Photo by Adam Sawyer
Silver Falls State Park offers a diverse array of services, from primitive campgrounds and cabins, to horse corrals and a conference center. But the crown jewel of the park is the Trail of Ten Falls. The 8.7-mile, 870-foot-elevation-gain loop hike is arguably as spectacular and scenic as any in the Columbia River Gorge.
During this epic family outing, you’ll pass by no less than ten waterfalls ranging in height from 27 to 177 feet. The trail occasionally leads behind waterfalls, offering the kids an opportunity to look for tree wells. These round holes in the ceiling of the caverns behind the falls were formed millions of years ago. Occasionally a lava flow would encounter a tree and harden around it while the tree burned away. Erosion has left these lava casts for us to investigate while hiking.
The waterfalls are the primary draw, but old-growth forest, deep opal pools of water, and striking canyon views rank highly as well. Another asset is the flexibility to choose where to start, and how far to hike. There are three trailheads to choose from, giving you the option of reducing the hike to a more manageable 5.2-mile loop that still passes most of the larger falls.
To get there, take I-5 South and exit at Woodburn. Take Highway 214 southeast 30 miles through the town of Silverton, following signs for Silver Falls State Park. The first potential starting point is the North Falls trailhead. Those wanting to do the shorter loop will want to continue on to the South Falls parking area.
I recommend starting at the South Falls parking area and taking the Rim Trail towards Winter Falls. This is counterintuitive since it leads you away from South Falls, the largest waterfall on the trail. Through much trial and error, I’ve found that starting with a scenic walk through the woods and ending with the largest of the falls is a great way to build up the anticipation for the kids. (Trust me on this one.) If you’re taking the shorter loop, turn left onto the Winter Trail when you arrive at the Winter Falls trailhead. If you’re making the full loop, continue past Winter Falls on your way up to North Falls. As always, check current conditions before you go.
–Adam Sawyer
Photo by Adam Sawyer
Photo by Adam Sawyer
