Details
Region: Mid-Willamette Valley
Location: 20024 Silver Falls Hwy SE, Sublimity OR 97385
DEN Rating: 10/10
Trail Length: multiple trails with varying lengths. Trail of Ten Falls is 7.4 miles
Trail Type: loops and out-and-back hikes
Hike Time: varies
Trail Difficulty: 1 (extremely easy) – 5 (moderate)
Elevation Gain: 1,190ft on full Trail of Ten Falls hike, less on shorter hikes
Trail Surface: dirt and gravel, pavers at South Falls Historic District, paved bike path
Popularity: 10/10
Family friendly: yes
Pet friendly: yes (except Canyon Trail, Maple Ridge Trail, and Silver Falls Campground Nature Loop Trail)
Handicapped Accessible:
- Trail of Ten Falls: No
- South Falls Historic District: Yes
- Rim Trail: Yes
- North Rim Trail: Yes from North Rim Day Use Area to North Falls viewpoint
Swimming: yes
Camping: yes
Restroom: flush toilets, vault toilets
EV Charging: Yes (standard-type charger) at South Falls Day Use Area
Open Hours: day use only (8AM to 5PM winter, 8AM – dusk summer), campground and cabins excluded.
Season: year-round
Pass or Permit: $5 parking fee or Oregon State Parks annual pass
Campground: Tent sites, RV sites, horse sites, and cabin rentals available.
Managed By: Oregon State Parks
Select photographs in this article are available as custom prints. Click on the shopping cart icon to see print media and sizing options. Click on the expand icon for a full-screen view of the image.
About Silver Falls State Park
Silver Falls State Park is widely considered to be the crown jewel of Oregon State Parks. This gigantic, sprawling park offers world-class hiking through a beautiful and diverse area of forest in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains near Salem. The highlight of the park is the incredible Trail of Ten Falls, which leads past waterfall after waterfall. Hiking, biking, swimming, camping, and equestrian trails make this park broadly appealing.
Middle North Falls is the essence of grace.
Grace
Middle North Falls pours gracefully through a perfect fall scene in Silver Falls State Park. For me this is one of my favorite photos I have ever taken. The colors, the soft lighting and deep shadows, and the beautiful form of the falls all come together to create an absolutely iconic image of autumn in … Read more
South Falls Historic District is the heart of this amazing park, featuring paved walkways, a nature shop, several picnic structures, a playground, a strange swimming area (the bank is asphault???), big lawns, several restrooms with flush toilets, and ample parking with EV charging. South Falls Cafe, located in the historic South Falls Lodge, offers a reasonably priced no-frills food menu plus espresso and is open 10AM-4PM daily. The lodge includes a nice big stone fireplace with some benches and a cute “Nature Nook” with great displays on the plants found in the park. Indoor seating is limited but there is much more seating both on the big covered porch and in the open paved area next to the lodge.
Opposite Top: The sign marking South Falls Historic District.
Opposite Bottom: South Falls Lodge houses South Falls Cafe.
South Falls Historic District sits above the park’s star attraction – towering South Falls. Handicapped accessible viewpoints provide views of the falls itself as well as looking over the brink of the falls and down the forested creek canyon. Pretty much everyone wants to take the loop trail that passes down behind the falls beneath edge of the soaring undercut cliff. Look for holes in the rock, formed by logs and debris engulfed in the lava flow which slowly rotted away over time. The entire South Falls area is the most developed part of the park and by far the most popular. Many people just visit this one waterfall. Finding yourself alone at South Falls is a rare experience reserved only for those who arrive the moment the park opens.
The fabled Trail of Ten Falls is the park’s signature trail and one of the most popular day hikes in Oregon. This 7.4-mile loop, which can be started (and finished) from any of three trailheads, leads through beautiful and varied forest ecosystems to all of the park’s waterfalls in one epic sweep. For most hikers out to enjoy nature, this trail is a full day commitment of sightseeing at a leisurely pace (although seasoned hikers and cross trainers can complete the loop in a few hours). However, with three trailheads and a few cutoff trails to choose from, visitors can easily customize their trail times, distances, and destinations to suit their interests, abilities, and schedules. Park maps are available at South Falls Historic District to help visitors understand and navigate the Trail of Ten Falls system. No matter which route you choose or sights you take in, you will find your slice of Oregon paradise here.
