Ten Falls Hike - Silver Falls State Park

Located in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, Silver Falls State Park is known as "crown jewel" for its beauty, gorgeous waterfalls and a wide range of recreational opportunities including hiking, biking, horse riding, camping, and much more.

Established in 1933, Silver Falls Park represents Oregon's history with the inclusion of historical sites and buildings - most of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Two people are known as the "Founding Fathers" of Silver Falls. A Silverton photographer June Drake who led a 20-year campaign to transform the waterfalls and their surrounding area into a park. The first superintendent of Oregon State Parks, Samuel Bordman expanded and developed the park's system including Silver Falls.

With its vast 9,200 acres of land, Silver Falls State Park is also named as Oregon’s largest State Park. The park is famous for its scenic forested canyons, ten beautiful waterfalls, and 30 miles of trails called Trails of Ten Falls. In fact, there are more than ten waterfalls. The five more falls are located on the North and South forks of the Silver Creek. Between the top and bottom of the trails are 1,300 feet of elevation change.

Trail of Ten Falls

Nationally recognized, the 8.2-mile Trail of Ten Falls is listed as a moderate hike with 800 feet elevation gain. The trail is running along the Silver Creek, steep rocky canyon, ten beautiful waterfalls, and sometimes it passes behind water curtains. There are four waterfalls where this trail is passing behind the falls through naturally created huge caverns: South, Lower South, North and Middle North Falls.

Trail of Ten Falls is for hiking only. Dogs are allowed on the Rim and Upper North Falls trails that are a portion of the Ten Falls hike. You can start from South, Winter or North Falls trailheads. However, the parking at the Winter and North trailheads is limited. It might be wise at busy weekends to begin your hike at the South Falls Lodge Trailhead.

The surface of trails is gravel and native bedrock. Most of the trails have gentle slopes. In some areas, there are steep slopes and stairs. During the rainy season, there are patches of mud and water on the trails; during winter there are patches of ice. Beware of dangerous drop-offs.

Location: Foothills of the Oregon Cascade Mountains

Trail Type: Loop
Distance: 8.7 miles (14 km)
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Popularity: High
Trailhead coordinates:
South Falls Lodge Trailhead: 44.8794, -122.658
Winter Falls Trailhead: 44.8849, -122.639
North Falls Trailhead: 44.884, -122.6203
Max Elevation: 1,833 ft (559 m)
Elevation Gain:
Trail of Ten Falls - 800 ft (244 m)
Other Trails 1,300 ft (396 m)

Dogs:

Not Allowed on Canyon Trail, Maple Ridge Trail, Twin Falls Trail and Winter Trail;
Allowed on Rim Trail and Upper North Falls.

Activities: Day hiking
Other Activities in Silver Falls State Park: Horse Riding, biking, camping, picnicking, swimming

The Silver Falls area is family-friendly. If you wish to trim your hike, there are connecting trails with separate access points that provide shortcuts to the parking area. Most routes start from the South Falls Day-Use Area.

The Canyon Trail runs 0.9 miles northward from South Falls Trailhead to Lower South Falls, then 1 mile eastward to Lower North Falls. The most remote Double Falls is 0.1 miles from this point. Continue along the Canyon Trail and you will find Drake Falls and Middle North Falls in 0.4 miles. Pass the junction of the Canyon Trail with the Winter Falls Trail and in 0.3 miles you will reach Twin Falls. For North Falls proceed 1.1 miles further along the Canyon Trail.

The Maple Ridge Trail is an alternate 1-mile loop uphill from the junction with the Canyon Trail.

The Rim Trail leads 0.9 miles eastward from South Falls Lodge to Winter Falls Trailhead, and then 1.1 miles to North Falls Trailhead. Continue 0.3 miles to Upper North Falls. Dogs on a leash are allowed on the trail.

The short but steep 0.5-mile Twin Falls Trail leads from Twin Falls to the Nature Play Area.

The short 0.3-mile Upper North Falls Trail is the Rim Trail extension from the North Falls Trailhead to Upper North Falls. Dogs on a leash are allowed on the trail.

The 0.5-mile Winter Trailheads from the Winter Falls Trailhead northward to the Canyon Trail junction. Winter Falls is located 0.2 miles from the parking area and trailhead.

South Falls Lodge

Built in 1930, the historic South Falls Lodge and the surrounding area have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The lodge features a café and free Wi-Fi.

Nature Store

Operated by the Friends of Silver Falls, the Nature Store in the historic South Falls Lodge sells locally crafted souvenirs.

Silver Falls Conference Center

The Silver Falls Conference Center with central dining and meeting halls, a heated swimming pool, a volleyball court and a horseshoe pit.

Playground & Swimming Area

The South Falls day-use area offers picnic shelters, tables, a playground, a volleyball net, a horseshoe pit, an off-leash area for dogs, and swimming in the Silver Creek.

Accommodations

Tent and RV camps, rustic log cabins and a horse camp.

Trail	Difficulty	Distance	Hiking	Pets	Horse	Bicycle	Mountain bike
214 Trail	Intermediate	1.8 miles	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Bike Pass	Easy	3.5 miles	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Buck Mountain Loop	Intermediate	6.8 miles	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Cutoff Trail	Easy	0.8 miles	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Howard Creek Loop Trail	Intermediate	3 miles	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Lost Creek Trail	Intermediate	1 mile	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Nature Trail	Easy	1.1 miles	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Perimeter Trail	Intermediate	5.9 miles	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Rackett Ridge Connector Trail	Intermediate	0.6 miles	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Rackett Ridge Trail	Intermediate	2.6 miles	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Smith Creek Trail	Intermediate	2.8 miles	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes

From I-5,

Take exit 253 in Salem for OR-22 Santiam Highway SE
Follow OR-22 to exit 7
Take exit 7 for OR-214 toward Silver Falls State Park
Turn left onto OR-214 Silver Falls Highway
Continue 16.5 miles to the park
Follow Silver Falls Tour Route.

Phone: 503-873-8681 x 31

Fees: Yes
Passes: 12- or 24-month day-use parking permit for State Parks
Camping: 47 electrical, 46 tent campsites, 14 rustic log cabins, horse camp, RV loops.
oregonstatepark.com

22024 Silver Falls Hwy SE, Sublimity, Oregon