Double Falls, Oregon Overview
Double Falls in Oregon is technically the tallest waterfall in Silver Falls State Park. Officially, waterfalls are measured from the top of the tallest tier to the point where it meets the river bed. Between the two tiers of Double Falls, the entire plummet is measured at an impressive 184 feet.
With that said, this feels like one of the smaller cascades you will discover on the Trail of Ten Falls… if you discover it at all! Double Falls is dry 3+ months of the year and is rather slender even following heavy rainfall.
Find out everything you need to know for visiting Double Falls below.
Double Falls Quick Facts
- Location: Silver Falls State Park, Oregon
- GPS Coordinates: 44.89197, -122.64499
- Total Height: 184ft (56m)
- Tallest Drop: 141ft (43m)
- Avg Width: 5ft (1.5m)
- Max Width: 15ft (4.6m)
- Seasonality: Double Falls tends to flow 9 months of the year, drying out in the summer months.
- Viewing Angles: Front, base only. No access to top and is too flat for side-on viewing.
Location of Double Falls, Oregon and How to Get There
Driving Directions to Double Falls
Silver Falls State Park is located on Highway 214 near Silverton, about 25 miles (40km) southeast of Salem and 55 miles (88km) south of Portland. There are four trailheads and parking lots for Silver Falls:
- South Falls Day Use Area
- North Falls Day Use and Group Camp
- North Falls Trailhead
- Winter Falls Trailhead
The South Falls Day Use Area has the most parking and facilities, including restrooms, water fountains, a cafe, and the lodge. Parking is limited at both the North Falls and Winter Falls trailheads. Unless you are camping at North Falls Group Camp, this option is less ideal as it includes a longer hike to the trail.
With the above in mind, and as it is unlikely you will solely be visiting Double Falls, you will likely want to navigate to the South Falls Day Use Area. Directions can be easily found by searching for South Falls in Google Maps! You can also find driving directions to Silver Falls from Portland here or from Eugene here.
Hiking Directions to Double Falls
Double Falls can be found on the Canyon Trail as part of the Trail of Ten Falls. This impressive trail takes you through lush temperate rainforest where you’ll encounter 9 other impressive waterfalls. The 7.8-mile loop can be started from any of the four trailheads.
Double Falls Photography Tips
If you are lucky enough to have water in the falls at all, you are off to a good start photographing Double Falls. Though it is extremely tall, the width is narrow and the volume that cascades from top to bottom is not overly forceful.
Accordingly, the best angle to photograph Double Falls is from the main trail with a bit of elevation. There is one spot on the path that allows you to climb slightly, which helps get both the top and bottom of the tier in the frame. Having both tiers is essential for showcasing the “double” feature.
Alternatively, you may need to play with a zoom lens and cut off the bottom if you are facing challenging light (as seen above). With the bottom tier being so much darker than the top, I chose to zoom in and feature the bright yellow bushes and autumn colors as well as the top tier.
I also enjoy shooting waterfalls with a long exposure. By “dragging the shutter”, the photographer creates a dreamlike, ethereal element to the image.
If you are a beginner and need some help with this, check out our comprehensive guide to long exposure waterfall photography to learn everything you need to know regarding filters, settings, equipment, and technique!
Other Waterfalls Nearby
If you have not already, you will definitely want to consult our comprehensive guide to The Trail of Ten Falls in Silver Falls State Park to learn about the different options for hiking, camping, and planning your visit. As the name implies, there are 9 other waterfalls near Double Falls that are all worth visiting and exploring. These are listed below including hike times to each:
- Lower North Falls – 0.1 miles
- Drake Falls – 0.2 miles
- Middle North Falls – 0.3 miles
- Winter Falls – 0.9 miles
- Twin Falls – 0.8 miles
- Lower South Falls – 1.3 miles
- South Falls – 2.1 miles
- North Falls – 1.7 miles
- Upper North Falls – 2.3 miles
Related Guides
We have a variety of guides to the Pacific Northwest that you may also find helpful, as well as instructional guides for learning photography.
Additionally, you are welcome to browse our Oregon professional photography gallery for prints and more inspiration ?
- Top 15 Oregon Waterfalls
- Waterfalls in Southern Oregon
- Best Places to Visit in Oregon
- Painted Hills of Oregon Guide (one of the 7 wonders of Oregon)
- Southern Oregon Coast Photography Locations
- Ultimate Guide to Visiting Thors Well
- Things to do on a Northern California Road Trip
- Photographing Olympic National Park
- Guide to Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Instructional Guides to Photography
- Long Exposure Waterfall Photography
- Photography Basics
- Night Photography
- Lightroom for Beginners
- Advanced Post-Processing
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