The first time I walked behind a waterfall, I was in the Columbia River Gorge, standing in a rocky alcove while a curtain of water fell right in front of me. I remember laughing like a kid. Ever since, I have been slightly obsessed with finding more waterfalls I can walk behind.
I love waterfall hikes and have done many of the popular ones in Washington and a few in Oregon. But Silver Falls State Park had been sitting on my list for years, mostly because of one very specific promise: a single trail with ten waterfalls, and four of them you can walk behind. This summer, I finally made it happen.
This guide covers everything you need to plan your visit: the best time to go (learn from my mistake), how to get there, how to hike the Trail of Ten Falls, what each waterfall is like, and whether Silver Falls is worth the trip.
About Silver Falls State Park
Silver Falls is Oregon’s largest state park, covering more than 9,000 acres of forest, creeks, and basalt canyons east of Salem. Most people come for one reason: the Trail of Ten Falls, a 7.2-mile loop that passes ten waterfalls along the way.
The park has a better backstory than I expected. In 1888, a logging town called Silver Falls City was platted right where the main parking lot and lodge sit today. At its peak, the area had more than 200 residents, stores, a hotel, a dance hall, and sawmills. Once the timber ran out, the town faded away.
Then came the stunts. In July 1928, a daredevil named Al Faussett rode a canoe over South Falls in front of more than 1,000 spectators. He was badly injured, and his business partner reportedly ran off with nearly $3,000 of the proceeds. The landowner is also said to have charged admission to watch old cars being pushed over the falls. Not exactly the peaceful nature escape it is today.
The person who changed that story was June Drake, a photographer from nearby Silverton who spent years campaigning to protect the falls. The park opened in 1933, and Drake is often called the “Father of Silver Falls State Park.” One of the ten waterfalls is named after him.
From 1935 to 1942, the Civilian Conservation Corps built much of what you still use today, including the Canyon Trail, stone walls, bridges, and picnic shelters. Many of these structures are now on the National Register of Historic Places. Every time you cross one of those old stone bridges, you are walking on work that is almost a century old.
Best Time to Visit Silver Falls State Park
I visited in late summer, and I will be honest: that is not the best time. By then, several of the falls had slowed to a trickle, and some were almost dry.
If you want to see Silver Falls in its full glory, plan your visit during the wetter months: spring, early summer, or late fall. Spring is when the falls are at their fullest and loudest. Seasonal waterfalls like Winter Falls (the name is a pretty big hint) and Double Falls can dwindle to a thin stream by late summer.
Anyone who has chased waterfalls in Maharashtra knows the golden rule: waterfall season is monsoon season. Nobody plans a trip to the Western Ghats falls in peak dry season and expects a roar. I somehow forgot that the same logic applies in Oregon. Speaking from experience, check the season before you trust the photos.
How to Get to Silver Falls State Park
Silver Falls sits about 20 miles east of Salem, roughly a 35-minute drive. From Portland, plan on about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on your route and traffic. You will need a car, since there is no practical public transport to the park.
If you are coming from Seattle, the drive is 4+ hours each way. It might look doable as a day trip on paper, but I do not recommend it. The hike is long, and you will need energy for the drive back. Make it part of a weekend in Oregon instead, and base yourself in Salem, Silverton, or Portland.
Parking and Fees
Silver Falls is an Oregon State Park, so you need a day-use parking permit. In 2026, it costs $10 per day for Oregon residents and $12 for non-residents. Annual Oregon State Parks passes ($60 for residents, $75 for non-residents) are also accepted. Pay stations are at most trailheads.
The South Falls lot is the park’s main parking area, with plenty of space. There is also a separate North Falls Trailhead with its own parking, which comes in handy for the shorter route below.
Hiking the Trail of Ten Falls
The Trail of Ten Falls is the most popular hike in the park. The loop is 7.2 miles with about 800 feet of elevation change, according to Oregon State Parks. It combines the Canyon Trail, which runs along the creek past the waterfalls, and the Rim Trail, which brings you back along the top of the canyon. Hiking guides that count every side spur put it closer to 7.8 miles, so pack water and snacks accordingly.
You do not have to do the entire loop. Pick your favorites, or pick based on the season:
Visiting in summer? Skip a few of the smaller falls, but do not skip the four you can walk behind: South Falls, Lower South Falls, Middle North Falls, and North Falls.
Visiting in the wetter months? Do it all. Trust me, this is when the loop earns its name.
Pro Tip: Start From the South Entrance
In my experience, starting from the South Falls day-use area is much easier on the legs than starting from the north. It also means that when you finish, all the facilities (café, restrooms, picnic area) are right there waiting for you.
If you do not want to do the full loop, here is what I would suggest:
- Start at South Falls and hike the Canyon Trail past Lower South, Lower North, Double, Drake, and Middle North Falls.
- At the Winter Trail junction, head up to Winter Falls. From there, you can either retrace your steps or climb to the Rim Trail and loop back to South Falls. The official park map shows this shorter Winter Falls loop at about 5 miles, covering seven falls.
- Drive to the North Falls Trailhead and visit North Falls and Upper North Falls separately, so you still get to walk behind North Falls.
The only waterfall you miss with this plan is Twin Falls, which, honestly, is one of the smaller ones.
Before You Go
- Dogs are not allowed on the Canyon Trail, the Winter Trail, or the other waterfall trails. They are allowed on the Rim Trail, and there is an off-leash area at South Falls.
