Explore the Trail of Ten Falls in Silver Falls State Park

Tucked away in Oregon’s stunning landscape, Silver Falls State Park is a captivating natural wonder that beautifully exemplifies the charm of the Pacific Northwest. This enchanting park is famous for its 10 spectacular waterfalls, which cascade gracefully through the lush, verdant forests, creating a symphony of water sounds that draws in nature lovers and adventurers alike. With a network of scenic hiking trails winding through towering trees, Silver Falls promises an unforgettable experience for any of our fellow waterfall chasers.

In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know to make the most of your visit. We’ll offer essential tips for navigating the park, recommendations for lodging options nearby, and a detailed itinerary to help you fully experience the park’s breathtaking Trail of Ten Falls, where each waterfall reveals its own unique beauty and charm.

Entrance Fee:

A $10 Day Pass can be purchased on the day of your visit, at any kiosk, near most parking areas.

Lodging:

The park has one campground with RV sites, tent sites, and cabins available. Horse camping and group sites are also available. Reservations can be made here- Silver Falls Camping.

There are many camping options outside the park as well. We stayed at the Silver Spur RV Park, and I highly recommend it. It had well-maintained sites and lots of amenities, and the location to the park and town was perfect.

For hotel options, check out Silverton, OR.

Dining:

For dining options inside the park, check out the South Falls Café. It is just steps from the South Falls parking lot. It is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, and the café’s menu can be found here: South Falls Café.

For more dining options, check out Silverton. A few personal recommendations: The Noble Fox, The Rustic Melt (a food truck with amazing grilled cheese sandwiches), and Oso.

Must Know Before You Go:

While this park is stunning year-round, the waterfalls are particularly impressive in the spring.
With ten waterfalls, this trail is often muddy and slick! Proper footwear is recommended.
Make sure you grab a map or have an AllTrails map downloaded. There are several ways to shorten the longer loop, so you’ll want to make sure you stay on the right path. (Want to check out AllTrails+? Use this link for a discount- AllTrails+.)
This is one of Oregon’s most popular parks. Plan on arriving early, or consider a weekday visit to escape the crowds.
While dogs are allowed in the park, they are not allowed on the canyon portion of the trail. If you plan to complete the entire loop, your pup must skip this one!

1 Day Itinerary

Depending on your crew’s skill level, below you’ll find three options for spending your day exploring the beauty of Silver Falls State Park.

Trail of Tens Falls

Option #1

Distance: 9.5 miles roundtrip

Trail Route: Loop

Trail Route: Moderate

Elevation Gain: +1400 ft

If you’re up for an adventure, I highly recommend this route—it’s absolutely incredible! The park’s map indicates that the loop is 7 miles long. However, after hiking this trail several times, I can tell you that if you include the spur trail to Upper North Falls, the entire loop is closer to 9+ miles, depending on how much you choose to explore each waterfall.

To begin your hike, park at the South Falls Lot, which offers ample parking spaces and has restrooms available. From the parking lot, head towards the South Falls Trailhead. Hike the loop in a clockwise direction, making the 177 ft South Falls (1) your first stop.

After visiting South Falls, you will encounter the 93 ft Lower South Falls (2) and the 30 ft Lower North Falls (3). Just beyond Lower North Falls, there’s a short spur trail that leads to the park’s tallest waterfall, the 184 ft Double Falls (4). Once you’ve returned to the main trail, continue on to see the 27 ft Drake Falls (5) and the 105 ft Middle North Falls (6). I highly recommend taking the quick trail behind Middle North Falls; the view from the other side is spectacular, and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a waterfall rainbow.

After visiting Middle North Falls, there’s a connector trail to Winter Falls. Do not take the connector trail. Instead, continue straight to see the impressive 136 ft North Falls (8), which is definitely the loudest of all the falls. You can walk behind North Falls, and there are benches under the massive rock overhang, making it a perfect spot to take a break. After enjoying North Falls, head up the stone stairs and past the North Falls Lot to reach the 65 ft Upper North Falls (9).

Once you’ve checked out Upper North Falls, return to the trail split and take the Rim Trail to the Winter Falls Lot. To visit the last of the ten waterfalls—Winter Falls (10)—follow the short but steep path down to the 130 ft falls. After enjoying Winter Falls, return to the Rim Trail and follow it back to the South Falls Lot.

Option #2

Distance: 5 miles roundtrip

Trail Route: Loop

Trail Route: Moderate

Elevation Gain: +900 ft

For this second, shorter option, you’ll begin the same way as the first option, allowing you to make a last-minute decision about your route based on how you feel about the trail so far. Start at the South Falls Trailhead and hike the loop in a clockwise direction, beginning with the Canyon Trail. Your first stop will be to walk behind the impressive 177-foot South Falls (1).

After visiting South Falls, continue on to the 93-foot Lower South Falls (2) and the 30-foot Lower North Falls (3). Just beyond Lower North Falls, you’ll find a very short spur trail that leads to the park’s tallest waterfall, Double Falls, which stands at 184 feet (4). Once you return to the main trail, proceed to the 27-foot Drake Falls (5) and the 105-foot Middle North Falls (6). I highly recommend taking the brief trail behind Middle North Falls; the view from the other side is spectacular, and if you’re there at the right time of day, you might even see a waterfall rainbow.

Just after Middle North Falls, a 0.6-mile connector trail will lead you to Winter Falls. This trail is well marked, and since most hikers head in that direction, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding it. This connector trail will take you to Winter Falls, which is 130 feet tall.

After enjoying Winter Falls, follow the connector trail out of the canyon and turn right when you reach the Rim Trail. The Rim Trail will lead you back to the South Falls parking lot.

Option #3

Distance: 6.5 miles roundtrip

Trail Route: Loop

Trail Route: Moderate

Elevation Gain: +1000 ft

Lastly, for option 3, start by completing option 2. After returning to the South Falls Lot, jump in your vehicle and head to the North Falls Lot. Please note that the North Falls Lot is quite small, so be prepared to wait for a parking spot.

Once you’ve parked, walk to the North Falls overlook and Upper North Falls from that lot. To reach Upper North Falls, take the North Falls Trail, which is located just east of the parking lot. This trail is an easy, 0.8-mile round trip.

After returning to the parking lot, take the Canyon Trail to view the impressive North Falls. This trail is a moderate, 0.7-mile round trip.

I hope you have an incredible adventure!

Looking for another PNW adventure? Check out our Olympic National Park Itinerary!