Silver Falls State Park, Oregon

Silver Falls State Park is one of the natural highlights of Oregon. The State of Oregon is full of majestic mountains, colorful high desert, a breathtaking coastline and unforgettable sunsets. And with a rainy season (in Western Oregon) that feels endless, waterfalls are in no short supply.

Silver Falls showcases some of Oregon’s most spectacular displays of nature, and it’s also one of my favorite places in the state. For the ease of access and, of course, the abundance of waterfalls, Silver Falls is one of the best places for a hike in Oregon. Here is everything you need to know about visiting Silver Falls, Oregon:

Silver Falls State Park

Silver Falls State Park has been a popular natural getaway in Oregon for more than a hundred years. Officially, the park has been open since 1933, though the park’s history dates back much further.

Located in a rural area of Western Oregon, about 20 miles east of Salem and 40 miles south of Portland, Silver Falls State Park is one of the most popular parks in Oregon. The Trail of Ten Falls, the famous walk-behind-the-waterfalls hike in the park, is one of the most popular hiking trails in the state, too.

The only fees visitors to Silver Falls, Oregon can expect is the parking fee, which is $5 per car for the day. The main visitors area near the entrance has picnic tables, restrooms, a small shop and a cafe. The cafe, located in the lodge, is a typical Oregon experience that combines nature and two local favorites: craft beer and espresso.

What’s better than starting a long, beautiful hike with an espresso and capping it off with a pint? I don’t know of many state parks that have several rotating taps of local brew on site.

Trail of Ten Falls

Length – 7-mile loop
Elevation Change – 800 feet over the 7 miles of the trail
Difficulty – moderate
Time – 3-4 hours

The Trail of Ten Falls is the primary (and most popular) loop trail throughout Silver Falls State Park. Most visitors begin at South Falls, just past South Falls Lodge (a National Historic Landmark), hiking the loop in this direction.

The length, about 7-8 miles (sources vary), is for the entire loop of the Trail of Ten Falls. There are a few spurs (offshoots) hikers can explore that will lengthen the trail slightly. For a first-time visit to Silver Falls, Oregon, stick to the trail. The markings are not complicated or inadequate by any means, but it’s always best not to stray on the first hike of any trail. Silver Falls is often busy (more on that below), and if you do lose your way, there will likely be other hikers nearby to help.

Silver Falls State park is essentially situated around Silver Creek, which runs through a small canyon. The terrain around the Trail of Ten Falls is fitting for a hike that goes through, up and down the sides of a canyon. The 800 feet of elevation variation is gradual, with only a few steep inclines and nothing especially daunting. The hike is usually classified as “moderate,” but with a little patience and a few breaks to soak in the surrounding natural spectacle, I believe the Trail of Ten Falls is on the easy side of moderate for a person of average fitness.

Hiking the Trail of Ten Falls and seeing the main waterfalls of Silver Falls State Park can take as little as two hours – that is, two hours if you plan on doing nothing more than stopping, saying your “oohs” and “ahhs,” and continuing along the trail. If the trail is busy, it will add some time. To make the most of a visit to Silver Falls, Oregon, allot at least three to four hours to leisurely hike the trail. When time is on your side, find a good spot to take a break and watch the water carving its way over the cliffs.

Make sure to bring a camera! Silver Falls is a beautiful place, and it’s hard not to snap photos at every turn. If photography is of interest to you, plan for an extra hour.

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What to Wear for a Hike at Silver Falls

Dressing right is the first step to an enjoyable hike. The weather at Silver Falls, and all of Oregon, is highly seasonal and determines what needs to be worn. When hiking at Silver Falls State Park, there are a few other necessary considerations to be made regardless of weather:

During the dry Summer months, there is little need for anything other than usual hiking gear. Comfortable, cool clothes and a good pair of shoes is sufficient.

During wetter months, even on rain-free days, it is best to hike Silver Falls with a rain jacket. The spray from the waterfalls, especially when walking behind and around a few of them, will leave every hiker a little damp.

I typically bring a small backpack on this hike. Inside, I pack a small towel, a bottle of water, a small flashlight (if it’s later in the afternoon, just in case) and not much else.

Perhaps the most important thing to bring with you to Silver Falls is a camera. The Trail of Ten Falls at Silver Falls State Park is a quintessential Oregon hike, and it’s hard to put the camera down.

