e R i dge Trail
gF
in
Park
Ma p l
k
re e
South F
o r k Silver
C
Cany
on T
rail
South Falls
Day-use Area
Path
Bike
Civilian Conservation
Corps Combination
Building
South Falls
Viewpoint
Parking A
A
South
Falls
Rim
Tra
il
South Falls
Nature Store
Stone Circle
Silverton
(15 miles)
C
South Falls Lodge
B
E
Trails (no pets)
Volleyball &
Horeshoe pits
Pets allowed 6’ leash
Hard surface trails
A Historic Lodge
Silver Falls Lodge and Conference Center
Park Safety and Etiquette
The South Falls Day-use
Area has spacious lawns,
picnic shelters, tables, a
playground, a volleyball
net, horseshoe pits, an
off-leash area for dogs,
and charming Silver
Creek. Since opening
day in 1933, visitors have
used these grounds for
potlucks, family reunions
and weddings. The area
is all within a short walk
to views of the famous
177-foot South Falls.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), part of
the Works Progress Administration (WPA), built
the South Falls Lodge in the 1930s. Once used
as a restaurant, diners ate on tables and chairs
built from only two myrtle trees. The tables
inside the lodge today are among the originals.
The lodge and surrounding area make up the
South Falls Historic District, and the area is also
listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Relax and enjoy comfortable lodging within a
remote, wooded setting.
The Silver Falls Lodge
and Conference Center
has private cabins and
six-bedroom lodges that
cater to groups. Guests can
enjoy meals in the dining
hall. The conference center’s peaceful setting
makes it a popular choice for weddings, family
reunions and other group events. Information:
silverfallslodge.com or 866-575-8875.
Black bears and cougars are among many
species of wildlife that make Silver Falls home.
Although sightings are rare, you should know
what to do if confronted by a bear or cougar.
Awareness pamphlets are available at the
campground booth, South Falls Lodge and park
office. Please report sightings to a park ranger.
Natural Kids
At the Natural Play Area, located in the North
Falls Day-use Area, children can climb a
tree, hide in a bear den, growl like a cougar
or weave a bird’s nest in this playground
designed to fit into the natural landscape.
214
D
Pet exercise area
Soft surface trails
Bike Path (paved)
Fire Road (not for public use)
South Falls Historic District
Accessible
facility
Restroom
Play for the Day
Main office,
campground and
overnight facilities
Swimming area
No lifeguard
Picnic shelter
Pay to park
Picnic area
Information
Gate
Playgound
Campground
Salem
(25 miles)
Pets are prohibited on all waterfall trails,
except the Rim and Upper North Falls trails.
Millions of Years in the Making
This land was once part of the Oregon
Coast, but volcanoes, basalt lava flows and
falling ash changed the landscape to what
you see today. Waterfalls tumble over
thick basalt that rests on softer, older rock.
The softer layers beneath the basalt
eroded over time and created natural
pathways behind some of the falls. Look
up and see if you can spot the many
tree “chimneys,” or casts, while you walk
behind North Falls. These formed when
lava engulfed living trees.
Shop to Support
Park Programs
The South Falls Nature
Store, operated by The
Friends of Silver Falls, sells
locally crafted gift items
as well as souvenirs and
memorabilia. Proceeds
support park events,
interpretive programs
and projects. Information:
friendsofsilverfalls.net
Woodburn
Molalla
5
213
Salem
Silverton
214
Silver Falls
State Park
22
No
rth
m
Sa n t i a R i v e r
Camping
Mill City
Trail Guide
Detroit
Silver Falls State Park
20024 Silver Falls Hwy. SE
Sublimity, OR 97385
Park: 503-873-8681
Reservations: 800-452-5687
63400-8652 (08/18)
Winter Falls
South Falls
The Catamount Trail is a favorite for
mountain biking.
For everyone’s safety—bicycles are prohibited
on the Trail of Ten Falls and inside the South
Falls Historic Area.