- There are no restrooms or trash cans on the trail, so use the facilities before you start and pack out what you bring.
- Check trail conditions before you go. A December 2025 windstorm closed part of the Canyon Trail for months. The trails were open when I visited this summer, but conditions can change.
- Wear shoes with grip. The paths behind the waterfalls can be wet and slippery, even in summer.
The Ten Waterfalls of Silver Falls State Park
Here are all ten waterfalls in the order you will reach them when starting from the South Falls day-use area. Heights are approximate. Oregon State Parks only publishes the height of South Falls, so the rest come from hiking guides.
- South Falls – This is the star of the park and the one you have probably seen on Instagram. It drops about 177 feet into a deep pool, and the trail takes you right behind it. This is also where Al Faussett made his 1928 canoe plunge, which is a wild thing to think about while you stand behind all that water. Walk behind: Yes
- Lower South Falls – At roughly 93 feet, Lower South Falls is a wide, curtain-like waterfall, and the trail passes directly behind it. It is the second walk-behind of the hike, and it comes early, so you get two of the four highlights done in the first stretch. Walk behind: Yes
- Lower North Falls – This is only about 30 feet tall, and instead of a straight plunge, the water slides and spreads over a wide rock ledge. It is not the most dramatic stop, but it is a good spot to catch your breath. Walk behind: No
- Double Falls – This is the tallest waterfall in the park at around 178 feet, beating South Falls by just one foot. As the name suggests, it drops in two tiers. It sits on a short spur (about 0.1 mile) up Hullt Creek, so it is easy to miss if you are not looking for the sign. Fair warning: this is one of the seasonal falls that can shrink to a trickle by late summer. Walk behind: No
- Drake Falls – At about 27 feet, Drake Falls is the smallest of the ten. It is named after June Drake, the Silverton photographer whose campaign helped create the park. Small waterfall, big legacy. Walk behind: No
- Middle North Falls – This waterfall drops about 106 feet, and a short side path takes you behind it. This is the third walk-behind, so do not skip the detour. Walk behind: Yes
- Winter Falls – This waterfall is about 134 feet tall, and the name tells you exactly when to see it at its best. It is a seasonal waterfall that can almost disappear in late summer. You reach it by taking the Winter Trail, about 0.3 mile from the Canyon Trail junction, and this is also where the shorter loop heads back up to the rim. Walk behind: No
- Twin Falls – Twin Falls is about 31 feet tall and usually splits into two streams as it drops. In dry summers, it can run as a single channel, so the “twin” part is not always guaranteed. Walk behind: No
- North Falls – This fall drops about 136 feet, and walking behind it is one of the best moments of the entire hike. It is the fourth and final walk-behind, and if you are doing the shorter route, you can reach it from the North Falls Trailhead. Walk behind: Yes
- Upper North Falls – is about 65 feet tall and sits on a short spur upstream of North Falls. The path passes under the road bridge to get there, and the waterfall drops into a calm pool at the end. Walk behind: No
Amenities at the South Falls Day-Use Area
The South Falls day-use area is the main hub of the park, which is another reason I recommend starting here. You will find:
- A large parking lot with plenty of space and EV charging
- Picnic tables and shelters, lawns, and a playground
- The Historic South Falls Lodge, built by New Deal crews and completed in 1941, with a fireplace on rainy days and free Wi-Fi
- South Falls Cafe, inside the lodge, for coffee and food after your hike (check current hours before you go)
- The Friends of Silver Falls Nature Store, in a 1935 log cabin near the lodge
- Water refill spots and restrooms
When you finish the hike, you can freshen up, grab something to eat, and refuel before the drive back. After 7+ miles of stairs and switchbacks, that café feels like a finish line.
Is Silver Falls State Park Worth Visiting?
Absolutely. But it is most worth it when the falls are flowing.
I will be honest: I was a little disappointed. The hike is long, and I was hoping that, even in late summer, I would see decent flow at most of the waterfalls. Instead, many of them were almost dried up, and that is when I realized I had simply picked the wrong season.
Sometimes social media makes you believe a place looks the same all year, and you skip the research. That is on me. I am taking it as a lesson, and a very good excuse to come back in spring.
Even with lower flow, walking behind South Falls and North Falls was still worth the trip. If you time it right, with spring rains or the return of the fall showers, I think this could easily become one of the best waterfall hikes in the Pacific Northwest.
Beyond Silver Falls: More Oregon Waterfalls and Trips
If walking behind waterfalls is your thing too, head to the Columbia River Gorge and hike the Horsetail Falls Trail. This is where I walked behind a waterfall for the very first time. One small correction to my own memory: the one you actually walk behind is not Horsetail Falls itself, but Ponytail Falls (also called Upper Horsetail Falls), a short climb up the same trail.
If you are building a longer Oregon trip around your hike, here are a few of our other guides:
- Crater Lake National Park in One Day: rim stops, easy hikes, and a Milky Way night
- Tillamook Creamery: the perfect cheesy stop on the Oregon coast
- Oregon Road Trip Food Guide: where to eat along the way
- The Society Hotel, Portland: a historic, budget-friendly stay if you are basing yourself in Portland
- Portland Travel Guide: top things to do, eat & explore
For more Oregon recommendations, check out my Oregon travel page.
Have you hiked the Trail of Ten Falls? Which waterfall was your favorite, and what season did you go? Let me know in the comments, especially if you caught it in spring.
