Silver Falls State Park: 11 Facts You Should Know!

Silver Falls State Park is one of Oregon’s famous state parks due to its availability in all seasons along with beautiful hiking trails & waterfalls.

• The park is widely famous for its weather conditions as it is open throughout the year and visitors can enjoy new and different things in each season
• The park is also known for its hiking trails as these offer visitors various activities to enjoy like views, nature, hiking, cycling, and wildlife.
• Waterfalls are among the best thing to enjoy in winter in the silver state fall park which attracts numerous travelers during the winter season.

History and Facts

• In 1931, June Drake initiated the effort to buy land near Silver Falls for future park usage. Silver Falls State Park was established as a state park two years later. 
• Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) between the years have taken the initiative to develop and beautify parks’ beauty and ecology.
• In the late 1920s owner of the park started charging entry fees from visitors to create a source of income for the park.

Location

• Address: 20024 Silver Falls Highway SE, Sublimity, OR 
• Location: Near Salem, Oregon, United States
• Pin Code: 97385

silver falls state park 

• As the name suggests Silver Falls State Park is mainly famous for the Silver fall waterfall which can be enjoyed while hiking through the Trail of Ten Falls. 
• Cascade Mountains foothills are the home of Silver Falls state park which includes a wide variety of flora and fauna on its steep and narrow valleys. 
• Along with waterfalls and hiking paths, basalt rocks are the main geological attraction of the park.

Weather Conditions

• The park usually has mild climatic conditions with the cooler and wetter winter season and a hotter with a dryer summer season.
• Summer avg. Temp (June-August) – 70-80°F
• Winter avg. Temp (December-February) – 40-50°F 

Wind Range

Rainfall Range:

Snow Days: 

Flora & Fauna

Plants:

• Douglas Fir
• Western Red Cedar
• Bigleaf Maple
• Oregon White Oak
• Red Alder
• Vine Maple
• Pacific Yew
• Sword Fern
• Western Maidenhair Fern
• Salal
• Oregon Grape
• Huckleberry

Animals:

• Roosevelt Elk
• Black Bear
• Cougar
• Bobcat
• Coyote
• Gray Fox
• River Otter
• Black-tailed Deer
• Raccoon
• Red Fox
• Pacific Tree Frog
• Oregon Spotted Frog
• Red-legged Frog
• Northern Alligator Lizard
• Western Pond Turtle.

Activities

• Park hours: 6am to sunset (Historic District open until 10pm)
• Parking fee: $5/ hour & $15/day
• Shuttle service (from Los Trancos lot): $1.50 per person each way

These are five things to do in the United States Crystal Cove State Park:

• Waterfalls: The Trail of Ten Falls is a well-known hiking path that winds its way through a densely wooded area.

•  It descends to a meandering creek on the forest floor after passing through a succession of spectacular waterfalls along a steep canyon.
•  A 1.2-mile walk leads tourists past five waterfalls at the Winter Falls Trailhead (Winter Falls, Middle North Falls, Drake Falls, Double Falls, and Lower North Falls). 
• Six spectacular waterfalls are located on the walkway at the top of the loop in the center of the trail, with Winter Falls dropping south of the others. 
• Double Falls is a bit hidden and needs a slight detour, but it comes up to its name with a tiny tier on top falling to a larger tier below.
• Hiking: There are several hiking trail loops inside the park to enjoy the scenic views of the waterfalls.

• Cycling: Silver Falls State Park offers cycling adventure for both adults and young kids as it has – 
• The Catamount Trail is a 6-mile cross-country ride through a towering forest, and the four-mile cycling circle trail is a terrific way to go by bicycle between the day-use areas, the campsite, and other interesting spots. 
• The Nature Play Area, a 0.25-mile track that traverses through 16 play zones themed around a range of animals, is ideal for youngsters cycling, with attractions such as a mud hole and crawling through a hollow log.
• Tree Climbing: Silver Falls Tree Climbing is a climbing guiding service with over 50 years of collective climbing expertise.

•  It provides tree-climbing instruction and the opportunity to securely ascend Douglas fir trees through basic climbs, sunset climbs, multi-day courses, and child camps. 
• Visit: Tree Climbing at Silver Falls

• Fun Activities: Since 1933, the South Falls Day-use Area has been utilized for potlucks, family reunions, and weddings, with a variety of activities. Here visitors can enjoy picking, fishing, and grilling with various fun sports.
• Camping: There are several cabins inside the park with a variety of amenities.