But there is much more Silver Falls State Park than Trail of Ten Falls, which occupies only the northwest corner of the park. Many visitors just head straight to one of the waterfall trailheads and never explore the rest of this big, beautiful landscape. The park’s campground offers RV and tent campsites (from $21) as well as cabins, with an easy 1.2-mile nature trail encircling it – details and links are at the bottom of the article. The center of the park is home to the newly-imagined Smith Creek Village (formerly Silver Falls Lodge and Conference Center) which includes event venue spaces in historic “Davidson Ranch” and newer “Foothills Ranch”, cabin rentals, and a full restaurant named “Big Leaf Coffeehouse and Grill”, with hours and meal offerings varying by season. Silver Falls is a popular equestrian area and includes a large horse camp. Near the south entrance to the park there is a nice viewpoint looking into the Willamette Valley. Miles of largely empty trails explore the south and east portions of the park.
The new North Canyon District is a re-working of the old North Falls Group Camp. It includes a new parking area, the “nature play area” for kids, a meeting hall, picnic tables, nice new restrooms, and a trailhead for the new North Rim Trail, a half-mile trail connecting this parking area with the North Falls parking area and offering a verry nicely built new viewpoint for fabulous North Falls en route. The trail is handicapped accessible from the North Canyon Day Use Area to the North Falls Viewpoint, but a few stairs and a big tree root in the trail make contininuing beyond the new viewpoint to the North Falls parking area prohibitive. A more moderate trail with some steeper switchbacks leads down from this parking area to meet the Canyon Trail next to Twin Falls as well. Be aware the pay station here is card only.
The southeast corner of the park was charred in the massive Beechie Creek Fire of summer 2020. About 100 acres of former timber land burned and is being rehabilitated by Oregon State Parks with the goal of restoring the forest to it’s original and diverse old-growth state as quickly as possible. The area was (and still is) extremely susceptible to forest fires because the trees were replanted too densely, resulting in a mono-species forest where fire spreads very quickly. Trails reopened in this little-visited corner of the park in 2022. For anyone interested in what a managed fire recovery forest looks like, this is a great area to visit. The same fire completely destroyed nearby Opal Creek, Three Pools, Shellburg Falls, and many other beloved locations to the east of the park. Luckily Silver Falls State Park was largely spared.
Silver Falls State Park owes it’s existence to one man in particular. June Drake grew up in nearby Silverton and spent his youth exploring the local area. A love of the waterfalls of Silver Creek cultivated in his heart. As an adult he brokered a deal which brought the park to life as we know it today, but only after the National Park System declined to make this area a national park. Drake himself purchased 160 acres of the park’s current land and donated it to the state parks system. The Corps of Discovery built much of the park’s infrastructure in the 1930’s, most of which is still in use. Today the park encompasses over 9,000 acres and attracts over a million visitors annually – en par with Crater Lake National Park. One of the falls in the park is named after June Drake in honor of his work.
Parking is $5 per day. Pay stations vary: South Falls is card and cash, North Falls is cash only, and North Canyon is card only. Howard Creek, Silver Falls Campground, and 214 Trailhead all have pay stations as well. Winter Falls does not have a pay station.
Soft evening light graces the spring forest at North Falls in Silver Falls State Park.
Silver And Green
Soft evening light graces the spring forest at North Falls in Silver Falls State Park. I’ve not seen many photographs of North Falls from this angle, taken from the darkest point in the large cave behind the falls, but I’m drawn to how you can see the slightly arching shape of the falls and how … Read more
Trail Of Ten Falls Area
The two forks of Silver Creek have each carved tremendous canyons out of the hillsides. Waterfalls are not only found at the heads of these canyons, but within the canyons as they step down toward their confluence at the park’s northwest corner. In a nutshell, park at either North or South Falls and take the Canyon Trail, which goes down one fork then up the other. Use the Rim Trail to return to your parking area, passing Winter Falls at the halfway point. Upper North Falls, Middle North Falls, and Double Falls are all found on spur trails along the North Silver Creek section of the Canyon Trail. When I hiked the entire loop in November 2023 I actually parked at Winter Falls, which split the Rim Trail portion of the hike into halves. I recommend starting at either North or Winter Falls, hiking along the rim trail (check out Winter Falls during this leg of the hike) to South Falls Historic District, having lunch at South Falls Cafe, then taking the Canyon Trail back past the waterfalls. Going clockwise like this is preferable because the elevation gain happens more gradually. Going counterclockwise means climbing up the steep stairs at Lower South Falls. If you park at North Falls you can visit Upper North Falls at either end of your loop hike. The entire loop is 7.4 miles (including the trail extension to Upper North Falls) with 1,190ft of elevation gain.
Visitors can also go down each fork of the creek separately as out-and-back hikes, and shorter loops can be created using the Maple Ridge Trail and Winter Falls Trails. Several loop hikes are described at the bottom of this article which utilize these two trails.
The park actually boasts eleven named waterfalls, plus a twelfth unnamed yet noticeable falls (I’m calling that one “Halfway Falls”) as well as several pretty ledge drops that are not really tall enough to be classifies as waterfalls. Three of the twelve falls dry up in the summer.
Let’s do a synopsis of the various falls, followed by some possible hiking routes in the Trail of Ten Falls area. The falls are listed as you would encounter them traveling downstream on each of the two forks of Silver Creek.
Silver Falls State Park has some of the best fall color to be found in Oregon. South Fork Silver Creek shows it off well as seen from the Canyon Trail between South and Lower South Falls.
Flowing Through Autumn
South Silver Creek flows gently through the cool autumn forest in Silver Falls State Park. To visit Silver Falls State Park: https://denphototravel.com/2024/silver-falls-state-park/
South Silver Creek
This fork harbors two of the taller waterfalls in the park, plus the secret eleventh waterfall.
South Falls
This lofty 177-foot plunging beauty at the head of South Silver Canyon is the most visted in the park. The trail passes behind this waterfall, making a visit especially cool. In winter it becomes a wider sheet, thinning down to a silver strand in late summer. There are many viewpoints for this waterfall, a few of which are partially obstructed by foliage. South Falls feels majestic and grand, falling cleanly into a huge mossy bowl at the canyon bottom which is filled with mist when the flow is strong. There are also some intriguing holes in the cliff so look around when you walk behind the falls. I would wager that this is the second most visited waterfall in Oregon (Multnomah Falls takes first prize) so expect your photos to have people in the shots, especially on weekends.
https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/South-Falls-4932
Frenchie Falls
This obscure seasonal waterfall is found up a little spur trail at the top switchback corner near South Falls. It falls 48 feet in the wet season but runs dry by May. It’s fairly obscured by shrubs and tree trunks, with only the top visible from the tiny viewpoint. Your best chance of seeing this one clearly is in winter when all of the foliage is down and the flow is strong.
https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Frenchie-Falls-4444
Lower South Falls
Another walk-behind waterfall, Lower South Falls pours 93 feet over a broad ledge in a pretty veiling plunge. Lower South suffers a great deal at low flows, when it looks like a sad dribble. Visit this one in the wet season when it’s full. Spring and late autumn are both great. The stairs next to the falls are the steepest point on the Trail of Ten Falls.
https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Lower-South-Falls-4455
North Silver Creek
Nine of the twelve noteworthy waterfalls are found in the North Silver Canyon, along with a handful of smaller ledge drops and some gorgeous pools. North Silver Creek is by far my favorite of the two. It’s incredibly beautiful and the waterfalls just keep coming. Plus the trail grade is a lot more even along this fork, making it a lovely out-and-back hike.
Upper North Falls
This 65-foot beauty plunges over a broad ledge into a big pool. In summer this falls is quite pretty, with big areas of fairly flat rocks below it which are easy to explore around on. In winter the width of this falls increases substantially, to the point where it becomes nearly square in it’s overall shape. This one is a standout for a few reasons. First, it’s the only falls on the east side of Silver Falls Hwy. It’s reached by a very easy spur trail from the North Falls parking area. Visitors could easily take strollers up this trail, and wheelchairs could make it also with a little assistance at two or three spots. In addition this is the only falls in the park that dogs are allowed to visit. It’s also the falls that is easiest to swim at in summer. If you don’t have long to spend in the park but want to see a few waterfalls, this one needs to be on your list.
https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Upper-North-Falls-4445
North Ledges
About 100 feet above the brink of North Falls is a pretty double ledge drop of about 8 feet. A scramble path leads down beside it right where at the Canyon Trail – Rim Trail junction. There is some habitat restoration in the area so stay out of signed areas.
