The Trail of 10 Falls Hike in Oregon: Everything you need to know
Waterfall hikes are always a joy. The Pacific Northwest is just about bursting with waterfalls to explore! Oregon in particular is an incredible spot for waterfall lovers. Given its high precipitation and mountainous terrain of the Cascade Mountains, there are hundreds of waterfalls you can explore year round. While there are endless opportunities for waterfall experiences, one of the most famous waterfall trails in Oregon is the Trail of Ten Falls. If it’s not on your bucket list already, it should be! Get ready to hike the Trail of 10 Falls with this guide.
History of the Trail of Ten Falls, Oregon
Usually I’m not as intrigued by the history of a trail as much as the experience of hiking it, but this one is special. It actually reminded me immediately of the Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls in Yosemite. And it turns out there’s a reason! Both trails were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the depression era. The land was acquired by Oregon State in 1931 and the park was developed in large part through several New Deal programs in the 1930s and early 1940s. They developed the Silver Falls State Park campground as well.
The Trail of 10 Falls is absolutely stunning, with gorgeous rock walls, rock staircases, and passages behind waterfalls. The hike remains in fantastic condition despite its age, and you can really feel the history here.
An iconic bridge over the canyon in Silver Falls State Park
How to get to Silver Falls State Park
Silver Falls State Park, home to the Trail of 10 Falls, is located about 55 miles south of Portland. Coming from Portland, take I5 south to 213 South to 214 South, which will take you right to the park. The Trail of 10 Falls is one of the best waterfall hikes near Portland!
From Bend, it’s about 2.5 hours north west. You’ll take highway 20 West to 22 West to 214 North.
Pro tip: Be sure to download Google Maps prior to departing the city because cell service is spotty in the area.
Gorgeous, verdant trail shot on the Trail of 10 Falls
Where to stay near Trail of 10 Falls
Silver Falls State Park only has campground and cabin accommodations available. You can make reservations for those here. The campground is a five minute drive from the South Falls Day Use Area.
If you want something a little more luxurious, check out this exceptional, highly rated apartment in Silverton, the closest town to the trail. It’s about 30 minutes away!
Another excellent, popular option that includes breakfast and is more affordable is the Oregon Garden Resort, also in Silverton. Book your room now.
Finally, a family favorite, Silverton Inn & Suites is a gorgeous historical hotel and a 30-minute drive from the park. Reserve your room now.
The cabins at Silver Falls State Park are one-room cabins with two futons/beds, a small table, heat, and electricity. They are sparse but do the job. Restrooms, with showers, are located in the campground.
Parking at the Trail of 10 Falls Hike
One interesting element of the Trail of 10 Falls is that there are various points from which you can start the trail. I recommend starting at the South Falls Day Use Area and tackling the loop clockwise. Why? 1. You’ll get waterfall views almost immediately; if you go counterclockwise, you’ll be hiking a while with no falls, and 2. The South Falls Lodge is a great spot to visit after finishing your hike.
You will need to pay for parking at the trailhead. The parking lot at South falls Day Use Area is very large and has pay stations that accept Visa and Mastercard. The cost is $5 for parking, but if you’re staying in the campground, you can park for free using your camping pass.
Trail of Ten Falls Map
Here’s a map of the area of the Trail of 10 Falls!
The trail actually consists of different trails pieced together. You’ll take the Canyon Trail to the Rim Trail. Be sure to pass the right turn for the Winter Trail, which will take you to the Rim Trail, if you want to do the full loop. Continue heading left along the trail and it will eventually meet up with the Rim Trail further down the hike.
The full loop (7.2 miles) and see all 10 waterfalls, or do the Winter Falls Loop (5 miles) and see 7 waterfalls.
Pets are not allowed on the Canyon Trail, which is the best portion of the hike, so you’ll want to leave your dogs at home for this one. For more details, see this state park resource.
Winter Falls: small, but still gorgeous!
When to hike the Trail of 10 Falls
The Trail of 10 Falls is accessible year round. In the winter months, you can expect snow and ice. In the summer, you can expect serious crowds.
My recommendation? Go in the spring, between March and May. The weather is a bit warmer, the falls are incredibly robust due to rainfall, and there aren’t as many crowds. However, know you may be in for a very wet hike!
When we hiked the Trail of Ten Falls in March, there were certainly people, but it was pretty quiet beyond the main South Falls area.
Hiking the Trail of 10 Falls
The trail itself is a 7.5 mile loop, which climbs about 800 feet in elevation. This means it’s a fairly flat trail. I’d classify it as a moderate hike, accessible to many, especially as there are ways to enjoy the area and make it shorter (like taking the winter loop option).
Pro tip: get AllTrails Pro and download the trail map. This will make it easier to ensure you’re staying on the right path, and also, it’s fun to track your hike stats.
Hiking the Trail of 10 Falls in the spring means you may get rained on, but you’ll get lush falls and greenery
You’ll start heading down the Canyon Trail and stop at the first waterfall, South Falls, one of the waterfalls you get to walk behind. Be sure to snap some photos of this iconic waterfall before heading on. You will continue a gentle downhill until you reach the canyon floor and you’ll see Lower South Falls on your way.
One of the highlights of this trail is getting to walk behind/underneath the waterfalls. How often do you get to do that?! So cool.
The trail winds through the canyon, near the water’s edge, passing through the peaceful forest. When there’s sun, you’ll find it to be a magical sun-dappled trail that feels like something out of a fairy tale!
The waterfalls are so stunning. It’s incredible to have so many falls in one small area.
Along the rest of the trail be sure to stop by all the other waterfalls: Lower North Falls, Double Falls, Drake Falls, Middle North Falls, Twin Falls, North Falls, Upper North Falls, and Winter Falls.
After you finish hiking the Trail of 10 Falls, I recommend a stop at the South Falls Lodge and Cafe. Grab yourself a hot drink or a snack and enjoy the fireplace and the historic wooden tables. If it’s nice out, you can also sit on the patio with your snacks. There’s nothing better than a treat after a hike!
The Lodge at South Falls has a cafe with lunch food, snacks, and drinks. I got a coffee and enjoyed sitting at the lodge relaxing. It’s very cozy with the fireplace.
What to wear hiking the Trail of 10 Falls
You’ll want to be comfortable on your hike to the Trail of the 10 Falls. Here are some basics I recommend:
- A short sleeve wicking shirt (men’s here) if it’s warm, or long sleeve wool base layer (men’s here) if it’s chilly.
- Hiking leggings or hiking shorts (men’s here)
- Rain jacket (men’s here)
- Waterproof hiking boots (men’s here)
- Hiking backpack (men’s here) with water reservoir for easy drinking
Psst, eager for more waterfall hikes? Check out my post on the best waterfall hikes in Washington.
Final Thoughts on the Trail of 10 Falls Hike
Simply put, the Trail of 10 Falls hike is awesome and DEFINITELY worth a visit. It was a highlight of our Oregon spring break travels for sure.
There isn’t a whole lot to do in the immediate area aside from this main hike, so that’s something to consider. It’s perhaps best done as a day trip or a night or two, depending on where you’re coming from.
The main activities within an hour of the park are the Abiqua Falls hike and Buck Mountain hike. You can also consider checking out Salem or Silverton towns, if you’re a fan of more urban explorations!
Personally, we combined Silver Falls State Park with a trip to Bend, which worked out great.
Have you been to Silver Falls State Park? What was your favorite waterfall?
