Silver Falls Named Top State Park

Dubbed the "crown jewel" of the Oregon State Parks system, Silver Falls encompasses over 9,000 acres of temperate rainforest. The park's signature Trail of Ten Falls is a 7.2-mile loop that has been designated as a National Recreation Trail. It draws over a million visitors annually to its location about an hour from Portland. The park's creation in 1933 was spearheaded by Silverton photographer June Drake and the first Oregon State Parks superintendent, Samuel Boardman. Much of the park's infrastructure, including the historic South Falls Lodge, was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. These structures are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Long before it was a state park, the land was the home of the Kalapuya and Molala people, who were later forcibly removed. The area was then heavily logged in the 19th century, and the landscape was significantly altered by fires before its eventual rehabilitation. The Trail of Ten Falls leads hikers through a canyon with a collective elevation change of 800 feet. Visitors have the unique experience of being able to walk behind four of the ten waterfalls, including the 177-foot South Falls. In total, the park features more than 35 miles of backcountry trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. In 2024, day-use visitation at Silver Falls State Park grew to 1,579,700, making it the third most visited park in the state system. This was an increase of nearly 130,000 from the previous year. To accommodate its popularity, new amenities have recently been added, with a new visitor center and campground expected to be completed in late 2026.