A Quick Guide to Silver Falls State Park in Winter

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One park, fourteen waterfalls. Ten of them you can hike to and four you can hike behind. Lovely in any season, Silver Falls State Park is nothing short of mesmerizing in winter and spring when rain and snowmelt transform the tranquil falls of summer into raging torrents. As a bonus, visiting in the off-season means easier parking, fewer crowds, and even moments of solitude on some of Oregon’s most popular hiking trails. Here is everything you need to know about visiting Silver Falls State Park in the winter.

A trail passes behind Middle North Falls

Winter highlights of Silver Falls State Park

Waterfalls

Winter Falls is looking impressive in late January

First and foremost, Silver Falls State Park is known for its incredible waterfalls. Some, like the famous 177-foot South Falls, have enough water passing over them to be memorable in any season. Others, like Winter Falls and Double Falls, can be underwhelming in summer. In winter and spring, they tumble in elegant streams down the cliffsides but look more like dripping faucets in drier months. Beyond the named waterfalls, a few seasonal waterfalls appear along the hiking trails after prolonged rains.

This unnamed seasonal waterfall is between Lower South Falls and Lower North Falls in wetter months

While seeing the waterfalls from afar is enough to make the trip to Silver Falls State Park worthwhile, the hands-down coolest thing about visiting in winter is the experience of walking behind them. Clouds of mist from South Falls and North Falls reach the deepest recesses of the eroded cliffs behind them. Lower South Falls and Middle North Falls tumble in roaring curtains of water so close to the trail that you’ll come away from them looking like you just got out of the shower. Walking beside the hypnotic rushing water feels refreshing in a way that borders on the spiritual. Come with your troubles. Leave with a clear mind and wet hair.

Fewer crowds

The trail behind South Falls is packed on summer weekends

On beautiful summer weekends, the most popular trails in Silver Falls State Park can feel a bit like human conveyor belts. Although the waterfalls are stunning in any season, hiking around them starts to seem less like communing with nature and more like visiting a theme park when the trails are jam-packed.

Since I am not a morning person and arriving at a trailhead by 7 AM is just short of physiologically impossible for me, winter hiking is a treat. Before hitting the road, I can wake up without an alarm, have coffee, coordinate with my friends, have more coffee, pack trail snacks, and, oh, I don’t know, maybe have a little more coffee. Once you get away from the most popular areas, especially South Falls, you can find stretches of trail without another soul around, even if you don’t arrive at dawn.

Plants

Mossy trees add atmosphere to Middle North Falls

Silver Falls State Park stays surprisingly colorful in the winter. The park is in a mixed conifer and deciduous forest, where massive Doug firs, Western hemlocks, and cedars keep the canopy green after the bigleaf maples have shed their leaves. Then, there is the ever-present moss. It clings to basalt cliffs, carpets the tree trunks, and hangs in dangling clumps from dormant branches. Amid the otherwise bare undergrowth, sword ferns and Oregon grapes stay green in winter. Meanwhile, delicate maidenhair ferns grow on mossy trunks and fallen boulders.

Things to consider

Weather

Winter weather can be a bonus when it means a misty forest

Like everything west of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon, Silver Falls State Park gets a lot of precipitation. Even in winter, it’s usually rain. The park is in the Cascade foothills at about 1,500 feet of elevation, so while there is a greater chance of snow and ice here than in Portland, it’s still usually snow-free in winter. When it rains, it rarely pours. A little rain doesn’t ruin a hike if you have the right gear (more on that below). Fog or drizzle can provide a moody atmosphere and make the waterfalls look mysterious and enchanted. If it’s a downpour, I’d postpone your visit.

Silver Falls State Park does sometimes get ice and snow in the winter. Although the park usually stays open year-round, be prepared for winter driving conditions. Carry chains or use traction tires if there has been recent snow.

Another consideration is daylight. Winter in Oregon means early sunsets, so plan on wrapping up your visit by around 4 PM to avoid hiking in the dark. From November through January, the day-use area gates in Silver Falls State Park lock at 5 PM. In February, they are open until 6 PM.

