Silver Falls State Park is one of the most popular state parks in Oregon, and for good reason! This state park is just an hour and a half south of Portland, and it is home to one of the most spectacular waterfall hikes in the entire Pacific Northwest: the Trail of Ten Falls. As the name suggests, you’ll pass by ten major waterfalls on this beautiful riverside hike. In our guide to hiking the Trail of Ten Falls in Silver Falls State Park we share everything you need to know about this hike. 

The ultimate guide to hiking the Trail of Ten Falls

Hiking the Trail of Ten Falls is one of the best ways to experience the magic of Silver Falls State Park. This hike takes you through a canyon with 10 stunning waterfalls. I’ve done this hike several times and it never disappoints! 

Below you’ll find everything you need to know about how to get to Silver Falls State Park, and what to pack for hiking the Trail of Ten Falls. We also share trail stats and regulations, as well as what to expect along this hike.

How to get to Silver Falls State Park

Silver Falls State Park is about an hour and 20 minutes south of Portland, Oregon. The park is 40 minutes from downtown Salem, Oregon. If you’re looking to visit from out of town I recommend this as a day trip from Portland! There aren’t good public transportation options to get to Silver Falls State Park, so visitors will need access to a car. 

Trip tip: Silver Falls State Park was the 4th most visited state park in Oregon in 2024! Because this park is so popular I recommend arriving early or late in the day to ensure you have a positive experience, especially on weekends.

What to pack for hiking the Trail of Ten Falls

What you need for hiking the Trail of Ten Falls will depend on the season you visit. Below you will find a general guide for key gear you should bring with you, as well as some trail-specific recommendations.

Hiking essentials checklist

Below are our 6 major hiking essentials, which we almost always have with us on the trail!

1. America the Beautiful Pass. An annual America the Beautiful pass covers your entrance fees at all national parks. It also covers fees at other federally managed public lands, such as forest service and BLM sites. This pass is a great investment for people who love national parks and outdoor recreation!
2. Good hiking boots. Waterproof boots with good traction are essential, and a quality pair can last for years. We highly recommend Lowa’s Renegade hiking boots.
3. Water and a water filter. We love the Katadyn BeFree 1.0 Liter Filter Bottle for water filtration, and usually use a Nalgene water bottle or a HydraPak Water Reservoir for water storage.
4. Sun protection. We recommend the Sahara Sun Hoodie (for women and men), which is a sun shirt that offers UPF 50+ sun protection. For sunscreen we like Dermatone’s sport sunscreen and Skin Protector Balm (for winter).
5. A headlamp. The Black Diamond Storm 400 Rechargeable Headlamp is lightweight, compact, waterproof, and USB rechargeable.
6. A comfortable day pack. We recommend the REI Trail 25 (unisex), the Gregory Juno daypack ​for women, or the Gregory Inertia daypack for men.

There are a few additional things to note about gear for this trail. First, there is a TON of water along this hike, so you don’t need to carry much with you as long as you have a filter. Second, in winter I highly recommend bringing microspikes, aka trail crampons. Our favorites are from Hillsound (a Canadian company), but I’ve also heard good things about the Kahtoola brand. This trail can be slick and icy in the colder months, so it’s best to be prepared!

Lastly, you should bring a good rain jacket and waterproof boots for this hike. Some of these waterfalls are incredibly misty, and the trail often has standing water on it. See the above link for our top recommendations for waterproof gear we love!

Trail guide to hiking the Trail of Ten Falls

Trail stats and Silver Falls State Park Regulations

I would consider the Trail of Ten Falls to be a moderate hike. The trail is 7.4 miles long and features nearly 1,200 feet of elevation gain along the route. However, the majority of the elevation gain and loss is gradual. The trail is relatively free of tripping hazards, but you will encounter some roots. There are no restrooms or trash cans along this trail, so you will need to pack EVERYTHING out with you. 

Silver Falls State Park is one of only 25 parks in the state that charges a day use fee. In 2025 the day use fee went from $5 to $10, can can be purchased on-site at the parking lots. Alternatively, visitors can buy a 1 or 2 year parks pass. That’s what we did – it pays for itself pretty quickly! 

What to expect when hiking the Trail of Ten Falls

Below, you will find an overview of what to expect when hiking the Trail of Ten Falls . Note that there are several possible starting points for this hike, including the South Falls District parking lot, North Falls Trailhead, Winter Falls Trailhead, and the North Canyon District parking lot. The South Falls District parking lot is by far the biggest, and would be my recommendation. Our guide to hiking the Trail of Ten Falls starts from the South Falls District parking lot. 

