This gorgeous hike weaved through
Silver Creek Canyon past many spectacular waterfalls in Silver Falls
State Park, at 8706 acres, Oregon's largest state park. The trail
starts next to South Falls Lodge and descended steeply into the
canyon. Immediately I had a grand view of 177 foot South Falls –
one of the park's most well-known waterfalls. Before you knew it, the
trail took me behind the falls in a unique basalt cave. The cooling
spray from the sweeping cascade was a welcome relief on sunny and
warm hiking day.
After the falls, the trail paralleled
the South Fork of Silver Creek and was lined with leafy vine maple,
sweeping sword fern, Oregon grape, big-leaf maple, and Douglas fir
trees. At 1.1 miles, I arrived at the picturesque 93 foot Lower
South Falls, and of course I had to take some pictures, lots of
pictures, too bad none of them turned out too well, but I had fun
anyway, and that is what it is about, right? At 1.4 miles I arrived
at a trail junction. I could have taken a right turn here and headed
up a steep hill for a 1 mile hike back to where I started but I
decided to press on.
After about 1 more mile I passed the 30
foot cascade of Lower North Falls. Not too far up the road I could
have veered off the major path for a short walk to another
waterfalls, but as I was starting to lose precious daylight, I
decided to go straight ahead as I still had a few miles of hiking to
get out of there. I walked on for another 2.8 miles to the next
waterfall, 27 foot Drake Falls (named for June Drake, a photographer
whose photos were instrumental in the creation of the park). After
another 0.2 miles, I then saw the 103 foot Middle North Falls. I was
able to check out the side trail that lead behind the falls, worth
getting off the beaten path for. It is here where I ran into a Park
Ranger and she walked out part of the hike with me.
We forged on for another 0.4 miles to a
bridge where there is one last chance to cut the hike short and head
back...I opted for that route this time. Here the Ranger had parked
her car and we parted ways. After 0.3 miles I came upon Winter Falls
and then head to the Rim Trail and hiked back 1.2 miles to the lodge
to end my hike. I came across some other people that were hiking back
so we chatted and hiked together.
My trusty RunKeeper app said I hiked
5.5 miles. I have done a few longer hikes but none with this many
waterfalls in one hike. I want to make it again and do the whole 6.9
mile loop...anybody want to go with me?
