Silver Falls: The Trail of Ten Falls

The anchor of the Trail of Ten Falls loop drops 177 feet over a basalt ledge — the trail passes behind the curtain of water through a cave carved by centuries of flow. The full 7.2-mile loop connects all ten named waterfalls; South Falls, Lower South Falls (93 ft), Lower North Falls, and North Falls (136 ft) form the most dramatic sequence. Old-growth Douglas fir lines the canyon throughout.

The north arm of the loop visits North Falls (136 feet, walk-behind cave), then climbs past Upper North Falls (65 feet) through a canyon where winter runoff stains the basalt orange. The light in the canyon between North Falls and Winter Falls is best in the morning hours before the sun rises above the canyon walls.

A rugged 2.5-mile round-trip descent into a slot canyon leads to one of Oregon's most dramatic hidden waterfalls — an 92-foot horseshoe plunge into a moss-covered basalt bowl. The canyon walls close in as you approach, amplifying the sound before the falls come into view. The trail involves some light scrambling and creek crossings; the solitude is remarkable for a waterfall this spectacular.

Silverton's most celebrated dining room, in a restored Victorian building in the small-town downtown that serves as the gateway to Silver Falls. House-cut steaks, local produce, and a wine list anchored by Willamette Valley Pinot Noir — the kind of solid Pacific Northwest cooking that makes a return trip to the town itself worthwhile.