ODFW reported that the 2026 summer steelhead return through Willamette Falls was running better than average, with roughly 10,000 adults counted by late September across the broader run.

The massive amphitheater of basalt surrounding the falls makes the entire area feel intimate and almost hidden from the rest of the world. Standing down there with those towering rock walls around you and the waterfall crashing into the pool is one of those experiences that's difficult to explain until you've actually been there.

Every September in Pacific City, the community and people from all over come together for the Annual Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic. Hosted by Moment Surf Company and Pelican Brewing, this event brings surfers, families, locals, and visitors together for a laid-back celebration of longboarding culture. Every year, more people show up to compete, spectate, support the surfers, and simply have a blast.

Early in October, I like the lower river and tidewater around Florence. Fresh Chinook coming in from the ocean can move with the tides, and you'll often hear about fish being caught throughout the lower system. As fall rains arrive, the game begins to change. Rising water encourages salmon to leave tidewater and start pushing farther upriver.