Silver Falls State Park

Silver Falls State Park
South Falls
Silver Falls State Park is located in Oregon
Silver Falls State Park
Silver Falls State Park is located in the United States
Silver Falls State Park
TypePublic, state
LocationMarion County, Oregon
Nearest citySilverton
Coordinates44°51′04″N 122°38′46″W / 44.8512332°N 122.6461975°W / 44.8512332; -122.6461975[1]
Operated byOregon Parks and Recreation Department

Silver Falls State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Oregon, located near Silverton, about 20 miles (32 km) east-southeast of Salem. It is the largest state park in Oregon with an area of more than 9,000 acres (36 km2), and it includes more than 24 miles (39 km) of walking trails, 14 miles (23 km) of horse trails, and a 4-mile (6.4 km) bike path. Its 7.2-mile (11.6 km) Canyon Trail/Trail of Ten Falls runs along the banks of Silver Creek and by ten waterfalls, from which the park received its name. [2] Four of the ten falls have an amphitheater-like surrounding that allows the trail to pass behind the flow of the falls.[3] The Silver Falls State Park Concession Building Area and the Silver Creek Youth Camp-Silver Falls State Park are separately listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

The park's most visited waterfall is South Falls, a 177-foot (54 m) cascade.[4] Remote Double Falls, however, is listed as the highest waterfall in the park, plunging 178 feet (54 m) in a small tributary side canyon deep within the Silver Creek Canyon.

In recent years, Silver Falls State Park has hosted star parties in partnership with the amateur astronomy organization in Salem, Oregon called Night Sky 45.[5]

  1. ^ "Silver Falls State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
  2. ^ "Silver Falls State Park - Oregon State Parks". stateparks.oregon.gov.
  3. ^ "Silver Falls State Park". Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Retrieved September 1, 2007.
  4. ^ "Recreation in Salem Oregon". Salem, Oregon Convention & Visitors Association. Archived from the original on November 22, 2006. Retrieved January 28, 2007.
  5. ^ R, Mike (June 3, 2020). "Oregon State Parks Star Parties". CosmosPNW. Retrieved January 15, 2022.