South Falls is the gem of Silver Falls State Park and the main attraction with the park’s main picnic areas and store nearby. The waterfall provides a great view from the top to the bottom of the many stairs you will need to climb to get to the bottom. The high forest canopy trail provides great views of the waterfall and everything else in sight.
The Hike:
The walk to the top of the falls is a short 0.3 km (0.2 miles) paved walk, getting to the bottom of the falls is a bit more difficult, and the hike is 0.7 km (0.43 miles) to the base of the falls with a total elevation change of 177 feet (54 meters) mostly consisting steel trail and stairs.
History:
The area around Silver Falls was timber country and supported the local economy in 1929 until the Great Depression, local photographer June Drake led a change in 1931 to purchase land around the waterfalls for future park use, in 1933 the park was officially dedicated as a state park.
Daredevil Al:
Daredevil Al (Alfred “Al” Faussett) was a daredevil in the 1920s, when he wasn’t jumping waterfalls in his boat he was working his normal job as a logger. On July 1, 1928, he set himself up to ride a boat off the top of South Falls, during his attempt the boat got stuck on a guide wire and flung him out during the ride down, the thousands of spectators at the time watched Faussett hit the water below without his boat, Faussett gave the spectator a feeble wave before being rushed to the hospital.
Faussett was to be paid $2,500 for performing the stunt but his partner Keith McCullagh disappeared with the money.
Stats:
South Falls drops a total distance of 177 feet (54 meters) at a 90-degree pitch, the average width of the falls is 15 feet (4.5 meters) with a max recorded width of 40 feet (12 meters). The water flows year-round from South Silver Creek at an average flow of 75 cubic feet per second.
Getting There:
Park in the main parking lot of Silver Falls State Park just off Silver Falls SE Highway and walk to the top or bottom of the falls.
Trail of Ten Falls:
South Falls is part of the Trail of Ten Falls located in Silver Falls State Park.
