Silver Falls State Park

A trip to Silver Falls State Park is a must for anyone traveling through this part of Oregon. The RV Park in Silverton is only 16 miles from Silver Falls, so we set aside one day during our Eclipse family gathering to visit the park and hike the Trail of Ten Falls. 

This nationally recognized hiking trail is a 7-mile loop showcasing a series of breathtaking waterfalls, leading hikers through dense forest, rocky canyon, and a winding creek on the forest floor. For visitors not up to the full hike, there are several shorter options where some of the falls can be viewed, including the path to South Falls which winds through mossy caverns and behind a 177-foot shimmering curtain of water. 

The ten falls include 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. and range from a mere 27 feet to 178 feet, with five of the falls dropping over 100 feet. Funny…not one of the falls is actually called Silver Falls. Although August isn’t the time of year when the falls are the most dramatic, there is never a bad time to hike at Silver Falls State Park. Here are some pictures from our outing.

Butte Creek Falls

When staying in the Silverton area, if you want to get away from the hoards of tourists that flock to Silver Falls State Park, but still want to enjoy the beauty of hiking in the woods among cascading waterfalls, you might want to check out the Butte Creek Falls hike. Situated a little off the beaten path, we drove (snaked) along Crooked Finger Road, hitting a few spots along the way that made us wonder if we were still headed in the right direction. 

We were rewarded at the end of the drive with a clearly marked parking area and trail head pointing us onto a beautifully canopied hiking trail. A short walk through impressive second-growth forest takes you the 78-foot Butte Creek Falls and the 25-foot Upper Butte Creek Falls. With few people on the trail, this was a quiet and peaceful place to spend the afternoon.

On the way home we caught a glimpse of Mt. Hood on the horizon, and drove past a flower farm in full bloom. 

Silverton, Oregon

Silverton, Oregon, known as “City of The Falls” for its proximity to Silver Falls State Park, is the town we stayed in for the Total Eclipse event in August, 2017. Nestled between Salem, Oregon and the Cascade Mountains, this small, charming town is surrounded by towering waterfalls, beautiful gardens, wineries, Mount Angel Abbey, a covered bridge, and a lot of history ranging from it’s beginnings as a farming community to a tourism hub for the many local attractions. We were there for a week, and between visiting with family and enjoying the Eclipse, we took the opportunity to visit some of the highlights of the area, including the murals painted on many of the old town buildings. Here are some pictures of our visit.