North Falls
For me, North Falls is my number one favorite waterfall in Oregon. It vaults 136-feet off the clifftop in one strong pour, then crashes onto some boulders at its base. Behind the falls is a huge undercut which the trail passes through. It’s grand and cavernous, with a tall ceiling. It’s also so wide that It takes two or three minutes to hike through it. Bring a flashlight (even in daytime) if you have trouble seeing in dim light. Views abound, including from downstream in the canyon, a few really good side views, and loads of angles from behind the falls. In addition there’s a North Falls Viewpoint directly off the main road from which you see North Falls from a distance, plus the new viewpoint on the North Rim trail which looks up the canyon at the falls (this viewpoint is handicapped accessible if approached from the new North Canyon parking area.) When looking through my photographs to create this article I discovered that I have taken more pictures of this waterfall than any other, which is partly due to this waterfall being vastly unlike any other. I think the coolest part about this waterfall is how the sound of the falls is amplified in the undercut cave behind the falls. It sounds like the sonic boom of a jet airplane. If you’re looking for epic, this is it!
https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/North-Falls-4446
November Twilight
North Falls in Silver Falls State Park is one of the most epic and photogenic waterfalls in the Pacific Northwest. The huge cave-like overhang which the trail passes through amplifies the jet engine sounds produced by the rushing stream landing on huge boulders in the canyon below. It really is a unique experience! Silver Falls … Read more
Below: A bench is strategically positioned in the cave at this intriguing view of a small skeletal tree silhouetted against the life-giving waters of North Falls.
North Creek Canyon
Between North Falls and Twin Falls there are several big mossy boulders in the canyon bottom and a few small but scenic ledge drops. Look for a short scramble path leading down to a pretty two-foot ledge drop with a van-sized boulder across the creek and a nice pool below it. A few minutes downstream is a taller four-foot ledge that’s visible from the trail, with a bootpath down to the pool below. This whole area is Grade A Prime Oregon Scenery!
Twin Falls
It’s very difficult to get a good view of this 36-foot ledge waterfall which is split into two channels by a large protrusion of rock during high flows. The official viewpoint looks over the side of the brink of the falls but you really can’t see much, especially in summer when the water only flows down the near side of the falls. There’s a better partial view down a short scramble path that’s found about one minute down the main trail from the falls, but a tree branch blocks a portion of the falls from view. To really see the falls clearly requires a creekbed scramble which is actually pretty easy when the flow is low. Hike 5 minutes down the trail to where the trail is really close to the creek, then just ford up the creekbed by crisscrossing and walking on the stony shore. There are a few areas of wading through pools up to mid-thigh deep. It takes around 20 minutes to reach the falls base, and you will likely be rewarded by having the plunge pool all to yourself!
https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Twin-Falls-4448
Winter Falls
Winter Falls is the park’s largest ephemeral waterfall, vaulting off a 134-foot cliff before hitting a rounded outcropping and sliding down to the canyon floor. This one comes alive in autumn once the rain comes back consistently, and usually runs dry sometime in May, which seems impossible when you visit in winter and it is gushing and misty. The reason for the big seasonal change from torrent to trickle (if that) is the drainage area above the falls is quite small, only about 1/4 mile. It looks best in early spring when the leaves begin to emerge and the moss is deep green but the flow is still strong. A side trail comes up Winter Creek off the Canyon Trail below Twin Falls. Personally this is my least favorite of the official Ten Falls because the cliffs around it are bare and unexciting, and the forest below the falls looks sad and dead in winter. It just feels kinda drab to me. Also the main viewpoint from the trail is so close to the waterfall that you don’t really see it all at once – you look up to see the top 2/3rds and down to see the bottom, which just seems odd. From the main Canyon Trail, head over the bridge at the trail junction, then hike up about ten minutes to the waterfall. To capture the photograph on the left I headed down a small scramble path to the creekbed below the falls.
https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Winter-Falls-4450
Middle North Falls
Middle North Falls is a beautiful waterfall with a cool trail behind it leading to several viewpoints. This is one of my favorites, definitely Oregon Top 10. It’s difficult to photograph on sunny spring and summer days. In autumn it’s absolutely sublime. The pool below this 106-foot gorgeous plunge is swimmable – there’s a scramble path down onto the rocks near the end of the viewpoint trail. There’s also another view from the main trail about 1 minute downstream from where the spur trail branches off. The falls get a lot thinner when the water is low but the falls still look good.
https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Middle-North-Falls-4447
The ledge that Middle North Falls drops over forms an undercut bowl with the trail passing beneath it, creating viewpoints all around.
Middle North Falls
The circular rim around Middle North Falls creates a perfect pathway beneath it with views all around. This view is from a deeper point where a small cave forms, framing the scene.
Drake Falls
A decent, but not full view of this shorter 27-foot ledge drop waterfall is found at the little viewing platform next to this wide sliding horsetail. The canyon around the falls is especially dramatic here, with steep mossy walls and a long, deep pool below the falls which is sadly inaccessible.
https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Drake-Falls-4449
Double Falls
The park’s tallest waterfall looks great during the wet season but turns into a dribble by mid summer. The official height of Hullt Creek’s only watetfall is just one foot heigher than famous South Falls, but Northwest Watetfall Survey recently did a survey and measures the height at 184 feet, putting it seven feet taller than South Falls. This falls drops in two plunges, with the upper tier falling 43 feet and the lower tier falling 141 feet. The upper tier becomes more difficult to see the closer you get to the base of the falls. A small, steep spur trail heads up the side of the canyon and gives a slightly better view. Wood sometimes collects at the base of the falls. The partial view from the bridge right at the trail junction really gives the full sense of how tall this pretty silver strand actually is.
https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Double-Falls-4451
Lower North Falls
This last 30-foot sliding horsetail waterfall on North Silver Creek is twice as wide as it is tall. A log has beached itself in the middle of the left side of the falls – it adds something to the scene. Spring and fall are particularly nice times to visit here, when the especially pretty landscape around the falls is full of character. In summer the water slows down enough that the pool below the falls is swimmable although the scramble down to the water is on the steep side. Just below Lower South Falls are a few more sizeable ledge drops with nice pools below.
https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Lower-North-Falls-4456
Lower North Falls dances through the autumn forest in Silver Falls State Park. This view is directly from the trail.
Essence of Autumn
Lower North Falls dances down through the gorgeous autumn forest. Of all of the waterfalls in Oregon’s fantastic Silver Falls State Park, the turning leaves and dark mood here capture the essence of fall better than any other. To visit Silver Falls State Park: https://denphototravel.com/2024/silver-falls-state-park/
Halfway Falls
I’m surprised this 25-foot seasonal waterfall found on a side creek as it drops into North Silver Canyon does not have a name. It’s much more visible than Frenchie Falls, with a pretty pour at the top. You’ll pass this waterfall a few minutes after crossing the bridge downstream of Lower South Falls. It’s the approximate halfway point between the North and South parking lots on the Canyon Trail and is unmissable in the wet season.
| Falls Name | Location | Height | Best Season | Closest Parking | Walk Behind |
| Drake Falls | North Fork | 27ft | all | Winter Falls | No |
| Double Falls | North Fork | 184ft | wet | Winter Falls | No |
| Frenchie Falls | South Fork | 48ft | wet | South Falls | No |
| Halfway Falls | North Fork | 25ft | wet | Winter Falls | No |
| Lower North Falls | North Fork | 30ft | all | Winter Falls | No |
| Lower South Falls | South Fork | 93ft | wet | South Falls | Yes |
| Middle North Falls | North Fork | 106ft | all | Winter Falls | Yes |
| North Falls | North Fork | 136ft | all | North Falls | Yes |
| South Falls | South Fork | 177ft | all | South Falls | Yes |
| Twin Falls | North Fork | 31ft | wet | North Canyon | No |
| Upper North Falls | North Fork | 65ft | all | North Falls | No |
| Winter Falls | North Fork | 134ft | wet | Winter Falls | No |
Loop Trail Possibilities
While every trail in the park can be explored as an out-and-back hike, the Trail of Ten Falls area offers several different loop hike options. Expect some muddy patches and drainages flowing across the trail in the wet season. That being said, the trails in Silver Falls State Park, particularly the Trail of Ten Falls area, are wide, clear, well built and well maintained with good signage pointing the way – the trail network can be confusing so grab a map (available at South Falls).
South Falls Loop
By far the most popular short hike in the park is the South Falls Loop which leads through South Falls Historic District to the South Falls viewpoint, then loops back behind the falls, crosses the bridge below the falls, then climbs back up a few switchbacks. This entire loop is a little over 1 mile if starting from the parking lot.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/south-falls-via-canyon-trail
Maple Ridge Loop
Pass through South Falls Historic District and behind South Falls, then continue down Canyon Trail to Lower South Falls. Take Maple Ridge Trail a few minutes past Lower South Falls to head back to South Falls Historic District, with a total distance of two miles and elevation gain of around 400 ft. This loop is a little more challenging – both Canyon Trail and Maple Ridge Trail have steeper sections.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/south-falls-and-maple-ridge-loop
Winter Falls South Loop
Start at either South Falls or Winter Falls for this loop. You’ll pass South, Lower South, Halfway, Lower North, Double, Drake, and Winter Falls. Use the Rim Trail to return to your car if you parked at South Falls. If you park at Winter Falls, take the Rim Trail (head left) first to South Falls Historic District then hike the Canyon Trail to all the waterfalls, heading over the bridge above Drake Falls to get to Winter Falls. This loop is 4.8 miles if parking at South Falls, a little shorter if parking at Winter Falls. Elevation gain is 915ft.
Winter Falls North Loop
Start at either North Falls or Winter Falls for this loop. This route passes North Falls, Twin Falls, and Winter Falls, with the extension to Upper North Falls as an easy addition. Personally I would also do this loop in a clockwise direction.
North Canyon Short Loop
Start at the new North Canyon Day Use parking area, and take the Twin Falls trail down into the canyon. Check out Twin Falls, then head up the Canyon Trail (left), passing behind North Falls. Continue on to Upper North Falls, then come back to the North Falls parking area and take the new North Rim Trail back to the North Canyon Day Use parking area, passing the new viewpoint for North Falls en route.
North Canyon Rim / Long Loop
Start at the new North Canyon Day Use parking area and take the Twin Falls trail down into the canyon. Head right down the Canyon Trail, passing Twin Falls. Turn left to cross the bridge and follow the trail past Winter Falls to the Winter Falls parking area, then head left on the Rim Trail. Take the trail extension to Upper North Falls, then come back to the North Falls parking lot. From there take the new North Rim Trail past the new North Falls viewpoints and back to the North Canyon Day Use parking area.
This route misses the epic walk through the cavern behind North Falls.
All other park trails are dirt and gravel surfaced, moderately difficult, and pet friendly. 214 Trail is popular, and has it’s own trailhead parking area near the park’s south entrance – there are a few trails in this area developed for Motocross and OHV use. Horses are not allowed on any of the Trail of Ten Falls area trails, Campground Nature Trail, Perimeter Trail, Catamount Trail, Newt Loop, or Rackett Ridge Connector Trail.
This table summarizes the various trails in the Ten Falls area of the park:
| Trail Name | Trail Surface | Difficulty | Stairs | Switchbacks | ADA Accessible | Pets Allowed |
| Campground Nature Trail | dirt and gravel | 2 – very easy | no | no | yes | no |
| Canyon Trail (Trail of Ten Falls) | dirt and gravel | 5 – moderate | yes | yes | no | no |
| Maple Ridge Trail | dirt, paved | 5 – moderate | no | no | no | no |
| North Rim Trail | dirt and gravel | 2 – very easy | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Rim Trail | dirt and gravel | 3 – easy | no | no | no | yes |
| South Falls Historic District | paved | 1 – extremely easy | no | no | yes | yes |
| Twin Falls Cutoff | dirt and gravel | 5 – moderate | no | yes | no | no |
| Upper North Trail | dirt and gravel | 2 – very easy | no | no | yes | yes |
| Winter Falls Trail | dirt and gravel | 4 – moderately easy | no | yes | no | no |
Silver Falls State Park is a standout park with substantial development and several incredible sights to see. It’s year-round ease of access and fantastic location make this a park that stays popular in every season. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a family looking for a place where all members of the family can enjoy the great outdoors, you’ll leave Silver Falls State Park with some great memories and likely some incredible pictures as well!
Swimming in Silver Falls State Park
If you’re a fan of wild swimming like many Oregonians are, you can find several great spots in the park, some of which you will likely have to yourself. South Creek has the official swimming area at the far end of the South Falls Day Use Area parking, and swimming in the plunge pool of mighty South Falls is possible as well. North Creek has far more and, in my opinion, far better swimming holes. Swimmable waterfalls include Upper North Falls, Twin Falls (scramble up the creekbed – to find one at the falls base plus two more en route), Middle North Falls, and Lower North Falls, plus a few more between North Falls and Twin Falls as well as below Lower South Falls. The water is fairly cold but tolerable, in the 55F – 65F range in summer. Depths and shoreline terrain vary but are normally solid rock and rounded river stones, with the exception of the main swimming hole which is asphalt – so strange! The clarity in North Creek is better than in South Creek.
