1-15-2018
Silver Falls State Park Hike
South Falls
South Falls is the most visited waterfall of this State Parks 10 TOTAL Waterfalls. This waterfall is 177 feet and the parks second longest (as Double Falls is listed as taller) but she is the tallest single waterfall in the park. This is probably the best area to start the hike of "Trail of Ten Falls" (7.2 mile round trip) as it has the best parking and facilities within the park. On sunny weekends this place will be packed so go early - today was a Monday in January and had no problem. On todays hike, I bypassed the behind the South Falls portion of the trail and did the cut off to the bridge. In future photos blogs (I go here often) I will make sure to incorporate more photos of the approach to the falls and behind her :). I was just excited to try out some new long exposure capture techniques and decided to head straight for bridge area and best photo opportunity of this falls.
Photo 1 captures South Falls from bridge - we have had limited rain so water flow was low (South Fork Silver Creek) for this time of year but had a decent water spray into a big wide open canyon. The sun creates rays just over the falls and into the canyon trees on the left in the early morning time and often can find a rainbow or two. This waterfall is fairly tight and drops off an overhang creating the alcove for the walking path behind the waterfall - this is 1 of 4 waterfalls here that you get to walk directly behind; which is really cool if you have never had an opportunity!
Photo 2 is a little side water cascade that happens only in rainier seasons and its not an official waterfall in the park. This angle is along the path as you come down from around the falls. Up into the top of that canyon is where the sun sets and creates great opportunities for pictures - I have one in my Photography Gallery that is in fall and worth a print!
Photo 3 is looking back at South Falls and the pedestrian bridge over Silver Creek - creating a great composition on some days.
Photo 4 was just a cool look back as I headed down the Canyon Rim trail towards the next waterfall - Lower South Falls.
Lower South Falls
Lower South Falls at 93' is the 5th tallest at Silver Falls State Park and another falls that the trail leads behind to provide the most dramatic opportunity to witness any falls. Many photo opportunities from the right side of the falls but once passing under the falls and out on the other side foliage does limit clear lines of sight.
Photo 1 captures Lower South Falls as you come down on the Canyon Trail from South Falls and the switchback trail leading down into the canyon. This falls has a broad uniform ledge creating a sheet of water falling - depending on flow this can become very thin and clear in lower flows. But today we had decent water flow and created a solid sheet of water. This falls does get soften as it hits a outcropping close to the pool and makes for that nice water trail on long exposure shots.
Photo 2 is just further down the path and shows a later look at the falls. Funny how you notice things that you haven't before - not sure why I hadn't as I've been here more than I can count. But pretty cool little cave off to the left of that falls - kind of dark in picture.
Photo 3 is just more framing of this beautiful falls and on the final path leading behind the falls.
Photo 4 was taken just past the falls as you emerge from behind. I missed this shot (thats photography sometimes) and the exposure as it would have been nice with that SUNBURST just at the right top of falls - oh well next time right!
Photo 5 & 6 were taken as you progress down the trail and show that you start to have limited photo opportunities with the foliage in other seasons. This time of year the leaves have fallen so provides an okay composition.
Views along North Fork Silver Creek
As you continue along the Canyon Trail many opportunities to take it in and enjoy the surrounding nature. Before continuing on the Canyon Trail you have an option to take the 1.0 mile Maple Ridge Trail back to the main South Falls trailhead - if you take this trail you will miss the remaini middle section of the Canyon trail. The Maple Ridge trail is a great hike and nature is plentiful but I recommend you continue and take back the Winter Trail to Rim Trail back to South Falls if short on time.
Photo 1 views along North Fork Silver Creek - this park always has compositions for Sun-rays and reflections.
Photo 2 love the PNW - where else does moss trickle out water when its not raining out?
Photo 3 lazy flows along the North Fork Silver Creek. Posted this on Instagram with a title - " Steep River Crossing Never Stop The Determined...."
Photo 4 What a beautiful area and look at that pristine water Oregon has!
More Views along North Fork Silver Creek
As I continued along the Canyon Trail and started heading up the North Fork Silver Creek further - I came across this little un-named falling creek of water. Wasn't very tall but kind of pretty with the canyon background.
Photo 1, 2 & 3 are views of this pretty little seasonal waterfall along North Fork Silver Creek as I progressed along the Canyon Rim Trail towards Lower North Falls.
Lower North Falls
Some great opportunities to capture this 30' wide horsetail waterfall that is the last of the 6 major North Fork Silver Creek section waterfalls (the 1st as you work your way UP North Fork). Domed shape falls with a log jam to left side help create a decent composition and trailing water flow. The waterfalls at Silver Falls SP were discovered & named in the late 1880's by local photographer June Drake. Just at the top of this waterfall on your left is a short trail spur that leads to the tallest waterfall in the park - Double Falls.