Trail conditions

The stairs to Lower South Falls can be treacherous when icy

In spring, fall, and winter, expect wet and sometimes muddy trails in Silver Falls State Park. Although the trails are well-maintained and hiking is doable in sneakers, you’ll be more comfortable in waterproof hiking boots. I love my Timberland hiking boots, which have kept my feet dry in many a muddy puddle. There is a similar pair for men.

If you visit when it’s below freezing, you’ll likely encounter ice on the trails. Using Yaktrax to add traction to your boots will keep you stable when negotiating an icy stairway. If snow is on the trails, I’d recommend microspikes for more traction. I use this pair of microspikes, which works great in small to moderate amounts of snow and ice.

Even if it doesn’t rain when you visit, prepare to get wet. The clouds of mist coming off the waterfalls will make you want a good raincoat, especially when you walk behind them. For wintertime, I’d suggest this waterproof and insulated Columbia women’s or men’s coat.

Things to do in Silver Falls State Park in the winter

Double Falls looks dramatic in winter but slows to a trickle by late summer

• Hike the trails. The famous Trail of Ten Falls connects ten of the park’s waterfalls in a 7.5-mile loop.

• Take the kids on the North Rim Trail to the nature play area. A quarter-mile loop in the woods has creative play equipment along the trail. Small hikers can growl like a cougar, build a bird’s nest, and hibernate like a bear.

• Bike the trails. Silver Falls State Park has a designated 4-mile forested bike trail that parallels the Rim Trail. It does not go to any of the waterfalls, but you’ll be close to South Falls if you’re up for a brief detour.

• Bring your horse. Because I don’t know your life, you might have a bunch of bored horses. Start from the Howard Creek parking lot to find miles of shared-use trails where horses are welcome.

• Warm up with hot chocolate by the fireplace at the South Falls Lodge. The cafe in the lodge sells drinks, snacks, and sandwiches.

• Shop for souvenirs in the cozy log cabin gift shop.

• Let your dog run in the off-leash area in the South Falls Day-use Area. Dogs are allowed on some trails in the park but not the Canyon Trail, where most waterfalls are. They can be on the Rim Trail and can visit Upper North Falls.

• Stay overnight at the campground. Unlike many campgrounds in Oregon, Silver Falls State Park has year-round campsites. As a bonus, you’ll have amenities like flush toilets and showers with hot water.

• Attend the Silver Falls Winter Festival. Once a year in December, the park hosts a winter celebration that includes crafts, a scavenger hunt, guided nature walks, and educational talks on topics like mushroom identification and birdwatching.

South Falls Lodge & Cafe

Getting there and park navigation

To reach Silver Falls State Park from Portland, head to Silverton, then follow OR-214 S until you reach the park. You’ll need the Oregon State Park Pass ($5/day or $30/year) to park in the lots. If you don’t have a pass, you can purchase one at the North Falls Day-use Area, the North Falls Trailhead parking lot, or the South Falls Day-use Area. Pay stations near the parking lots accept credit cards.

As you drive in on OR-214 S, you’ll first pass the road to the North Falls Day-Use Area parking lot. As of late January 2024, it remains unlabeled, so look for a road to the right with an open gate. The North Rim Trailhead, a pay station, and a restroom building are next to the parking lot.

If you continue a short distance down OR-214 S, you’ll see the parking lot for the North Falls Trailhead. It has a pay station and a couple of vault toilets. After this parking lot, you’ll pass two small parking areas by the side of the road. The first is for the North Falls Viewpoint, and the second is for the Winter Falls Trailhead. Neither have amenities. In another mile or so, you’ll reach the large parking lot at the South Falls Day-use Area and its many amenities, like indoor restrooms, picnic tables, the cafe, and the gift shop. Look for a pay station next to the lot if you need a day pass.

The drive from Portland to Silver Falls State Park takes about 75 minutes.

Enjoy your winter visit to Silver Falls State Park!

With love,

Emma

Explore nearby

See other incredible waterfalls with fewer crowds at McDowell Creek Falls County Park.