Silver Falls State Park
(southeast of Silverton OR)
Certainly someone must know why most folks really like a waterfall they can walk behind. But do we really need to know why except that South Falls is one of the best such falls. A good flowing stream, 10 feet wide, drops 176 feet into a large pool. The ‘cave’ behind the waterfall gives you a view rarely seen. Though you can walk behind several of the waterfalls in the Silver Falls State Park, each is very different.
There is also a Lower South Falls. True, it isn’t as tall (only 93 feet), and you can walk behind it, too, but it is completely different from its big brother.
All of this is in Silver Falls State Park, a well developed facility with camping (tent and RV), cabins, picnic facilities, horse camps, running water, even ADA restrooms. To enter and just view the waterfalls, you still have to pay the $3 entry fee. Guided one-hour daytime horse trail rides for people of all abilities are available from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The $25 (per person) includes horse rental. For more information or to make special arrangements, about the horse rides, phone 503-873-3890.
For more information about Silver Falls State Park, phone 800-551-6949. To make camping reservations, phone 800-452-5687
How to get there:
From I-5 exit 253, Silver Falls State Park (about 10 miles).
For photos of South Falls, see:
For photos of Lower South Falls, see:
See also: North Falls
There are 11 major waterfalls in the park all connected by a 7-mile loop trail. There are also individual parking areas throughout the park at trailheads for most of these waterfalls. Most are very easy and some even wheelchair friendly. It takes somewhere around 3 hours to do the whole tour on the trail.
