Overview

• Location: Marion County, Silver Falls State Park

• Waterfall Type: Horsetail

• Height: ~30 feet (9 m)

• Trail Distance: ~3.5 miles from South Falls trailhead via the Trail of Ten Falls

• Difficulty: Medium

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

History & Background

Lower North Falls is the 30-foot horsetail counterpart to the towering 136-foot North Falls just upstream in Silver Falls State Park, and is the eighth of ten waterfalls visited on the celebrated Trail of Ten Falls. While modest in height compared to the park’s signature falls, Lower North Falls has its own charm — its broad horsetail spreads across the canyon wall above a clear pool that is one of the most popular swimming spots in the park. At various times, a large tree has come to rest in the middle of the falls, adding a dramatic foreground element to photographs. Lower North Falls is part of the North Silver Creek drainage, visited on the inner loop of the Trail of Ten Falls between Middle North Falls and North Falls.

Geology

Lower North Falls horsetails over the 15-million-year-old Columbia River Basalt that underlies all ten waterfalls of Silver Falls State Park at approximately 1,090 feet elevation. The broad, spreading character of the falls reflects a smooth, gently angled section of the basalt ledge over which North Silver Creek fans out across the full wall width. Below the falls, the creek has carved a plunge pool into the softer sandstone and siltstones beneath the basalt, the same geological process that creates the walk-behind caverns at South Falls, Lower South Falls, North Falls, and Middle North Falls elsewhere in the park.

Directions & Access

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

• Trail Information:

  • Lower North Falls is encountered approximately 3.5 miles from the South Falls trailhead on the full Trail of Ten Falls loop; it can also be accessed more directly from the North Falls Trailhead (~1 mile)

  • The full Trail of Ten Falls is 7.2 miles with 800 ft elevation change; the Winter Falls Loop (5 miles) also passes Lower North Falls; dogs are not permitted on the trail

• Parking:

  • South Falls Day Use Area (day-use fee $10 OR residents/$12 out-of-state) or North Falls Trailhead (closer approach); arrive early on spring and summer weekends

• Accessibility:

  • Not wheelchair accessible — the trail involves canyon descent on natural surfaces; the South Falls viewpoint near the trailhead is paved and accessible

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Full flows; pool below the falls ideal for wading; the canyon is emerald green

• Summer: Lower flows; swimming in the pool below the falls is excellent in warm weather; busy season

• Fall: Flows return with October rains; brilliant fall maple color in the canyon; fewer crowds

• Winter: Full flows; trail open year-round; icy conditions near falls in hard freezes

Nearby Attractions

• North Falls (136 ft, walk-behind, same drainage)

• Middle North Falls (106 ft)

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

• South Falls (177 ft, walk-behind)

• Silver Falls Lodge (CCC-era historic building)

References

• Links:

  • Oregon State Parks – Silver Falls State Park

  • Travel Oregon – Silver Falls

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest