This 7-mile Hike in Oregon Takes You to 10 Waterfalls

While most travelers to Oregon make a beeline to the Columbia River Gorge region to see Multnomah Falls—the tallest cascade in the state—and its adjacent Waterfall Corridor, I prefer to take out-of-town visitors to a place I find even more enchanting: Silver Falls State Park. This emeraldine swath of temperate rain forest has all the trappings of a quintessential Pacific Northwest wonderland, despite being a mere 90 minutes from Portland. Here, you’ll find miles of trails flanked by centuries-old Douglas firs draped in moss and gargantuan ferns that rustle softly when the wind passes through. The park’s claim to fame, however, is its 10 unique waterfalls—and you can visit them all on one 7.2-mile hike.

The hike in question is the aptly named Trail of Ten Falls, a moderate loop with an elevation change of around 800 feet. Although I’m far from a hardcore hiker, especially by Oregon standards, I’ve been trekking this trail since I was a teenager, and have never found it too challenging. There are a few different starting points, but I usually begin at the South Falls District trailhead, where there’s a cafe, a nature store, and—most importantly—restrooms. I then follow the loop clockwise, mostly because I’m impatient and like to walk behind the 177-foot water curtain of South Falls, just north of the trailhead, as soon as I can (it’s better to take the trail counterclockwise if you prefer to save the best for last).

The trail continues north past Lower South Falls, before looping up along the north fork of Silver Creek and over to the largest concentration of waterfalls in the park, where six of the 10 falls are located. After passing Middle North Falls, hang a right on the Winter Trail and head down for half a mile to see Winter Falls, with its thick drop of misty water (this is my favorite place to feel the spray of ionized water on my face). You can then backtrack to the main rim and continue the rest of the loop (and see three additional falls), or cut your hike down to five miles by looping back to the South Falls trailhead.

If doing five to seven miles feels like too much, don’t worry—there are plenty of shorter segments where you can still get your waterfall fix, but with less exertion. Time-pressed hikers should consider the South Falls out-and-back hike, which gets you behind South Falls and back again in just one mile. It’s a great option for novice hikers and those with kids, but you may want to invest in a safety harness for little ones, as there are some sheer points along the path. For a wheelchair- and stroller-accessible jaunt, consider the mile-long North Rim Trail, which opened in 2023. This route has a compacted surface and is never narrower than six feet. It leads to a lookout with gorgeous views over North Falls. These more manageable trails mean no matter where you are with your hiking abilities, there’s no reason to miss Silver Falls State Park. Whether you do the entire Trail of Ten Falls hike or opt for a shorter alternative, you’re sure to find lots of enchantment in these woods.