• Reservations are needed in advance for the overnight stays.
• 1. 48 electrical sites – open year-round – have facilities for water and electricity
• 43 tent sites – Opening is seasonal between May–Oct – have water facility
• 14 cabins – open yearly- have pet facilities with flush acquired toilets and showers

Fooding

Below mentioned are some of the dining options available inside the park – 

• South Falls Lodge: Situated around south falls waterfalls. Lodge has a variety of eating options.
• Historic Lodge: It is suited near  North Falls and offers Pacific Northwest favorites along with the best classic American cuisine.
• Canyon Espresso: It serves a variety of coffee options. Visitors can enjoy coffee near South Falls waterfalls.
• Picnic Spots: Visitors can bring food from outside to enjoy meals in various spots present in the park.
• Nearby Restaurants:

1. Silver Falls Cafe

#3 of 4 Restaurants in Sublimity

20024 Silver Falls Hwy SE

0.2 miles from Silver Falls State Park

2. Rob’s PanezaNellie Pizza Shoppe

#1 of 4 Restaurants in Sublimity

111 NE Starr St

7.5 miles from Silver Falls State Park

3. Ixtapa Mexican Restaurant

#1 of 21 Restaurants in Stayton

111 W Locust St Ste A

8.6 miles from Silver Falls State Park

4. Silver Falls Country Store

#22 of 33 Restaurants in Silverton

172 Silver Falls Dr SE

 3.9 miles from Silver Falls State Park

5. The Gingerbread House

#1 of 1 Restaurant in Mehama

11211 Hwy 226

5.8 miles from Silver Falls State Park

Lodging

• Silver Falls Lodge & Conference Center:  These lodges offer a variety of tents and cabins with various amenities of water, electricity, food, and beds.
• Silver Falls Campground: It has 100 campsites along with RVs and various cabins.

1. Group Campsites: For a larger group of visitors.
2. Cabin Rentals: Can accommodate up to 10 individuals.
3. Rustic cabins:  It offers a primitive historical staying experience to visitors.

The cabins are usually small in size and lack electricity and running water.

Listed are the top-rated lodging options nearer to the park-

1.  Hampton Inn & Suites Salem
2.  Oregon Garden Resort
3. Best Western Plus Mill Creek Inn
4.  Smith Creek Village

Facilities

• Cabins/Yurts Pets are allowed
• Dump Station
• Restrooms Flush
• Bike Path and Trails
• Fishing
• Swimming
• Amphitheater
• Hot Shower
• Playground

Best Time to Visit

The best season to visit Silver fall state park solely depends upon visitors and preferences.

• Spring/Fall Season – It is the best time to visit for those travelers who are nature lovers and want to see the changing and blooming season.
• Summer Season – this season will be loved by outdoor lovers like hiking, camping, and cycling.
• Winter season – If visitors want to enjoy falling waterfalls then it is the best season to visit

Sightseeing

• South Falls Day Use Area: While visiting Silver Falls State Park, the best location to start is at the South Falls Day Use Area. The 177-foot South Falls is the park’s most stunning waterfall, and the 93-foot Lower South Falls is a terrific mile-long climb.
• Nature Store: The Store, which was erected before the Lodge in 1938, sells a range of items including cards, board games, historic artworks, local soaps, and clothing pieces.
• Waterfalls: Tourists may stroll behind South Falls, a cascade produced by lava flows cooling to form basalt 15-17 million years ago. This Columbia River basalt area stretches for thousands of kilometers through Oregon and Washington. When wandering behind South Falls at Silver Falls State Park, feel the cool spray and listen to the thunderous river.

Reservations

Fee:

$30/year – Day Permit

The steps to make a reservation at Silver Falls State Park are as follows;

1. Visit https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=151
2. Select “Make a Reservation”.
3. Select “Silver Falls” as your destination and enter your preferred arrival date and departure date.
4. Specify the number of people and the type of camping site you need, such as RV or tent camping.
5. Choose the campsite you prefer and select “Add to Cart.”
6. Review your reservation details to make sure they are correct and click “Check Out.”
7. Fill in all the requested information and cross-check before submitting.
8. Confirm your reservation and print out your confirmation for your records.

Rules for Pets

Visitors are welcome to bring their pets. But pets are allowed in some of the areas of the park

Specific Rule or Restriction

• Camping: Only authorized campsites and approved fire rings or grills are permitted for use during camping.
• Trails: To safeguard the delicate natural zones, visitors are urged to stick to the authorized paths and not stray off of them.
• Pets: Dogs are permitted in certain park areas, but they must always be leashed. Pet owners must pick up after their animals.
• Wildlife: It is strictly forbidden to feed or disturb wildlife. All animals must be kept at a safe distance away from visitors.
• Metal detectors: Using a metal detector without permission is prohibited in the park.
• The specified roadways and parking spaces must remain free of traffic.
• Only buildings designed for this purpose are FIRES authorized. To stop devastating fires, this is essential. 
• There are several places where portable stoves are allowed.
•  All fireworks are forbidden.
• Cats and other animals cannot be left alone in park units. Except for grazing animals, all animals must be immediately physically restrained.
• Drones are not permitted.

Ritika Vaishnav

Greetings Everyone!
I’m Ritika Vaishnav a freelance content writer with a passion for creating educational and engaging content on a wide range of topics. I love to travel and write about it.