8 Hiking Options for Oregon's Trail of Ten Falls

Located in Oregon’s Silver Falls State Park, the Trail of Ten Falls is a moderately difficult hike where you get to witness ten breathtaking waterfalls. In order to see all ten waterfalls, you will have to hike the full trail that is reported to be 7.4 miles. This length may be too challenging for some visitors, so there are several trail options laid out in this blog. No matter which version of the Trail of Ten Falls you opt to hike, you will not be disappointed in these waterfalls.

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How to Get to the Trail of Ten Falls

The Trail of Ten Falls is located a little more than an hour south of Portland. When you arrive to Silver Falls State Park from Portland, you will come to the North Falls parking lot first. This is a small lot and will be where you want to park for some of the trail options. There is one vault toilet located in this parking lot. If you pass the North Falls parking lot, keep driving until you reach the massive South Falls parking lot. Here you will find 2 restroom facilities, a café (which also has restrooms), and a gift shop. There are a few other smaller lots, but these are the main two that you need to know about.

Map courtesy of Wanderlog, the best trip planner app on iOS and Android

How Much Does The Trail of Ten Falls Cost?

A day pass to Silver Falls State Park is $5 per vehicle per day. If you are camping inside the park, you do not need to purchase an additional day pass. Day passes can be purchased at most of the parking lots and trailheads from the yellow machines. Some of the machines only take credit card, and some only take cash with exact change. Be prepared with small bills.

You can also display your Oregon State Park Pass in lieu of paying for a day pass. Oregon State Park Passes can be purchased online here.

What to Pack for the Trail of Ten Falls

Water!! I recommend bringing a refillable water bottle or two. Oregon charges a tax on plastic bottles, so it is best if you use a refillable one. Not to mention, it is better for the environment!
Bug Spray – Keep those pesky bugs away!
Sunscreen – Protect your skin from the sun, and do not forget to reapply.
Hat – More sun protection to block the sun from your face, but the hat can also keep rain off your face.
Hiking shoes/boots – These are waterproof so walking on the beach or in muddy areas will not be a problem. Here are the men‘s version of the hiking shoes I love.
Hiking socks – The best way to prevent blisters is by keeping your feet dry. Moisture-wicking socks are the best way to do that.
Backpack – A backpack is a necessity when hiking to carry your water, snacks, sunscreen, etc. that you may need on your longer hikes.
Rain Jacket – Rain can (and probably will) occur at some point while in Oregon, so make sure to pack your men’s or women’s rain jacket.
Waterproof Pants – If visiting in the rainy season, waterproof pants will help keep your legs dry. Men’s Pants.
Jacket – Even in warmer months, the temps can be cool so pack a light men’s or women’s jacket.

What the Ten Waterfalls Look Like

South Falls

The first waterfall you come to from the South Falls parking lot is South Falls and starts the hikes with a bang! This 177-foot waterfall is the tallest on the Trail of Ten Falls and is quite powerful. As you walk behind South Falls, be prepared to get soaked as the spray and mist covers all that is around.

Lower South Falls

Lower South Falls is another great waterfall that you can walk behind. You will descend onto this waterfall after down a steep switchback staircase. This 93-foot waterfall is located about 1 mile past South Falls on the Canyon Trail.

Lower North Falls

Lower North Falls is a short but wide cascading waterfall. This waterfall is around 30 feet tall and is the first of many in this cluster of waterfalls.

Double Falls

Just past Lower North Falls is a short, flat spur that takes you to Double Falls. This waterfall is 177 feet tall. You can see how this waterfall gets it name with a smaller waterfall plunging just above the larger waterfall at the bottom.

Drake Falls

Drake Falls looks very similar to Lower North Falls and sits 27 feet tall.

Middle North Falls

Middle North Falls is the last waterfall that you get to before the Winter Falls shortcut, and you can see it from the main trail. However this is a really awesome waterfall to take the spur and walk behind. Middle North Falls was my favorite on the Trail of Ten Falls, and it sits at 103 feet tall.

Winter Falls

Winter Falls was the last on our Trail of Ten Falls loop, and we were beat tired. The waterfall looked like a trickle compared to some of the others, so at the time we did not feel like walking to the bottom of the canyon for a great picture. I did my best to get a picture from the top of the waterfall but did not really succeed. This fall is 134 feet tall.

