Overview

• Location: Marion County, Silver Falls State Park

• Waterfall Type: Curtain

• Height: ~106 feet (32 m) — one of four walk-behind waterfalls in Silver Falls State Park

• Trail Distance: ~4.5 miles from South Falls trailhead; ~1.3 miles round-trip from North Falls Trailhead

• Difficulty: Medium

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

History & Background

Middle North Falls is a magnificent 106-foot walk-behind curtain waterfall on North Silver Creek in Silver Falls State Park, and is considered by many visitors to have the most dramatic walk-behind experience of the park’s four such falls. The natural amphitheater behind Middle North Falls is the widest of the four walk-behind caves, with no railing separating the trail from the cascading water — creating an immersive, disorienting experience of moving through the curtain with falling water on one side and mossy basalt on the other. The Civilian Conservation Corps carved and widened the natural pathway behind the falls in the 1930s for safe public use. Middle North Falls is part of the North Silver Creek drainage and is most directly accessible from the Winter Falls parking area, where a connecting trail leads to the Winter Falls Loop that includes Middle North Falls.

Geology

Middle North Falls drops 106 feet as a broad curtain over the 15-million-year-old Columbia River Basalt at approximately 1,265 feet elevation, part of the same geological system underlying all ten waterfalls on the Trail of Ten Falls. The walk-behind cave reflects the characteristic erosion pattern of Silver Falls — the Columbia River Basalt’s hard cap sits over softer, older sandstone that erodes more readily, creating natural recesses and caves behind the falls. The particularly wide cave behind Middle North Falls suggests a broader area of sandstone erosion beneath the basalt, creating the expansive amphitheater that distinguishes this falls from its counterparts.

Directions & Access

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

• Trail Information:

  • Middle North Falls is accessible on the Canyon Trail on the full Trail of Ten Falls loop (~4.5 miles from South Falls trailhead); or more directly from the Winter Falls Trailhead (~0.75 miles one-way on the Winter Falls Loop)

  • The walk-behind trail is a dead-end spur — approach and return via the same path; no railing between trail and water in the cave; full Trail of Ten Falls is 7.2 miles, but shorter Winter Falls Loop (5 miles) also includes Middle North Falls; no dogs on trail

• Parking:

  • South Falls Day Use Area (day-use fee) or Winter Falls/North Falls Trailhead (pit toilets; closer approach)

• Accessibility:

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

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Full flows; the walk-behind experience is most immersive; mist fills the amphitheater; peak season crowds

• Summer: Lower flows; still a spectacular walk-behind; the wide amphitheater is popular on summer days

• Fall: Flows returning with October rains; brilliant fall color in the canyon; fewer visitors

• Winter: Full flows; park open year-round; icy conditions near falls; traction devices recommended

Nearby Attractions

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

• Lower North Falls (30 ft)

• Drake Falls (27 ft)

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

• Twin Falls (31 ft)

References

• Links:

  • Oregon State Parks – Silver Falls State Park

  • Wikipedia – Middle North Falls

  • Travel Oregon – Silver Falls State Park

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest