State Park Saturday # 2

Silver Falls State Park

With a 40-million year history which included basalt sea stacks rising from what is now the Willamette Valley, to many flood basalts scorching the landscape, to what you see today, Silver Falls State Park is the largest state park in Oregon at over 9,000 acres. With over one million visitors annually, it more than doubles the amount of visitors that go to Crater Lake National Park. While those who visit this park cannot see its earliest history, they can see the destruction the lava flows created when the came through the region over 14 million years ago. When you walk behind North Falls and look up at the basalt ceiling, you see many tree casts. If you look at the top of North Falls, and if you take a look at Twin Falls, you can see the gouges cut by Ice Age spring runoff. During summer and fall, visitors can see 10 main waterfalls and a few that are smaller; but in winter and spring, many more small waterfalls pop up from snowmelt and runoff.

South Falls Lodge

While many people come to the park to camp or hike, others can take advantage of the equestrian trails that offer viewing animals that you may not see where the waterfalls are. Every time you visit, there is something new to see, whether it is the snow and icicles in the winter, or a new flower to discover in spring. Every now and then, a tree or two will fall across a waterfall, adding to a picture. If you happen to love autumn more than other seasons, be sure to visit the park in late October to see the park when the trees are most colorful. For those that visit early in the day before most of the crowd arrives, a deer or two might make an appearance.

Nature Store

If you do go, make sure to visit the South Falls Lodge and the Nature Store, both in the South Falls Day Use Area. At just over 40 minutes from downtown Salem, it remains a great park to check out on a hot summer day, when you can swim upstream from the South Falls near the many picnic shelters. For those that would like to camp in a large group, check out the group campgrounds, which can accommodate 25 individuals in tents, and up to 25 RV's in a circle.

Entrance to the Campground, Horse Ranches, and Conference Center

So if you plan on going hiking this year, and want to stay close to the major towns in the Willamette Valley, check out the Silver Falls State Park website to find all the information on park rates and services, as well as any trail closures. Until next Saturday, get outside and enjoy one of the many state parks in the great Oregon Outdoors.