Silver Falls State Park and the Trail of 10 Falls
Yes, you read that right 10 FALLS - 1 TRAIL! This amazing hike is in Silver Falls State Park in Oregon, where we've been stationed for the past few months. It's truly been an amazing experience to witness the seasons change here. We could walk these trails every month, and notice something different each time.
We really can't say enough about how amazing this park is. It is said to be the crown jewel of Oregon State Parks, and it is rightfully named. Many of the photos on our site were taken at Silver Falls, because it's the first place we went in our motorhome, Rhiannon. Lucky us, because this is one of the most beautiful places we've ever been.
This is our last week here, so we wanted to share a brief overview of the park and some of our favorite things we've experienced here.
The Trail
The trail itself is a 7.2 mile loop - it's a "moderate hike" and if you take a wrong turn it can be a difficult one (darn switchbacks!). The weather can be a bit sporadic, so be ready for anything. Our advice: bring a snack, water, and a raincoat.
You can walk behind four of the ten waterfalls. Breathtaking doesn't even do it justice. It really would be an amazing hike even without the falls, because the forest is so beautiful. Trees you'll see include Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, Western Yew, Vine Maple, and Big Leaf Maple. It's difficult to describe this trail in words, so check out the photos and go see it for yourself!
Side note: this is only the main trail! The park is huge!
Events and History
There are many events throughout the year here. We had the pleasure of experiencing several of these, and can't wait to come back for more! The biggest, the Christmas Festival, is a fun, family event with lots of crafts, music, Santa, and food. The Friends of Silver Falls hosts this and more throughout the year, so check their calendar for upcoming events.
We also attended the First Day Hike, during which we learned a lot about the forgotten history of Silver Falls. Before becoming a state park, the land was home to the residents of Silver Falls City. This logging town was established in 1888, with the earliest homesteading in 1883 (read more about the city here). There are more led hikes during the summer and fall, where you'll learn about the earliest inhabitants of the land, the Kalapuya and Molalla (OPRD).
Most recently, we went on an owl prowl. This was one of our favorite events yet! We dissected owl pellets, learned about local owl species, and called barred owls in the forest. It was super fun and educational!
The Campground
The campground is located across the street from the main day use area. There are cabins, RV sites with water/electric hookups, and clean bathrooms with showers. There is a short nature trail in the campground, if you aren't feeling up to a longer hike. This place is packed in the summer, so be sure to reserve a site beforehand.
Haunted?!
We are very interested in Silver Falls City, and have been working with the Friends of Silver Falls to locate the graves of the inhabitants. Leave it to us to ask the question - "Where was the graveyard?". Check out our post about what we've discovered and our investigation into the paranormal activity in the park here.
If You Go
A few things to note if you go to this park:
The sites are water and electric for RVs, but there is a dump station in the park.
The town of Silverton is adorable, so check that out too.
There have been a lot of accidents - don't risk leaning over to get that perfect angle. It'll be a great picture from the trail, so stick to that.
Check the Friends of Silver Falls webpage for events and volunteer opportunities. They're always super fun and educational!
There is no convenience store in the park, so you'll want to stock up on food, beer, marshmallows, etc.
You can warm up in the lodge by the fire, and enjoy wifi, food, coffee, and beer. The cafe has limited hours during the off season, so come prepared!
That's it for now. Have you been to Silver Falls? Leave us a comment below!