Trail of Ten Falls, Silver Falls OR

• 5-star hikes
• 1 to 8 mile options
• Moderate | Gain 200 to 1,260 feet
• Silverton, OR | Oregon
.

View from the trail behind the South Falls.

As Oregon’s largest state park, Silver Falls State Park is located about 25 miles east of Salem. At the heart of the park is Silver Creek Canyon, famous for its waterfalls and well-maintained trail system.

The canyon's basalt cliffs were shaped millions of years ago by massive lava flows that originated in eastern Oregon and swept all the way to the Pacific Coast. Looking closely at the rock faces reveals distinct layers of lava from separate volcanic events. Over millennia, softer sedimentary rock sandwiched between these hard basalt layers eroded away, creating deep overhangs. The park's trails take advantage of these natural alcoves, allowing hikers to pass directly behind several cascading waterfalls.

  Google Maps

⬤ 5★ Trail of Ten Falls   7.7 mi loop, moderate, gain 1260 ft GPX File · AllTrails · Directions GPX?

⬤ 5★ Trail of Ten Falls Short Loop   4.9 mi loop, moderate, gain 840 ft GPX File · AllTrails · Directions

⬤ 5★ South Falls & Maple Ridge   2.6 mi loop, moderate, gain 400 ft GPX File · AllTrails · Directions

⬤ 5★ South Falls Loop   1.0 mi loop, moderate, gain 200 ft GPX File · AllTrails · Directions

$  State Park fee

Routes into the canyon begin with a gentle descent through a dense canopy of Douglas firs into a lush understory of ferns and moss. As the trail switchbacks lower, it offers continuous views of South Falls before leading hikers behind the water itself. Paths are mostly natural dirt with occasional rocky patches, and sections near the spray can be slick year-round.

All four routes described in our article begin at the South Falls day-use area. While it features a very large parking lot, it still fills to capacity on most weekends. The well-appointed trailhead area includes restrooms, drinking water, EV charging stations, and a playground, along with a gift shop and a small cafe.


Hike behind South Falls, one of the parks' most impressive cascades.

⬤ Trail of Ten Falls
Full loop with all ten falls.
This complete Canyon Trail and Rim Trail loop passes all ten named waterfalls in clockwise order from South Falls: South Falls, Lower South Falls, Lower North Falls, Double Falls, Drake Falls, Middle North Falls, Twin Falls, North Falls, Upper North Falls, and Winter Falls. At 177 feet, South Falls is the tallest in the park, and the trail passes directly behind it just minutes from the trailhead. Lower South Falls, Middle North Falls, and North Falls, which plunges into a broad grotto, also feature walk-behind sections.

Between waterfalls, the trail undulates along the canyon floor and climbs toward the rim in several places, accounting for the cumulative elevation gain despite the lack of any single steep climb. Short spur trails add optional out-and-back trips to Upper North Falls (about 0.5 miles round trip) and a viewpoint above Winter Falls.

⬤ Trail of Ten Falls Short Loop
Eight falls, skips the two spurs.
This route follows the same Canyon Trail and Rim Trail corridor but omits the spur trail to Upper North Falls and the extended leg to Winter Falls. This cuts roughly 2.8 miles and 420 feet of elevation gain from the full loop while still taking in eight waterfalls, including all four walk-behind cascades. It rejoins the main route along the Rim Trail for the return leg.


Expect moderate trails with rocky, sometimes wet sections.

⬤ South Falls & Maple Ridge
Two of the best falls, quiet return leg.
Starting from the South Falls trailhead, this loop descends the Canyon Trail past South Falls and continues to Lower South Falls, which is the route's second walk-behind waterfall at 93 feet. Rather than heading deeper into the canyon, the trail turns back at Lower South Falls and returns via the Maple Ridge Trail, a quieter path through second-growth forest along the south side of South Fork Silver Creek that avoids retracing the canyon floor.

⬤ South Falls Loop
Hike behind the impressive South Falls.
The shortest option on the map, this loop descends from the South Falls Lodge parking area to the base of South Falls, passes behind the cascade, crosses the footbridge below, and climbs back to the trailhead on the opposite bank. Covering the single most-visited stretch of the park, it can be completed in well under an hour—making it an ideal choice for visitors on a tight schedule or hiking with young children.


Second cascade is the picturesque Lower South Falls.


Waterlogged path behind Lower South Falls.


Longer routes reward with even more views and waterfalls.

External Links:
Silver Falls State Park website

California Waterfalls
Trails to some of California's greatest waterfalls.

Trailspotting the Southwest
See our growing collection of hikes from the Southwestern US states.