Day-use Parking Fees: Parking for the
Keep an eye on children. Children could
become lost or injured if unsupervised.
day is $5 per vehicle. Pay stations are at
many trailheads and all booths. Please
bring exact change. Visa and MasterCard are
accepted at the pay station at the entrance
to South Falls Day-use Area. Parking is free
with a current camping receipt, valid during
the length of your stay. Annual and twoyear parking passes are available at the park
office, the camping registration booth, the
South Falls Nature Store and at
store.oregonstateparks.org.
O
ne visit, and you’ll know why Silver
Falls State Park is known as the
“crown jewel” of the state parks system.
Its majestic beauty, boundless recreational
opportunities and historic presence make it
a top recreation destination in the nation.
Nestled in the foothills of Oregon’s Cascade
Mountains, less than 45 minutes east of the
state capital of Salem, the sprawling 9,000
acre property is the largest state park in
Oregon, and one of the most popular.
Upper North Falls
All information or fees subject to change without notice. This
brochure is available in alternative formats upon request. Call
1-800-551-6949. Oregon Relay for the hearing impaired: dial 711.
Campfires are only allowed in the park’s
enclosed metal fire rings due to the danger
of forest fires.
pets are not allowed on the Trail of Ten Falls,
with the exception of the Rim Trail. The
South Falls Viewpoint and the short trail to
Upper North Falls are the only waterfalls open
to hikers with pets. Dogs must be on leashes
(6’ max). An off-leash pet exercise area is
located in the South Falls Day-use Area.
oregonstateparks.org
Printed on Recycled Paper
Swimming is permitted only in designated
areas, including the base of Upper North Falls.
Hiking With Pets: For everyone’s safety,
The main campground has tent sites, RV
spots and cabins. Bring your horse and stay
in the Howard Creek horse campground.
The park also has group tent and RV camps,
dormitory-style bunkhouses (each Ranch
sleeps 75) and the historic Youth Camp for
up to 250 campers.
Silver Falls
State Park
211
99E
Overnight Excursion
Restrooms are located in the parking areas.
No restrooms are on any trails.
Help Keep the Park Beautiful
Stay on the trail. Taking shortcuts causes
erosion and harms plants and wildlife.
Take only pictures. Please do not
pick or dig plants. It is unlawful to
harass or capture
wild animals.
Leave only footprints.
Please do not carve
or write on signs,
trees, rocks or
structures.
There are no garbage
cans on trails.
Pack out all trash.
Northern Saw-Whet Owl
Boots, Bikes, Paws
and Hooves
A school group poses behind Lower South Falls.
Trail of Ten Falls
Where else can you walk behind a 177-foot
waterfall? The famous South Falls is the
hallmark of the Trail of Ten Falls—a
spectacular, nationally recognized hiking trail
that passes a series of breathtaking waterfalls
along a rocky canyon and descends to a
winding creek at the forest floor.
The roughly 7-mile loop is considered to
be moderately difficult with some muddy
areas, steep sections and an overall elevation
change of 800 feet. Several connecting trails
with separate access points make shorter (or
longer) routes. Most routes begin from the
Stone Circle in the South Falls Day-use Area.
See the Trail of Ten Falls handout for details.
For the safety of both pets and hikers, pets
are not permitted on the Trail of Ten Falls.
But, dogs on leash are welcome on 35 miles
of wooded backcountry trails. Hikers share
these less-traveled trails with horseback
riders, trail runners and mountain bikers.
Trails wind through lush, native vegetation
including salal, sword fern and Oregon
grape—all tucked beneath towering second
growth stands of Douglas-fir and western
hemlock. Access backcountry trails from the
North Falls Trailhead, the parking area in
the Howard Creek Horse Camp and the
Highway 214 trailhead on the southwest
end of the park.
Bike Path
This mostly paved, 4-mile loop with rolling
hills parallels the Rim Trail and passes
the swimming area, the day-use area, the
campground and a large meadow. There
are no waterfalls on this route.