Twin Falls

Twin Falls is the only waterfall between the Winter Fall shortcut turnoff and the next waterfall, North Falls. Sitting at only 31 feet tall, this waterfall is less than impressive. If I were to do this hike again, I would be ok with skipping it. However, if you only want to see this waterfall, there is a Twin Falls parking area that you can walk directly from.

North Falls

At 136 feet tall, this plummeting waterfall is truly a sight to see. The area behind the waterfall is massive and a great place to take a break while enjoying the water falling in front of you. You can access this waterfall after a very short walk from the North Falls parking lot.

Upper North Falls

Upper North Falls is a short spur from the North Falls parking lot and is a very easy stroll. This waterfall sits at 65 feet tall. There is a small beach-like area where you can put your feet in the water near the base of the falls. There is also a bench where you can rest.

Trail of Ten Falls Hiking Options

Option 1 – Trail of Ten Falls (10 Waterfalls)

Trail Length – 7.4 miles
Elevation Gain – 1,151 feet
Difficulty Rating – Moderate
Route Type – Loop
Trailhead Location – South Falls parking lot (Since this is a loop, you can technically start at any of the parking areas in the park)
Waterfalls Included on this Trail:
1. South Falls
2. Lower South Falls
3. Lower North Falls
4. Double Falls
5. Drake Falls
6. Middle North Falls
7. Twin Falls
8. North Falls
9. Upper North Falls
10. Winter Falls

Option 2 – Winter Falls Loop (7 Waterfalls)

Trail Length – 5.0 miles
Elevation Gain – 1,000 feet
Difficulty Rating – Moderate
Route Type – Loop
Trailhead Location – South Falls parking lot
Waterfalls Included on this Trail:
1. South Falls
2. Lower South Falls
3. Lower North Falls
4. Double Falls
5. Drake Falls
6. Middle North Falls
7. Winter Falls

Option 3 – North Falls to Lower North Falls (7 Waterfalls)

Trail Length – 3.8 miles
Elevation Gain – 639 feet
Difficulty Rating – Moderate
Route Type – Out and Back
Trailhead Location – North Falls parking lot
Waterfalls Included on this Trail:
1. Lower North Falls
2. Double Falls
3. Drake Falls
4. Middle North Falls
5. Twin Falls
6. North Falls
7. Upper North Falls

Option 4 – Maple Ridge Loop (2 Waterfalls)

Trail Length – 2.6 miles
Elevation Gain – 406 feet
Difficulty Rating – Moderate
Route Type – Loop
Trailhead Location – South Falls parking lot
Waterfalls Included on this Trail:
1. South Falls
2. Lower South Falls

Option 5 – North Falls Loop (4 Waterfalls)

Trail Length – 3.8 miles
Elevation Gain – 639 feet
Difficulty Rating – Easy
Route Type – Loop
Trailhead Location – North Falls parking lot
Waterfalls Included on this Trail:
1. Twin Falls
2. North Falls
3. Upper North Falls
4. Winter Falls

Option 6 – South Falls (1 Waterfall)

Trail Length – 0.9 miles
Elevation Gain – 193 feet
Difficulty Rating – Easy
Route Type – Out and Back
Trailhead Location – South Falls parking lot
Waterfalls Included on this Trail – South Falls

Option 7 – North Falls (1 Waterfall)

Trail Length – 0.5 miles
Elevation Gain – 26 feet
Difficulty Rating – Easy
Route Type – Out and Back
Trailhead Location – North Falls parking lot
Waterfalls Included on this Trail – North Falls

Option 8 – Upper North Falls (1 Waterfall)

Trail Length – 0.6 miles
Elevation Gain – 62 feet
Difficulty Rating – Easy
Route Type – Out and Back
Trailhead Location – North Falls parking lot
Waterfalls Included on this Trail – Upper North Falls

My Recommendation on How to Hike the Trail of Ten Falls

When I hiked the Trail of Ten Falls, I completed the entire loop with the exception of the short spur to Winter Falls. If I had to do over again, I would only do the Winter Falls Loop from the South Falls parking area. Then I would drive to the North Falls parking area and walk to North Falls and Upper North Falls. Your total mileage would be 6.1 miles, and you would only miss Twin Falls. The 1.3 miles that you cut out is a strenuous one because it is all uphill, which is another advantage of hiking the trails this way.

If 6.1 miles is still a bit too much walking for you, you could cut out the half mile walk to North Falls and just view the waterfall from the North Falls Viewpoint. However, North Falls is really impressive up close, so I would recommend not skipping that hike.