Cautions
Silver Falls State Park park has been developed with visitor safety as a priority. The trails are clear and well-maintained, with stairs at the steepest areas and fencing / railings where appropriate. So long as you stay on the marked trails and behind the railings at viewpoints you should have no problems at this park. The South Falls Historic District, Rim Trail, Upper North Falls Trail, and North Rim Trail are all especially easy and quite safe, while Canyon Trail, Maple Ridge Trail, Twin Falls Trail and Winter Falls Trail all have sections with moderately-steep switchbacks and/or stairs. The water never gets warm in this park so know your abilities if you decide to take a dip and get out if you start getting cold. Never swim above a waterfall. Watch out for deer when driving in the area around dawn and dusk. If you’re visiting with your pet, be aware that dogs are not allowed on Canyon Trail, Maple Ridge Trail, Twin Falls Trail, or Winter Falls Trail. The only waterfalls you can take pets to are Upper North Falls and to the new North Falls viewpoint on the North Rim Trail.
Getting There
From Silverton – take Hwy 214 south for 10 miles to the park. Your first parking areas will be North Canyon and North Falls, followed by Winter Falls and then South Falls. If you’re coming from Portland it’s fastest to take Hwy 213 south from Oregon City to Silverton.
From Salem – take Hwy 22 (aka Santiam Hwy) east for 10 miles, then turn left onto Hwy 214 and continue another 13 miles to the park. Your first parking area with be South Viewpoint followed by 214 Trailhead. Pass the campground and turnoffs for Smith Creek Village and Howard Creek Horse Camp, then turn left to park at South Falls or continue staight to reach Winter Falls, North Falls, and finally North Canyon.
Photographer’s Tip
- Drake Falls: There’s only one possible shot from the viewpoint, and a tree obscures it somewhat.
- Double Falls: Head up the little scramble path on the left to see the upper tier a bit more fully. This falls faces south and suffers from high contrast and dappled sunlight on sunny days, and in summer the flow gets so low that it’s not worth it. In the wet season it’s much better. There’s good fall color here, also really pretty in late April.
- Frenchie Falls: Dry in summer, mostly obscured in winter. Not worth much attention.
- Halfway Falls: There are two clear views from the trail. Dry in summer.
- Lower North Falls: Looks good at all flows. There’s only one viewpoint from the main trail. The falls is in full sun on sunny days in spring and summer – bring a neutral density filter.
- Lower South Falls: This one only looks good with lots of water. There are views on both sides of the falls and some from higher up on the stairs. Best in late autumn and spring.
- Middle North Falls: Incredible when the light is right, but difficult on sunny days in spring and summer. Lots of possible angles, including one from the main trail and over 180-degrees on the spur trail. Looks great at high water and pretty good at low water. Great fall color here, pretty in spring too!
- North Falls: Looks great in all seasons. Loads of different views from various trails, although Canyon Trail gets you closest and gives you the fantastic shots from behind the falls. Looks best in afternoon when the light is on the falls, also amazing in evening. Great fall color here.
- South Falls: There are many views. It creates a lot of mist in the wet season. This is a very popular waterfall and people are almost always around, making it hard to get a shot without people in the picture. Get here as soon as the park opens if you can.
- Twin Falls: The main trailside view is poor, although a better partial view can be found down a short scramble path about one minute downstream from the main viewpoint. Generally this one is not worth a ton of effort.
- Upper North Falls: The sun shines straight on this falls on spring and summer afternoons until about 1 hour before sunset. Bring a neutral density filter. Rainbows and strong reflections can be found here around happy hour on sunny summer days once the flow simmers down. Pretty in all seasons. Even shadow in the morning.
- Winter Falls: For me this one is just ok – it falls north, so expect deep shadow and backlighting on sunny days. It usually is flowing well by November and fizzles out in May. Late April – early May is when this falls looks best so long as the rain keeps it flowing well. A wide-angle lens is an absolute necessity if you want the entire waterfall in one shot.
Links
https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=151
https://www.smithcreekvillage.com
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/trail-of-ten-falls-canyon-trail
https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Trail_of_Ten_Falls_Loop_Hike
