1.8 hr
Overview
You can see all the waterfalls in Silver Falls State Park in two trips if the Trail of Ten Falls Loop Hike seems a little daunting. The upper loop described here keeps you to the North Fork of Silver Creek and its drainages, taking in four of the ten waterfalls although another four are only a half-mile diversion away. Like all loops this hike can be done in either direction. See the Silver Falls Lower Loop Hike for a description of the hike around the other end of the canyon. First, take the 0.3 mile spur to Upper North Falls. From the parking area, take the footbridge over the North Fork Silver Creek, and turn right and then right again to pass under the footbridge and then the road bridge. Reach the junction with the Perimeter Trail, and keep left. The trail heads along the North Fork Silver Creek, crossing a few small streams, to the wide, shallow pool below the Upper North Falls, 65 feet tall. This isn't the largest waterfall in the park, but it's more remote than most, and it makes a fine morning introduction. Here you can see all of the standard features of Silver Creek waterfalls. The water cascades off a basalt cliff formed by ancient lava flows. You can see pieces of rock that have fallen from above and the beginnings of a cave-like grotto behind the waterfall. After whetting your appetite, return to the footbridge, and keep left at the next two junctions. For the next mile, you'll be above the canyon on the Rim Trail. The park road is never far away, and soon you'll come to the North Falls Viewpoint. From here, you can look deep into the canyon at North Falls. (The view may be better if you make a quick scramble up to the highway turnout.) In the next half-mile, you'll pass a couple of small meadows and arrive at the Winter Falls Trailhead. Turn right on the Winter Trail, and start down the steep hill. One switchback, a quarter mile and 200 feet lower, you'll come to the base of Winter Falls. Winter Falls gets its name from the belief that it only runs in the winter. In reality, it runs most of
Trail Stats
5.8 km
116 m
460 m
0 m
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Photos
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TKO put tools to trail here.png
TKO put tools to trail here.png