South Falls from the rim, Silver Falls State Park (bobcat)

Footbridge over the South Fork Silver Creek (bobcat)

Historic CCC restrooms at picnic area E (closed) (bobcat)

The loops at South Falls (bobcat) Courtesy: Google Maps

• Start point: South Falls Lodge Trailhead
• End point: South Falls
• Trail log: Trail Log
• Hike type: Two short loops
• Distance: 1.6 miles
• Elevation gain: 240 feet
• High point: 1,330 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Seasons: Year round (better in spring)
• Family Friendly: Yes
• Backpackable: No
• Crowded: Yes
• South Falls Accessibility Information

Hike Description

This is the most popular mini-hike in Silver Falls State Park, so don't expect solitude except during fairly miserable weather. These are two connected loops, one allowing you to walk behind South Falls and the other taking you through the day use areas on both sides of the South Fork Silver Creek. Those who don't want to hike into the canyon can still view South Falls from the upper loop and enjoy the paved trails there. Silver Falls State Park is well-known for its display of yellowing maples in the fall, so this is a great outing to enjoy those colors.

Walk past the restrooms to pass in front of the South Falls Lodge, a 1940s era building in the northwest forest style. There's a small cafeteria here as well as a visitor center with a few exhibits and a courtyard with a theater. Then the path reaches a four-way junction at a stone circle with trail directions. You can stay straight here to check out a CCC era kitchen. Otherwise, turn left at the stone circle to see the nature store on your right and a path leading to some restrooms. At the next junction, turn right to begin your descent on the Canyon Trail.

At a switchback, there's a short spur trail right to Frenchie Falls, which is a tiny drop that stops completely in the summer. Then, as the trail continues to drop, you'll get several beautiful looks at South Falls, the second highest waterfall in the park and the highest single drop at 177 feet. At a junction, bear right to begin an anticlockwise loop and descend to the canyon floor. After another switchback, a wide footbridge across the South Fork Silver Creek takes you through a restoration area to join the trail on the west side of the creek. Here, there's a splendid view of South Falls plunging over a basalt lip into its amphitheater.

Keep left to ascend above the west side of the creek, using several short sets of steps, to enter the lush grotto. There's even a bench under the cool overhang. South Falls rates as one of the most photographed waterfalls in Oregon, along with Multnomah Falls and Punch Bowl Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. After passing the falls, follow the Canyon Trail back up the side of the canyon, getting several beautiful looks back at South Falls.

When you reach the rim, stay right to reach the South Falls Viewpoint, where you'll get an oblique view of the waterfall. After passing a view area rimmed by a rock wall, continue on this trail to reach the lip of South Falls and then turn up the east bank of the lovely South Fork Silver Creek. When you see a bridge over the creek to your right, cross it to enter the parkland of Picnic Area E. There are group picnic shelters here and a historic restroom. When you reach a maintenance road, turn left and then right to stay on the west side of the creek near volleyball and horseshoe pits. This paved bike trail passes into an off-leash area. When you see another bridge across the creek, take it to reach Picnic Area D. You can bear right to view the park swimming hole and then angle up to your left past some restrooms. Paved walks lead next to the parking lots back to the main lodge parking area.

Maps

• Maps: Hike Finder
• Silver Falls State Park: Trail of Ten Falls (Oregon State Parks)
• Sky Island Graphics: Silver Falls State Park: Trail and Recreation Guide

Regulations or restrictions, etc

• $5.00 day-use fee or State Park Pass
• No dogs on the canyon portion of the Trail of Ten Falls (dogs on leash permitted on upper trails)
• Off-leash area
• Campground, picnic areas, restrooms, cafeteria, nature store, interpretive signs

Trip Reports

• Search Trip Reports for South Falls

• Silver Falls State Park--Trees Fall across South Falls

Related Discussions / Q&A

• Search Trail Q&A for South Falls
• Teenager "cliff dives" off South Falls at Silver Falls

Guidebooks that cover this hike

• Hiking Waterfalls in Oregon by Adam Sawyer
• Best Hikes With Kids: Oregon by Bonnie Henderson & Zach Urness
• Best Hikes with Children: Western & Central Oregon by Bonnie Henderson
• Afoot & Afield: Portland/Vancouver by Douglas Lorain
• 100 Hikes: Central Oregon Cascades by William L. Sullivan
• Oregon State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide by Jan Bannan
• Oregon Campgrounds Hiking Guide by Rhonda & George Ostertag
• Silver Falls Park in Oregon by Mark & Diane Pearson (Kindle)
• Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest by Gregory A. Plumb
• Waterfalls of the Pacific Northwest by David L. Anderson

More Links

• Silver Falls State Park (Oregon State Parks)
• "Oregon Top 5: Best easy hikes at Silver Falls State Park" (Statesman Journal)
• Silver Falls State Park in Winter: 3 Reasons Why You Should Visit Now (RootsRated)
• "Splendor rushes at Silver Falls State Park" (Register-Guard)
• South Falls (World of Waterfalls)
• South Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey)
• South Falls - Silver Falls State Park (Zak Stone)
• Silver Falls (Northwest Wildflowers)

Contributors

• bobcat (creator)