Overview

• Location: Marion County, Silver Falls State Park

• Waterfall Type: Cascade

• Height: ~27 feet (8 m)

• Trail Distance: ~3 miles from the South Falls trailhead via the Trail of Ten Falls

• Difficulty: Medium

• Best Time to Visit: Year-round; best flow in winter and spring

History & Background

Drake Falls is one of the ten waterfalls along the celebrated Trail of Ten Falls in Silver Falls State Park, Oregon’s largest state park. The falls are named for June D. Drake, a commercial photographer and owner of Drake Brothers Studio in Silverton, Oregon, who beginning in 1902 waged a long and ultimately successful campaign to have the Silver Falls area protected as a park. Drake used his striking photographs of the waterfalls to build public support, and his early images of the canyon have become classics of Oregon photography. His advocacy led to the area eventually becoming a Recreational Demonstration Area under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935, developed with Civilian Conservation Corps labor, and ultimately Oregon’s largest state park. Drake Falls cascades across a wide, gently sloping basalt ledge on North Silver Creek, a short distance from Double Falls on the loop trail.

Geology

Drake Falls cascades over the same 15-million-year-old Columbia River Basalt that underlies all of Silver Falls State Park’s waterfalls. The broad, gently sloping ledge that creates Drake’s cascade character reflects a section of relatively smooth basalt across the full width of North Silver Creek. The surrounding canyon walls display the columnar jointing and tree-cast holes — circular indentations left where lava hardened around living trees — that are signature geological features of the park. At 1,063 feet elevation, Drake Falls flows through a lush, moss-rich forest environment maintained by the canyon’s consistently moist microclimate.

Directions & Access

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

• Trail Information:

  • Drake Falls is reached approximately 3 miles into the Trail of Ten Falls from the South Falls trailhead, between Double Falls and Middle North Falls; a dedicated viewing platform is positioned alongside the trail for views of the falls

  • The Trail of Ten Falls loop (7.2 miles) passes all ten waterfalls; shorter options include the Winter Falls Loop (5 miles) which also includes Drake Falls; dogs are not permitted on the trail

• Parking:

  • South Falls Day Use Area (main parking; day-use fee required) or North Falls Trailhead; parking fills quickly on spring weekends

• Accessibility:

  • Not wheelchair accessible — the Trail of Ten Falls involves significant canyon descent on natural surfaces; the South Falls viewpoint near the trailhead is paved

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Full flows and lush green canyon walls; the most photographically stunning season; arrive early to avoid crowds

• Summer: Moderate flows; the canyon provides cool shade; busy summer season

• Fall: Beautiful fall foliage in the canyon; flows increase with October rains; quieter than spring

• Winter: Full flows; park is open year-round; icy conditions possible on the trail — traction devices recommended

Nearby Attractions

• South Falls (177 ft)

• Double Falls (184 ft, park’s tallest)

• Middle North Falls (106 ft)

• Silver Falls Lodge (CCC-era historic building)

• Silverton, Oregon

References

• Links:

  • Oregon State Parks – Silver Falls State Park

  • Wikipedia – Silver Falls State Park

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest