Oregon is one of the states with the greatest number of nature attractions, especially beautiful waterfalls that attract millions of visitors every year. Just think of the picturesque Toketee Falls, for example, or Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge.
However, in this article, we will talk about the waterfalls in Silver Falls State Park, all of which can be visited by taking the Trail of Ten Falls.
Contents
Intro to Silver Falls State Park
Silver Falls State Park is managed by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. In addition to definitely being one of the most scenic places to visit because of its many waterfalls, it is also the largest State Park in Oregon (about 36 square miles).
Location and Directions
Silver Falls State Park is located in Marion County, Oregon. The nearest town is Silverton, which is just over 20 miles away. Salem, the state capital, is about a half-hour drive away.
The distance from Portland is relatively short. It will take you an hour and a half by car, which makes Silver Falls perfect for a day trip.
Hours, Tickets, and Other Useful Information
The park is open every day of the year but the hours are different depending on the time of year. Here are in detail what they are:
- November through January: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- February: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- March: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- April through August: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- September: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- October: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
In order to access the park, you need to obtain a Day-Use Permit, which costs $5 and can be purchased on-site at the ticket machines located at the South Falls Day-Use parking lot, the North Falls parking lot, and near the most popular spots in the park. Once you have purchased the permit you will need to leave it displayed on the dashboard inside the car.
Be careful, however, because the ticket machines will not issue change, so if you do not have the exact amount you may want to pay with your credit card instead.
If you are planning a road trip to Oregon, and you want to know if there are any passes in which access to Silver Falls State Park is also included, choose those issued by the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department, because they are the only ones accepted here at Silver Falls State Park.
Things to Do at Silver Falls State Park
As I have already mentioned, the spectacular waterfalls found in the area are definitely the star attraction. So let’s go over in more detail how to plan a visit to Silver Falls State Park.
The Trail of Ten Falls
This is definitely the most famous trail in the park and the main reason to visit it. The loop is about 7 miles (with an elevation gain of about 1150 ft) that will take you to visit, as you might guess from the name, 10 spectacular waterfalls. I recommend that you complete the entire trail and plan to spend 2 to 3 hours so that you can take time to enjoy the beautiful views you are going to visit.
The trailhead is at the large parking lot of the South Falls Day Use Area, and once you park your rental car, you can decide whether to start the trail clockwise or counterclockwise.
This is the list of waterfalls that can be observed while driving along this trail:
- South Falls
- Lower South Falls
- Lower North Falls
- Double Falls
- Drake Falls
- Middle North Falls
- Twin Falls
- North Falls
- Upper North Falls
- Winter Falls
Perhaps the most popular and scenic waterfalls in the park are South Falls and North Falls, which are at opposite ends of the trail. My advice is that you schedule a visit to this park early in the morning (around 7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m.) in order to arrive before it gets busier later in the day. The South Falls area is popular, especially during the summer months.
On the way, you can even pass behind 4 waterfalls, where you can take some memorable souvenir photos. These waterfalls are the South Falls, the Lower South Falls, the Middle North Falls, and the North Falls. The North Falls developed on what can be described as one of the largest natural amphitheaters that allows you to walk under the waterfall and admire it from the other side.
If you want to visit all the falls but also walk a shorter distance, you can take a shortcut along the trail and avoid walking to the North Falls. Start the trail clockwise, and visit the South Falls first. Once you get to the Twin Falls, walk south down to Winter Falls and then back toward the parking lot. Once you get your car back you can then head toward the North Parking Lot and take a short walk to reach the North Falls and Upper North Falls.
If you are short on time, however, and cannot stay here for long, visit only the South Falls and North Falls given the proximity to their respective parking lots.
Other trails
If you wish, it is possible to further divide the Trail of Ten Falls into other smaller trails. However, the downside is that most of the trails make you do the same stretch of road on your return. Let’s go over in detail what are all the trails that include or are part of the Trail of Ten Falls.
