Imagine scrolling through Redfin and spotting a 92-foot waterfall listed for sale with no price tag. That’s exactly what happened in early February 2026, when one of Oregon’s most beloved natural wonders quietly appeared on the real estate market. Abiqua Falls, a cascade that drops over ancient basalt columns into a fern-lined pool, had been privately owned for over a century. Fans of the waterfall panicked. But Oregon’s state legislature had other plans.
- Abiqua Falls was listed for sale on Redfin by The Abbey Foundation of Oregon, the nonprofit that had owned the property since 2002.
- Oregon lawmakers approved $2.1 million in bipartisan funding to buy the waterfall and nearly 200 acres of surrounding land.
- The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department still needs to complete environmental and archaeological reviews before the purchase is finalized.
A Waterfall With a Century of Private History
Abiqua Falls has been privately owned for over a century but open to the public. Its owner, a nonprofit that supports a community of Benedictine monks, put it on the market earlier this year. The waterfall was acquired by Mount Angel Abbey in 1908 and later transferred to The Abbey Foundation of Oregon, a nonprofit that supports the abbey, in 2002.
The Abbey Foundation listed the 40-acre property for sale on Redfin earlier this year. The foundation explained that growing foot traffic and liability concerns motivated the sale. The foundation put the property up for open auction in early February, meaning there was no minimum or maximum bid.
For years, hikers treated Abiqua Falls like a public park, even though it technically sat on private land. It’s reached by a rough, unpaved road and a short, steep hike, so steep that previous visitors have left ropes in some spots for assistance. Abiqua Falls is a near-perfect free-falling waterfall of 92 feet in height set amid a basaltic amphitheater, framed by some of the best examples of columnar jointing you’ll find in western Oregon. Whether you live near Carmel, IN or Silverton, OR, it’s the kind of place that stops you in your tracks the first time you see it.
How the $2.1 Million Deal Came Together
The listing worried fans of the natural wonder. But at the tail end of the legislative session this month, a bipartisan group of lawmakers stepped in and approved $2.1 million to buy the falls and its surrounding land.
The deal includes $600,000 for Abiqua Falls and $1.4 million for another 160 acres of rapids and forestlands near the falls. That land is owned by Weyerhaeuser, the timber company. In total, the state would acquire roughly 200 acres of canyon and creek land.
The effort was led by an unusual political pairing. The acquisition was fueled by an alliance between Senator Fred Girod (R-Lyons) and House Majority Leader Ben Bowman (D-Tigard). Both Democrat and Republican lawmakers agreed that protecting the waterfall was worth the investment. Girod stressed that Mount Angel Abbey agreed to a smaller price to make sure public access was maintained.
The deal, cemented through the passage of Senate Bill 5701, marks the end of over a century of private ownership by the Abbey Foundation of Oregon.
What Happens Next for Abiqua Falls
The money is approved, but the purchase isn’t quite a done deal yet. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department must complete due diligence, including reviewing environmental and archaeological information, before the purchase can move forward. The property won’t necessarily become a state park, which would require additional money.
It’s not a given that it would become a state park. The site could be managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry, Department of State Lands, or even Marion County. That said, the state’s intentions seem clear. Bowman told OPB he would “love to see Abiqua Falls become a state park and be a place where families can take their kids.”
The budget situation adds some wrinkles, too. Oregon Parks and Recreation has expressed concern about “the impact managing a property like this could have on an already stretched state park system.” Some members of the public have also worried that state acquisition might lead to fees and crowds.
A Waterfall Worth Fighting For
This is one of those rare stories where politics took a back seat and people agreed on something: a waterfall this beautiful shouldn’t end up behind a locked gate. Abiqua Falls is considered among Oregon’s most beautiful waterfalls and has graced the cover of magazines, newspapers, and websites for years. The falls are part of the same geological formation as the waterfalls at Silver Falls State Park.
The waterfall is about 30 miles east of the state capital, Salem, and roughly 50 miles south of Portland. Getting there takes effort, but that’s part of its charm. The rugged access has kept Abiqua relatively uncrowded compared to popular state parks, and many Oregonians want to keep it that way.
With the funding now approved and The Abbey Foundation accepting the state’s offer, the path forward is promising. There will be decisions to make about trail improvements, parking, and long-term management. But for now, Oregon has taken a big step toward making sure Abiqua Falls stays a place where anyone can stand at the base of a 92-foot cascade and feel the mist on their face. That’s a win worth celebrating.
Sarah Johnson 
David Martin