Silver Falls State Park, opened in 1933, is nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains--about 1.5 hours south of Portland. The sprawling, 9,200-acre property is the largest state park in Oregon (and one of the most popular).
The park offers more than 35 miles of backcountry trails for mountain biking, hiking, or horseback riding. The Trail of Ten Falls is a spectacular hike that passes 10 waterfalls along a rocky canyon, and descends to a winding creek at the forest floor. The 7.2-mile loop is rated as moderate, with an overall elevation change of 800'.
I started the trek at 10am from the South Falls Trailhead, heading counter-clockwise on the Rim Trail. Early spring is a busy time to visit when water flows are highest; on a mid-September weekday, I felt like I had the park to myself. The quiet forest walk in the peaceful morning light was my favorite part of the day.
North Falls stands at an impressive 136'. The Canyon Trail descends a set of stairs and circles behind the waterfall through a grotto. Exposed rock in the waterfalls and creek banks reveals three major episodes of Oregon’s geologic history: sandy beaches, massive volcanic lava floods, and cascade-style volcanic ash deposits. Stream erosion along Silver Creek has slowly chewed its way upstream, creating the waterfalls and exposing rocks from these three different periods.
Middle North Falls is next, followed closely by Drake Falls. Looking down the creek is Lower South Falls, while a short side path leads to Double Falls. This section of the park has the highest density of waterfalls anywhere in the northwest. Next comes a brief climb, followed by a leisurely stroll down the creek.
The trail loops behind Lower South Falls in a large, cave-like grotto. After crossing behind the waterfall, the route climbs several switchbacks of stairs and continues upstream.
Finally, the trek ends at the most famous waterfall. South Falls is the second highest waterfall in the park and it's the highest single drop. Though the Canyon Trail crosses a bridge and heads up the canyon wall, an alternate route crosses behind the waterfall in yet another natural grotto.
I finished up around 1:30pm, creating the perfect half-day adventure.