How to Get to Silver Falls, Oregon

Getting to Silver Falls is fairly easy. There are a few options for hikers and waterfall fiends coming from Portland.

From Portland, the easiest way to reach the park is to go south on Interstate 5 towards Salem. In Salem, take exit 253 for Oregon Highway 22 East going to Bend. On OR-22, take exit 9 for Shaw and OR-214. The park entrance is about fifteen miles down the road. Traveling on I-5 from Portland should be the simplest and fastest route, but that is rarely the case. Traffic is likely to back up and slow down the trip at any time on any day. IF there is no traffic – that is a big “if” – the trip takes about an hour and a half.

I prefer to take the more scenic route. With I-5 typically being being busy and slow to/from Portland to Salem, the scenic route is often faster, too. From Portland, take I-205 exit 10 for OR-213 southbound toward Molalla. With a few turns plenty of winding, two-lane roads, you’ll reach OR-214, then another 12 miles on OR-214 will lead you to SIlver Falls State Park. I strongly suggest GPS for this method.

Portland’s loop, I-205, is also susceptible to horrendous traffic. Once off of the interstates, traffic is usually negligible in rural areas. Check all the route options before blindly hitting the road anywhere near Portland.

Returning to Portland, I take OR-214 north toward Silverton and Mt. Angel. This route leads past a few good, local restaurants, the perfect excuse to stop and reflect on hiking Silver Falls. Moving on, head north on OR-214 to Highway 99, then follow signs for I-5 North to get back to Portland.

As far as I know, and from everything I have been able to find, there is no public transportation available to reach Silver Falls, Oregon. Although the park is close to Salem and Portland, it is somewhat remote. The narrow and winding two-lane highway is not a major travel route.

When is the Best Time to Hike/Visit Silver Falls?

Silver Falls State Park is open year-round and is often busy, but the Oregon seasons are a big factor for when is, precisely, the best time to visit. The climate in Western Oregon is very seasonal and basically consists of a long, dreary rainy season and a short, pleasant dry season.

During summertime – the dry season – all of Oregon is very dry. For Silver Creek and the waterfalls at Silver Falls State Park, the lack of rain has significant effects. The creeks dwindle and many of the waterfalls slow to little more than a trickle. Despite the warm weather and sunshine, summer is actually not the best time to visit Silver Falls, Oregon.

Winter, on the other hand, is very wet in Oregon, and the waterfalls at Silver Falls are roaring. Unfortunately, it will be very cold and hikers are likely to be damp, cold and possibly miserable the entire time. You can forget about sunshine in Western Oregon during winter, as well.

Spring is the prettiest time to visit Silver Falls State Park. The waterfalls are rushing, the creek is fully flowing, flowers are blooming and the weather is nicer. If you can manage a weekday in Spring, this would be an ideal time to visit, as Spring weekends in Oregon are especially popular for nature-lovers.

My favorite time to visit Silver Falls is during Autumn. It is not quite as cold as winter and the beginnings of the rainy season bring the waterfalls almost to capacity. Best of all, the slightly chilly temperatures scare off many would-be hikers. As long as you are dressed appropriately, visiting Silver Falls, Oregon in Autumn will be a wonderful treat.

The best time of day to visit Silver Falls State Park is early morning. During the peak season, the large parking lot will be full by noon. It’s best to arrive as early as possible. If you’re not a morning person, you can arrive in the afternoon. Crowds slowly shrink as dusk nears, and the trails will likely be vacant for the last hour or two of your hike.

It is important to factor in time for said hike if you plan on arriving in the afternoon. The towering Douglas Firs and canyon walls cast shadows and darken the trails before actual sunset time.

Silver Falls State Park, Oregon

Silver Falls is truly one of Oregon’s natural wonders. I love this place so much I make a point to visit the park for a nice hike at least once a year. As a person who really doesn’t like busy places, that’s a testament to the beauty of Silver Falls, Oregon.

When visiting Silver Falls for a hike, make sure to take it slow and enjoy the scenery. Always be smart and dress appropriately, too, especially for hiking in Oregon. Most importantly, remember to bring a camera! Silver Falls is a spectacular place, and the perfect Oregon setting for some quality time outdoors.