Trip tip: Pets are permitted on the Rim Trail in Silver Falls State Park, but they are NOT allowed on the Canyon trail. As such, you will need to leave pets at home if you want to do this full hike. The majority of the waterfalls are along the Canyon Trail.

What to expect on miles 1-2 of the Trail of Ten Falls

You’ll start off at South Falls District parking lot, which has bathrooms, drinking fountains, and a pay station. This is a large lot but it fills up quickly on busy days, so arrive early! We arrived at 8 am on a sunny weekend and there were already a dozen cars in the lot.

This hike starts off on a cobblestone path that takes you by a visitor building, where you can purchase coffee, tea, and food. From there you’ll head left at a fork in the trail, where you’ll almost immediately encounter you first waterfall: South Fork Silver Falls. This waterfall is 177 feet tall, and peak flow is between January and April. You’ll have the option of hiking BEHIND the waterfall, which is pretty cool (and wet). The falls sit in a bowl carved out of beautiful Columbia River Basalt Flows.

This is where the hike starts to descend into a canyon, where you’ll spend the next 4 miles of your hike. Here you’re on the aptly named ‘Canyon Trail.’ During this portion of the hike you will pass by a series of small cascades as you hike through the lush forest. There is a ton of moss, as well as beautiful ferns. The trail is relatively flat and smooth here, but you may encounter some mud since this area is always damp and moist.

The graduate descent will take you to your next waterfall, Lower South falls, around the 1 mile mark. You’ll go down some switchbacking stairs to reach the falls. This is another waterfall you can walk behind. This was the “wettest” waterfall we passed by when we did this hike in March. There were about 3 inches of standing water behind the falls.

The next mile (miles 1-2 of the hike) does not feature any major waterfalls, but does continue your graduate descent into the canyon. Keep your eyes out for small streams cascading down the sides of the canyon.

What to expect on miles 2-4 of the Trail of Ten Falls

Miles 2-4 are where the bulk of the waterfalls along this hike are located. You’ll encounter your next major waterfall, Lower North Falls, around the 2.3 mile mark. This waterfall is short (30 feet tall) and fairly wide, and is about where the trail starts to gradually ascend back up the canyon. 

From here you’ll pass three more waterfalls in short order. First is Double Falls, which is down a short side trail and is 178 feet tall. Technically it’s the tallest waterfall in the park, and it’s a tiered waterfall. Take note of the abundant salal and Oregon grape along the trail here. 

Next you’ll pass Drake Falls (27 feet tall), followed by Middle North Falls (106 feet tall), which you can walk behind. Middle North Falls has a nice save/alcove next to it, which makes for a good spot for lunch on a hot day.

Trip tip: I recommend bringing a wide angle lens to capture the waterfalls along this trail, as many are quite large. See below for links to our favorite camera gear!

Next, around the 3.5 mile mark you’ll pass by Twin Falls (below, right/top), which is fairly hard to see from the trail and therefore is a bit underwhelming. Along the way to the next waterfall you’ll pass by some sections of river with huge boulders. 

Around 4 miles into the hike you’ll see North Falls (above, left/bottom), which is my favorite waterfall in the park. It’s 136 feet tall and descends into a bowl. You’ll pass behind this waterfall as you continue your hike. Despite its size, you’ll stay fairly dry when hiking behind this waterfall. However, be careful here as the mud is quite slippery. Going off trail here can be extremely dangerous, so please respect closure signs and stay on the main route.

What to expect on miles 4-7.5 of the Trail of Ten Falls

After you pass by North Falls you’ll do a short climb out of the canyon and onto the Rim Trail. You’ll see a fork in the trail that will take you to Upper North Falls, which is 65 feet tall and worth seeing. This section of the trial is dog friendly. Be careful on the rocks near the falls, as they are VERY slippery. You’ll also find the North Falls parking lot here, which has a bathroom.

The majority of the rest of the hike will be along the Rim Trail, which does not offer views of the waterfalls but does have peaceful forest scenery. This section of the hike allows dogs. The trail is relatively flat here. Around the 6 mile mark you’ll have the option to add on a short trail to Winter Falls. If you’re tired I recommend skipping this portion of the hike. I found this waterfall pretty, but a bit underwhelming!

I hope you found our guide to hiking the Trail of Ten Falls in Silver Falls State Park helpful! You can find more Oregon hikes and travel guides here. You can also follow with our adventures on Instagram @gwynandami.