Its origin is the Oregon Coast Range near Cottage Grove, unlike the Umpqua, which originates in the Cascades. It dumps into the Umpqua near Gardiner before flowing into the Pacific Ocean. Tides affect the lower part of the river and it makes for great fall Chinook salmon fishing for anglers.

To get there: The Smith River is paralleled by aptly-named Smith River Road for much of the way, then by Douglas County Road No. 48, which is mostly gravel past the falls. Smith River Road intersects with U.S. Highway 101 just north of Reedsport, before Gardiner.
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