Trail of Ten Falls
a waterfall circuit that repeatedly shifts between canyon floor, cliff alcove, and forest defines the visit to Trail of Ten Falls.
Artwork inspired by Maude Kerns
a waterfall circuit that repeatedly shifts between canyon floor, cliff alcove, and forest defines the visit to Trail of Ten Falls. Notice where resistant basalt caps weaker rock and permits a trail behind the water.
Choose loop length before starting and expect wet rock, stairs, crowds, and seasonal closures. Record how canyon depth, spray, forest, and footing change between falls.
- Setting
- Silverton, Oregon
- Route character
- Waterfall circuit linking canyon floor, cliff alcoves, and forest
- Allow
- 3–8 hours
Quick guide
- Compare alcoves
- Read the resistant basalt above weaker rock
- Track the canyon
- Notice changes in spray, forest, footing, and depth
Read the canyon through ten changing falls
- Choose the loop at South Falls
- Begin with the Silver Falls map and match the Canyon Trail distance, stair count, and return climb to daylight and current conditions.
- Read a waterfall alcove
- Compare resistant Columbia River basalt with the weaker rock beneath it where South Falls or North Falls has cut a walk-behind recess.
- Track change through the canyon
- Notice how spray, forest density, creek level, and footing change between named falls instead of treating all ten as one checklist.
- Keep an exit in reserve
- Use a signed connector before fatigue, high water, closure, or fading light turns the remaining loop into an obligation.
Good to know
Choose loop length before starting and expect wet rock, stairs, crowds, and seasonal closures. Shorten the loop at a signed junction if fading light, fatigue, or slick footing makes the remaining waterfall sequence a poor trade.
Notice these
- a waterfall circuit that repeatedly shifts between canyon floor
- walking behind falls reveals the erosion resistant basalt cap
- Turn around with enough margin for footing, weather, and the return.