Photo 1 this view from the trail is probably the best and the one most often seen. Has a nice pool of water at the base and helps create a dramatic effect of slow moving water trails. Small wooden bridge in the background can also create an interesting composition for the viewer.
Photo 2 just a closer view and color tone of the nice looking Lower North Falls.
Photo 3 & 4 show the view as you progress around the bend along the Canyon Trail.
Double Falls
Take the short spur trail that follows along Hullt Creek on the left just past Lower North Falls to see the tallest of the parks 10 waterfalls. Its a two tiered waterfall with a height of 184' and tallest drop of 141' into a very accessible shallow pool of water.
Photo 1 & 2 provides the view leading up to the falls and small amphitheater around it.
Drake Falls (No Pictures)
This falls provides limited views except from a small observation deck right off the main trail. You can capture pictures I just didn't on this hike on this particular day - next time I will for sure.
Middle North Falls
Another great waterfall and this is the 3rd of 4 waterfalls that you pass behind on this hike. Take the short little spur off the main Canyon Trail that leads to this 106' tall Vertical Curtain of flowing water. This falls can change its appearance depending on the water flow. We have had okay rain recently creating a decent water flow compared to summer months when can be reduced to a small trickle. One of my favorite photographic falls in the park and believe its the one of the four that you get behind that where water is closes to you as it rushes by.
Photo 1 view of North Fork Silver River just down stream from Middle North Falls. Long exposure shot created a nice flowing river and makes for a cool image.
Photo 2 first appearance of the falls from this approach is always cool - I'm always wondering how much water she has pouring over as it can change so much. Great views along this hike and this is just a small sample of this parks beauty.
Photo 3 as you approach on the Canyon Trail & get closer the sound increases and photographic opportunities increase. What a great waterfall - one of my top 4 of the park in winter anyway.
Photo 4 This is the approach on the spur that dead ends just beyond the other side to the falls.
Photo 5 This is the composition you get from the other side and towards the end of this little spur. As you can see this provides a cool angle and the tree adds a nice little touch to the comp.
After this point you have a choice to continue further on the Canyon Trail which leads to Twin Falls and the two North falls OR take the bridge over North Fork Silver Creek and onto the Winter Trail which takes you past Winter Falls and onto the Rim trail which leads back to the South Falls Parking trailhead. Today I chose to take the Winter Trail and miss the Twin Falls waterfall and but drive to the North Falls trailhead to hike to those two.
Winter Falls
This falls is typically a trickle at best but as the name implies - winter months you will find a flow that is decent if Oregon has had normal rain levels. When flowing this waterfall is 134' and plunges straight down into a slight protruding rock face which makes for a nice veiling effect and nice composition. This falls is really closer to the trail and not the easiest to get a great shot.
Photo 1 & 2 are basically same view of this falls - one just shows view with top in all view.
Upper North Falls
Another great waterfall and this one has a fall of 65' across a broad shelf with numerous trees protruding or handing over the falls itself - this creates a great composition most anytime of year. During good water flow this waterfall has significant water spray and can sometimes be tricky to get a good capture without water droplets. Easy access to this falls with a flat 0.3 mile hike in.
Photo 1 view shows the path leading to this very misty waterfall.
Photo 2 a closer composition of this beauty & shows the trees and how the water flow would really impact the flow over the top shelf. Another favorite falls of mine here at Silver Falls State Park.
Photo 3 another shot as I was backing out of the spray area.
North Falls
This is one of my favorites for sure - at 136' this waterfall is channeled through a narrow crack in the basalt bedrock causing a very nice Plunge to the rocky canyon below - during high water flow the falls also forms a second small flow causing even more interesting compositions. The undercut behind this falls is massive to say the least is believe its like 100' back from the falls and anywhere from 20' to 75' tall - making a enormous cavern to listen and explore as this waterfall explodes into the canyon....WOW! Love this one!
Photo 1 view of North Falls as you approach from the North Falls trailhead. This path has stairs and steep decent into the canyon.
Photo 2 first appearance of the falls as you approach the large cavernous recess behind the falls.
Photo 3 looking back into the waterfall and the other side where you came from.
Photo 4 & 5 These are just great compositions from the other side of the North Falls. If you continued on the Canyon trail earlier where I took the Winter Falls bridge - you would come out here and take the rim trail back to South Fall trailhead from here.
You know when you see tree branches that look like this....that your in good (or should I say GODs) hands.
What a great day for a hike - hope you enjoy my hike through this Oregon Gem and its 10...I say 10 waterfalls all within a relatively short distance on well kept trails.
Nice Job - Silver Falls Oregon State Park Staff!
Brian Girard
1-15-2018