2024 Guide to North Falls, Oregon in Silver Falls State Park ⋆ We Dream of Travel Blog

Fall photography of North Falls, Oregon in Silver Falls State Park. — North Falls is a joy for landscape photographers visiting Silver Falls State Park.

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North Falls, Oregon Overview

Along the North Silver Creek in Silver Falls State Park, you will discover four waterfalls with “North Falls” in the name. T

hese include Upper, Lower, Middle, and just plain old North Falls. Of the four, this is the most accessible and is located less than half a mile from the North Falls Parking Area.

There are several ways to access the falls, and I urge everyone visiting the park to make time for this one.

Whether you choose to do it at part of the 7.8-mile Trail of Ten Falls loop or just zip in quickly from the parking area, it is one of the must-see features. While it is only the third highest waterfall in the park at 136ft, it is certainly one of the best!

Perhaps the most impressive views are from behind the falls, creating the feeling of witnessing them from a cave! The trail opens up behind the falls to a huge chamber where there’s even a bench to take a minute and just enjoy the moment.

The enormity of this cavern echoes the crashing of the falls, amplifying the sound and power of the water. Because the trail is so far from the waterfall, it is also the only one you can walk under without likely getting wet! It is easily one of the best experiences in the Pacific Northwest.

Read below to learn everything you need to know about visiting North Falls, Oregon.

Fall colors and long exposure photography of North Falls, Oregon in Silver Falls State Park. — Fall colors decorate the scene at North Falls, Oregon.

North Falls Quick Facts

Location: Silver Falls State Park, Oregon
GPS Coordinates: 44.88489, -122.62267
Height: 136ft (41.5m)
Avg Width: 15ft (4.6m)
Seasonality: North Falls is a perennial waterfall, flowing year round.
Viewing Angles: Both sides and behind. No access to top or base.

Location of North Falls, Oregon and How to Get There

A girl in a yellow jacket standing in the rain looking out at North Falls surrounded by golden autumn leaves — Even in the rain, North Falls is absolutely spectacular!

Driving Directions to North 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

Google Map image showing the parking area for North Falls trailhead in Silver Falls State Park.

The closest parking lot to North Falls, as you might expect, is the North Falls Trailhead. The parking lot has more limited spaces than the larger South Falls Days Use Area, but is only a 0.3-mile hike to North Falls.

While the South Falls Day Use Area has the most parking and facilities, including restrooms, water fountains, a cafe, and the lodge, it is also the furthest from North Falls.

Additionally, both Winter Falls Trailhead and North Falls Day Use Area are over a mile hike from North Falls.

With the above in mind, you will likely want to navigate to the North Falls Trailhead. However, if you are planning to complete the entire Trail of Ten Falls Loop, this can be started from any of the parking lots.

Directions can be easily found by searching for North Falls Parking in Google Maps! You can also find driving directions to Silver Falls from Portland here or from Eugene here.

Hiking Directions to North Falls

A view of the top of North Falls from the Canyon Trail — Get a glimpse of the top of North Falls before continuing along the Canyon Trail to walk behind the waterfall.

The hike down to North Falls is only 0.3 miles from the North Falls Trailhead. From the parking lot, cross the footbridge and keep left at the junction. You will see signs for North Falls and Canyon Trail.

Along the way, you will pass a view looking down over the falls before continuing down a set of stairs to continue along the Canyon Trail and pass behind the waterfall.

There is also a roadside viewpoint of North Falls, approximately one mile west of the North Falls Trailhead.

North Falls Photography Tips

Fairytale landscape photography from behind North Falls, Oregon. — Consider photographing the scene from within the alcove behind the falls for a fairytale feeling.

Because you can walk around and behind the waterfall, photography at North Falls allows for more creativity than most other waterfalls.

Ideally, it would be best to have two lenses available for photographing this one. A standard lens will be useful for capturing it from the trail, while a super-wide angle lens is ideal to photograph it from behind the falls.

If you do not have two lenses, there are other techniques you can try in order to get the scene in one frame. Perhaps the best method would be to shoot vertically and pano the shot from side to side, if possible.

Otherwise, just find the angle you like best and try to include just enough of the cave at the top and bottom of your frame to provide context for the viewer.

Shooting back at the cascade from the Trail of Ten Falls.

Beyond these two apparent angles, you could also consider framing the waterfall as you continue along the Trail of Ten Falls. While some of the scale is lost, it does help create a Secret Garden feel while accentuating the rainforest scenery.

Sophie standing behind the thundering waters at North Falls.

Last, I recommend using a long exposure to create a dreamlike, ethereal element to the image.

Beginners, be sure to 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

South Falls Oregon in Silver Falls State Park is captured with long exposure photography surrounded by autumn colors. — SOUTH FALLS

A hiker walks the Trail of Ten Falls toward Winter Falls — SOUTH FALLS

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 Middle North Falls that are all worth visiting and exploring. These include:

Upper North Falls – 0.4 miles
Twin Falls – 0.9 miles
Middle North Falls – 1.4 miles
Winter Falls – 1.6 miles
Drake Falls – 1.5 miles
Lower North Falls – 1.7 miles
Double Falls – 1.7 miles
Lower South Falls – 3 miles
South Falls – 2.9 miles

More Oregon Nature Guides

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