South Falls

South Falls is the signature waterfall of Silver Falls State Park, a magnificent 177-foot curtain of water that hikers can walk completely behind on a trail carved into the basalt cliff. Standing in the cave behind the falls, the world becomes a wall of roaring white water backlit by filtered sunlight, with the forest visible through the curtain like a scene from another world. The amphitheater of columnar basalt surrounding the plunge pool amplifies the sound into a resonant thunder.

South Falls anchors the famous Trail of Ten Falls, a 7.2-mile loop that visits ten named waterfalls ranging from 27 to 178 feet. From the South Falls parking area, the trail descends 0.5 miles to the base of the falls and the walk-behind passage. The full loop adds nine more waterfalls including North Falls (136 feet), Double Falls (178 feet), and three others you can also walk behind. The trail surface alternates between paved and packed gravel with moderate elevation changes.

Visit in late spring for peak water flow, or autumn when golden big-leaf maples frame the falls in amber. Summer weekends pack the parking lots — arrive early or visit midweek. Oregon's largest state park offers camping, picnicking, and a conference center, making it easy to spend a full day exploring.