Silver Falls State Park, Oregon – Part Two

2013.05.03

After falling back down to the canyon on the trail from the North Falls Group Camp, I rejoined the North Canyon Trail near the head of the 31-foot Twin Falls.  Unfortunately, there don’t seem to be any really clear vantage points for these falls.

Twin Falls (31 feet), Silver Falls State Park, Oregon
Twin Falls (31 feet), Silver Falls State Park, Oregon

Going northwest from Twin Falls, a fairly slow descent along 3/10ths of a mile brought the trail down to the water level.  A footbridge across the creek connects to a half-mile trail along a small tributary creek to Winter Falls.

Along the North Canyon Trail below Twin Falls, Silver Falls State Park, Oregon
North Fork Silver Creek from footbridge to Winter Falls, Silver Falls State Park, Oregon

As the name suggests, the 134-foot Winter Falls tend to be seasonal; reportedly just a trickle in the summer months.  I doubled back to the footbridge, but near the falls the trail continues on a switchback up to the Rim Trail which passes by the top of Winter Falls.

Winter Falls (134 feet), Silver Falls State Park, Oregon
Winter Falls (134 feet), Silver Falls State Park, Oregon

Another quarter-mile west on the Canyon Trail was the top of the 106-foot Middle North Falls.  The trail begins to drop again here, though not yet all the way to the bottom.

Middle North Falls (106 feet), Silver Falls State Park, Oregon
Middle North Falls (106 feet), Silver Falls State Park, Oregon

I followed a side trail behind the falls.  The sunshine and spray created a short rainbow.

Middle North Falls (106 feet), Silver Falls State Park, Oregon
Middle North Falls (106 feet), Silver Falls State Park, Oregon
Middle North Falls (106 feet), Silver Falls State Park, Oregon
Middle North Falls (106 feet), Silver Falls State Park, Oregon