Overview

• Location: Marion County, Silver Falls State Park

• Waterfall Type: Plunge

• Height: ~184 feet (56 m) in two tiers — tallest waterfall in Silver Falls State Park

• Trail Distance: ~4.5 miles from the South Falls trailhead via the Trail of Ten Falls; accessible via a short 0.1-mile spur from the Canyon Trail

• Difficulty: Medium

• Best Time to Visit: Late winter through spring; may reduce to a trickle or dry up in summer

History & Background

Double Falls is the tallest waterfall in Silver Falls State Park, edging out the more famous South Falls by just one foot at a combined height of 184 feet across two tiers. Unlike the main canyon falls, Double Falls flows on Hult Creek, a small seasonal tributary that joins North Silver Creek, which means its flow is heavily dependent on seasonal rainfall and snowmelt. The falls are found along the celebrated Trail of Ten Falls, a 7.2-mile National Recreation Trail that is the centerpiece of Oregon’s largest state park. The park’s rich history includes the Kalapuya and Molala peoples who inhabited the area for thousands of years, the short-lived logging town of Silver Falls City founded in 1888, and the transformative work of Civilian Conservation Corps crews in the 1930s who built the trail system and historic South Falls Lodge. Drake Falls, nearby on the loop, is named for June Drake, the Silverton photographer who campaigned tirelessly for the area’s park status from 1902 onward.

Geology

Double Falls plunges over the same 15-million-year-old Columbia River Basalt that underlies all ten waterfalls in Silver Falls State Park. The basalt was deposited as repeated lava flows that poured down the ancient Columbia River channel from vents in eastern Oregon, gradually pushing the river northward to its current course. Below the hard basalt cap lies older, softer sandstone from the Oligocene period — approximately 26 million years ago — when much of western Oregon was submerged beneath an ocean. As Silver Creek and its tributaries erode downward through the resistant basalt and into the softer sandstone beneath, they create the natural amphitheaters and walk-behind caverns that make the park unique. Double Falls’ seasonal character reflects the small drainage area of Hult Creek, which lacks the sustained flow of the main Silver Creek forks.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Silverton, OR (~14 miles northwest); Salem, OR (~35 miles west)

• Trail Information:

  • Double Falls is reached via a short 0.1-mile spur trail from the Canyon Trail on the Trail of Ten Falls loop, between Lower North Falls and Drake Falls — approximately 4.5 miles from the South Falls trailhead or 1.8 miles from the North Falls trailhead

  • The full Trail of Ten Falls loop is 7.2 miles with 800 feet of elevation change; shorter loops are possible — the Winter Falls Loop (5 miles) also includes Double Falls; dogs are not allowed on the Trail of Ten Falls

• Parking:

  • Main parking at South Falls Day Use Area (day-use fee $10 OR residents/$12 out-of-state) or North Falls Trailhead (pit toilets); arrive early on spring and summer weekends as the park draws over 1 million visitors annually

• Accessibility:

  • Double Falls itself is not wheelchair accessible; the main Trail of Ten Falls involves canyon descents and natural surfaces; the South Falls viewpoint near the lodge is paved and accessible

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Peak flows on both the main canyon falls and Double Falls; wildflowers bloom throughout the canyon; the most dramatic season — arrive early to beat crowds

• Summer: Double Falls may reduce significantly or dry up entirely by mid-summer due to the small Hult Creek drainage; the main canyon falls remain flowing but at lower volume

• Fall: Flows on Double Falls return with October rains; brilliant fall foliage of maple and vine maple throughout the canyon; lighter crowds than spring

• Winter: Double Falls runs well after winter storms; the Trail of Ten Falls is open year-round but trails can be icy near the falls — traction devices recommended

Nearby Attractions

• South Falls (177 ft, walk-behind)

• North Falls (136 ft, walk-behind)

• Drake Falls

• Middle North Falls (106 ft)

• Historic South Falls Lodge (CCC-era, National Register of Historic Places)

References

• Links:

  • Oregon State Parks – Silver Falls State Park

  • Wikipedia – Silver Falls State Park

  • Travel Oregon – Silver Falls

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest