Silver Falls State Park
Trail of 10 Falls
Silver Falls State Park is one of the most popular destinations in Oregon. There is an amazing loop trail called the Trail of Ten Falls, which is 8.6 miles long and takes you through some large old growth forest, and down to ten waterfalls.
Most people park at the main parking lot at the State Park entrance. This is the more popular place to park, and I suggest parking here because there are more people walking around. There have been a few car break-ins at the state park, so I suggest playing it safe and parking where most of the other people park. But if this parking lot is too crowded, you can continue driving and park a few miles down the road at North Falls.
Most people park at the main parking lot at the State Park entrance. This is the more popular place to park, and I suggest parking here because there are more people walking around. There have been a few car break-ins at the state park, so I suggest playing it safe and parking where most of the other people park. But if this parking lot is too crowded, you can continue driving and park a few miles down the road at North Falls.
If you park at the main entrance, you will probably be inclined to start the hike clock-wise and head down to South Falls, like most people do. South Falls is one of the waterfalls that you have to walk behind and it gets you extremely wet. I don't recommend starting an 8.6 mile hike out wet, especially on a cold day. I always start the loop counter clock-wise which takes you through the old growth forest on the Rim Trail for a few miles before you see the waterfalls.
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(Winter Falls 134 ft.)
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If you do the hike counter clock-wise, you will first walk 1.8 miles on the Rim Trail. *Dogs are only allowed on the Rim Trail, NOT on the Canyon Trail. On this portion of the Rim Trail, you will see amazing old growth trees that are very large. After the 1.8 miles, you will come to Winter Falls. To view this waterfall you have to go .2 miles down a steep path. This path can be extremely icy and slippery in the winter time. At the bottom of Winter Falls is a bridge, so if you didn't want to hike the whole loop because it is too long, you can make it shorter by crossing this bridge. If you do so, you will not see Upper North Falls, North Falls and Twin Falls.
(creek from the top of the rim trail)
(North Falls from Rim trail)
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Once you have viewed Winter Falls, you will continue on the Rim Trail for another mile. The trail starts to head downhill a little bit, and you can see and hear North Falls in the distance roaring through the trees. You will see North Falls parking area, which is much smaller than the South Falls main parking area. Here you can use the restroom if needed since there is no other place to go during this hike. Head .2 miles over to see Upper North Falls, and then head back and down to the Canyon Trail.
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(Upper North Falls 65 ft.)
(behind North Falls)
(North Falls 136 ft.)
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If you're hiking the Trail of 10 Falls in the winter, be careful when walking down to North Falls. There are some old stone steps that form ice over them which makes them incredibly slippery! North Falls is one of the large falls that you walk behind. It is a pretty neat experience. The path walking behind North Falls is very wide, so you only get a little wet in one spot, but you're not getting sprayed the entire time. After walking behind North Falls, the trail continues down closer to the river. You will see huge moss covered rocks in the river that look like islands that you could set up a tent on. And then after 1.8 miles you will come to Twin Falls. |
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(Twin Falls 31 ft.)
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After Twin Falls you will see the bridge that completes the shorter 5 mile loop, and then you will see Middle North Falls. This is another waterfall that you have to take a short path down to see, and you can also walk behind it until the small trail dead ends on the other side. This trail is very narrow and the waterfall is a very wide curtain shape, so you will get wet on this one. You certainly don't have to go behind this waterfall, but it is a cool experience. The views of Middle North Falls when you are leaving it, are pretty spectacular!
(Middle North Falls 106 ft.)
(Drake Falls 27 ft.)
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Right after Middle North Falls, you will see Drake Falls, which is viewed from a small platform, but it is really hard to get the right angle on the waterfall to take a decent picture. Continue down the path to Double Falls, which is very large. This is another waterfall that you have to take a small .1 mile path to be able to see it. Right after Double Falls, you will see Lower North Falls. After completing this mile packed full of waterfalls, the trail takes you along the river for another mile. |
(Double Falls 184 ft.)
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(Lower North Falls 30 ft.)
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The trail crosses the river via a bridge, and starts heading up hill. You had previously been following a river downstream, and once you cross the bridge, you are following another river up-stream. It can be a little disorienting, but just remember there are two rivers here. After hiking less than half a mile from the bridge, you will come across Lower South Falls. This waterfall is also a curtain style, where you walk behind it. This one is extremely loud and quite the rush when walking behind it. |
(Lower South Falls 93 ft.)
After Lower South Falls you will walk up many stairs! These stairs are quite large and can also be slippery in the winter due to the spray from the waterfall freezing on the stone. Once you have completed the stairs, you will walk less than a mile and you will get the full reveal of South Falls, the iconic symbol of this State Park.
There is an awesome viewing bridge, where you can stand and take pictures from below, getting in all of the surrounding scenery. Once you get closer to this very large 177 foot waterfall, there will be no chance of taking any pictures, as the spray is just too much and would get all of your equipment wet. You will walk behind this 10th and last waterfall, and you will get pretty darn wet, especially if it is winter or spring.
There is an awesome viewing bridge, where you can stand and take pictures from below, getting in all of the surrounding scenery. Once you get closer to this very large 177 foot waterfall, there will be no chance of taking any pictures, as the spray is just too much and would get all of your equipment wet. You will walk behind this 10th and last waterfall, and you will get pretty darn wet, especially if it is winter or spring.
(South Falls 177 ft.)
Overall, I recommend this hike for every age group and experience level. It is very easy, even though the hike is 8.6 miles long. You can choose to skip 3 waterfalls and do the shorter 5 mile loop, by crossing over the bridge at Winter Falls. This hike really shows off Oregon's diverse beauty, and with the trail being so easy and well maintained, it allows you to look around and take it all in.
Approximate hike time: 3 hours 15 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.6 mph
Suggested seasons: Spring, summer, fall, winter
Trail usage: Very heavy
Directions: Drive 10 miles east of Salem on N. Santiam Highway 22. Turn north at a sign for Silver Falls Park and follow Highway 214 southeast for 16 miles to a large South Falls sign. If you want to start the loop here you can, but if you want to start at the North Falls, continue along this road for another 2 miles until you see the North Falls parking lot on your left.
You will need to pay $5 for parking unless you have a State Park pass. Your Northwest Forest Pass does not cover State Parks or National Parks in Oregon!
Suggested seasons: Spring, summer, fall, winter
Trail usage: Very heavy
Directions: Drive 10 miles east of Salem on N. Santiam Highway 22. Turn north at a sign for Silver Falls Park and follow Highway 214 southeast for 16 miles to a large South Falls sign. If you want to start the loop here you can, but if you want to start at the North Falls, continue along this road for another 2 miles until you see the North Falls parking lot on your left.
You will need to pay $5 for parking unless you have a State Park pass. Your Northwest Forest Pass does not cover State Parks or National Parks in Oregon!
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To get a more in-depth and personal view of this hike, watch the YouTube video.
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*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer
*Disclaimer: the trail descriptions, mileage, GPS tracks and difficulty ratings depicted on this website are never 100% accurate. Always hike at your own risk, using your own knowledge, equipment and common sense. Franziska Weinheimer/Hike Oregon are not responsible if you or anyone in your party gets injured or lost while attempting one of these or any other hikes.