Silver Falls St Park, worth it?

On the way to Portland to visit friends, I stopped over at Silver Falls State Park for a quick trip through the 10 Waterfalls. My car was the first in North Falls TH parking lot and that early start gave me about 3 hours of solitude. By 10:00-10:30, the parking lot was full and humans crowded the trails. But hiking Silver Falls is not about wilderness nor wildlife, but all about the waterfalls.

Even if trails away from the waterfalls look like this (magical) … they were just corridors to the waterfalls.

To remind one how silly humans can be, there are signs like this in several places, – obviously humans have tried to go where they really shouldn’t – seriously life-threatening if ‘fall’.

A few wildflowers remained trailside, but they were past prime and again nothing compared to the promises from waterfalls’ roar.

I counted three waterfalls with paths walking BEHIND the falls. Looking out is completely different

These are the many of the waterfalls a hiker walks past on the way to South Falls (click to open photos) – I’m not sure the one on top left even has name.

After passing all of those waterfalls, the South Falls – probably the most viewed and awed of all in the Park.

Is Silver Falls State Park worth the time / drive required to get there? The first time, absolutely, but, try to get your hiking done before 10:00 – when the crowds arrive. North Falls TH does not have a gate but requires State Park pass. … From there, South Falls is the furthest away, but a rational 3-4 hour hike round trip. Would I go back consistently year-after-year? No. Too many people, not enough wildlife, and waterfalls in OR are easy to find.

The Route

Started at North Falls TH and headed on the North Rim Trail as Canyon Trail is closed from TH to Twin Falls Tr intersection; ended up at South Falls, and circled up the canyon rim to the ‘lodge’. From there, back to North Falls on same route. While grabbing snack in TH I decided that the “Backcountry Trails” were not why I came to Silver Falls, so I went back around the falls.

Gear Box

For camera lens on this trip, I left my larger lens and took the 12-45mm. Given that most of Silver Falls is down a deep forested river gorge, vistas, views and distances would be minimal. All photos were ‘closer’ and the shorter lens was perfect.

Data Geek Cellar

• Shoes: Altra Lone Peak WP Boots – Currex Insole, T-Form insole pad
• Pack: Gossamer Gear Grit
• Upper Layers: Lightweight baselayer
• Upper shell: none
• Trekking Poles: Gossamer Gear
• Approximate Times: 06:00-13:00
• Carbon ratio: 1.75 hours (1.5 hours driving: hours outdoors 6.25); YTD = 139.83 hours banked
• Miles hiked YTD: 645.13
• Notes:
  • Trails were VERY crowded after 10:00
  • Good news – pets are NOT allowed on canyon trail