- Silver Falls Canyon Trail Loop (5.6 miles and 984 ft of elevation gain): This is a shortened version in that it does pass through the North Falls area (which as mentioned earlier you can comfortably visit by reaching the nearby parking lot by car). After Middle North Falls, if you are going clockwise, you will in fact have to head south across a bridge and visit Winter Falls and then return to the South Falls parking lot. Calculate about 2 1/2 hours to complete the trail at a leisurely pace.
- Canyon Trail to Double Falls (3.7 miles round trip and 656 ft elevation gain): The trailhead departs from the North Parking Lot. After visiting the North Falls, you will proceed west to the Double Falls, Middle North Falls, Drake Falls, and Lower North Falls. Plan for at least 2 hours and 15 minutes to finish this trail.
- South Falls Trail (0.6 miles and 197 ft elevation gain): For those who, due to time constraints, want to visit only the spectacular South Falls, this is the trail for you. This short trail can be completed in less than half an hour.
- North Falls Loop (3 miles and 394 ft of elevation gain): This is a shorter version of the Canyon Trail we described earlier. Starting at North Falls you will descend along the Rim Trail until you cross the Winter Trail, which you will have to follow until you rejoin the Canyon Trail. Once here you will need to head east to return back to the starting point. The time required to complete this trail is about an hour and 15 minutes.
- South Falls and Maple Ridge Loop (just over 2.5 miles and 394 ft of elevation gain): This trail will only pass by the South Falls and Lower South Falls, after which you will have to get onto the Maple Ridge Trail that will take you back to your starting point. Allow for a little more than an hour to complete this trail.
- Upper North Falls via Rim Trail (5.3 miles round trip and 656 ft elevation gain): In this case, you will go along the Rim Trail until you reach Upper North Falls, visiting Winter Falls along the way. If you want, you could add minor detours both at the beginning and during the trail to see the South Falls and North Falls. Plan for at least 2 1/2 hours to complete this trail.
Café and Gift Shop inside the park
Although there is no actual visitor center inside Silver Falls Park you can still visit two historic buildings where you can also get a snack and find out more about this park.
- South Falls Lodge and Cafe: Built in the early 1940s, it is a good place to take a break in a relaxing setting before or after taking the Trail of Ten Falls.
- South Falls Nature Store: This is the park’s gift shop where you can buy souvenirs and themed items such as guidebooks, maps, and books about the park’s history and nature.
Other waterfalls in the surrounding area
If you want to admire more waterfalls, there are two other very scenic ones in the vicinity of Silver Falls State Park.
- Shellburg Falls: If you enjoyed the waterfalls that can also be seen from behind the stream falling from above, then a visit to these falls, which are about a 40-minute drive from the South Falls Day Use Area parking area, will definitely be worth it. At the moment, unfortunately, you can no longer access the trail leading to the falls because, due to a fire, the whole area was severely damaged and is still closed to the public.
- Abiqua Falls: These falls are located just over 30 minutes by car from the North Parking Lot. Once you leave Crooked Finger Rd. NE behind you, the road to the falls is unpaved and becomes increasingly difficult to navigate as you go along. Therefore, it is recommended that you have a suitable car, or stop at the first possible clearing to park your car. Along the route, make sure to find out if it has rained recently because it can become very slippery, especially at points where you have to descend to the river level. Even on dry days, however, there can be a couple of tricky passages so this trail is recommended only for those who are more experienced hikers.
Can you swim at Silver Falls State Park?
The answer to this question is no. You cannot enter the waterway near the falls, but if you really want to cool off on a hot summer day, an area has been established within the park where you can swim in the river. However, the Swimming Area is far from the falls (also for safety reasons) and is located near the South Falls Day-Use Area parking lot.
Where to stay in the area
Given the relative distance to the city of Portland and the ease with which a visit to Silver Falls State Park can be arranged as a day trip, my advice is that you look for accommodations in the city, given the amount and variety of options. You can read our tips on where to stay in Portland by clicking on the link below.
For those looking for accommodations north in Silverton may consider these two options:
The other possible alternative is to opt for Salem, which can be considered an excellent choice both for its hotels and as a convenient stop to continue your road trip the next day.
Otherwise, you can also click on the link below to see all the accommodations available in the Silver State Falls area.
