Waterfall Wednesday #10

Drake Falls

At 27 feet, Drake falls is the shortest of the Big Ten waterfalls at Silver falls State Park. Named after Photographer June Drake, who tried to turn the region that is now a state park into a national park, Drake Falls flows over one layer of the Columbia River Basalts. Due to a bend in the creek, the only place you can see this waterfall is from a small platform that was built on the steep slope.

Waterfall Wednesday #9

Double Falls

At 178 feet, this waterfall is the highest within Silver Falls State Park and is located on Hullt Creek. Named Double Falls due to its two-tiered drop, most visitors do not see the top one after mid-Spring due to all the foliage. Like nearby Winter Falls, this waterfall is best seen from mid-Winter to late-Spring when most of the water comes from snowmelt and runoff. The trailhead to the base of this waterfall is located on the Canyon Trail, just upstream from the Lower North Falls.

Waterfall Wednesday #8

Lower South Falls

This 93-foot waterfall is located roughly one mile downstream from South Falls at Silver Falls State Park. Like South Falls, a trail takes visitors behind the waterfall, making it one of four falls that do so. From Mid-Winter to Mid-Spring, this waterfall creates an almost perfect curtain of water.In Late Summer it becomes less dramatic. Formed by three different layers of lava flows, with the middle one less resistant and therefore allowing a path behind the falls, this waterfall has created several caverns below the trail that are not visible in the picture above.

Waterfall Wednesday #7

While technically considered a waterfall (water that flows over a ledge and free-falls down to earth), this week we have a man-made waterfall that really isn't supposed to be there. As a part of the Lower Bennett Dam near Stayton, this is a diversion wall that funnels water through a fish l.adder between Wilderness and Riverfront Parks in southeast Stayton. During Summer, little to no water overflows the wall, but in Winter and Spring, The North Santiam River flows over the wall, creating a long curtain-type waterfall less than 10 feet high.

Waterfall Wednesday #6

McKay Falls

This short waterfall cascades over an ancient basalt flow next to the town of Scotts Mills, Oregon. Located in what is known as Scotts Mills County Park, McKay Falls had once been cut off by a short dam and the flow diverted into a switchback channel. all this was done to give a local flour mill some power for operation. The mill has been long gone, but the side channel and dam still remain. A section of the dam was destroyed to allow water to flow back over the basaltic columns of the Columbia River Basalts, thus re-creating McKay Falls. Due to the side channel, and the rest of the dam, this waterfall is smaller in streamflow and steam width than it was before the mill was built.

If you feel like viewing McKay Falls, the Scotts Mills County Park is open from May 1st to October 31st. Until next time, get outside and enjoy hiking to one of the many waterfalls in the great Oregon Outdoors.

Waterfall Wednesday #5

North Falls

While this 13-foot waterfall isn't the highest in the park, it sure can be the loudest. Between early-Winter and mid-Spring, you can hear the booming noise of the waterfall pounding the rocks below it from a quarter mile away at the North Falls Viewpoint. With a short trail from the North Falls Parking Area, this waterfall is most likely one of the top five visited waterfalls within Silver Falls State Park. if you do decide to walk down to the cavern below North Falls, just remember that pets are not allowed on this section of trail.

As you walk behind the waterfall, you can see gaping holes in the rock, and if you look closely enough, you can see the sedimentary rock of the Vantage Interbed. Be careful when walking behind the waterfall as there still may not have any railing and the ground can be quite slippery.

The Geology of the North Falls

Below the trail is one solid layer of basalt that is 140-feet thick that came through the area between 16.5 and 15.6 million years ago. Above that layer, the part that has been hollowed out, is a sedimentary unit called the Vantage Interbed. Two more layers of rock that are at the top of North Falls are from basalt lava flows that came through the region between 15.2 and 14.5 million years ago. During the Ice Ages, water surged over this waterfall, creating the two gouge marks in the ledge, and several more within 40 feet upstream from this waterfall.

The History of the Upper North Falls

Several artifacts from the Kalapuya Tribe have been found under the cavern at North Falls. Perhaps the natives made a yearly pilgrimage to honor the creek. Or perhaps they were just dropped by a hunting party.

If you feel like viewing the North Falls, make sure you take appropriate gear if you go in winter, as there could be ice along the trail, and always check the Silver Falls State Park Website for information about trail closures during Winter. Until next time, get outside and enjoy hiking to one of the many waterfalls in the great Oregon Outdoors.

Waterfall Wednesday #4

Frenchie Falls

This 48-foot waterfall is technically the 11th waterfall in Silver Falls State Park. In late summer, it is only a trickle over a basalt ledge; while in the midst of Winter, it more than doubles its output. The trail head to this waterfall is off one end of the switchbacks that go into the canyon next to South Falls.

If you plan on viewing South Falls in winter time, stop at Frenchie Falls, as it could be worth the extra walk. The trail can be wet and icy in winter, so use caution. Until next time, get outside and enjoy hiking to one of the many waterfalls in the great Oregon Outdoors.

Waterfall Wednesday #3

Multnomah Falls

Situated along the Historic Columbia River Highway, this iconic waterfall is the tallest in Oregon at 620 feet tall. Multnomah Creek plunges 542 feet over the upper falls into a pool, then gradually drops 9 feet over a basalt layer before plunging again 69 feet over the lower falls into another pool below. The 49-foot long footbridge was constructed in 1914 by Italian Stonemasons at 105 feet above the lower falls.

The Geology of Multnomah Falls

There are two main events, or rather, two main type of events that happened multiple times, that helped create the Multnomah Falls. Before 16.5 million years ago, Multnomah Creek would have been a regular mountain stream with small cascades as it made its way to the Columbia River. Between 16.5 and 14.5 million years ago, large amounts of basalt poured out from northeastern Oregon and flowed toward the sea. As the flowed down the Ancestral Columbia River Valley, they filled all the low spots such as the lower part of Multnomah Creek. After that event, the new Columbia River was pushed a slightly northward and possibly flowed over a magnificent waterfall near the mouth of the river, or even near the present-day city of Portland. The next massive events that came happened during the last Ice Age, where the Columbia River Floods gouged out a channel in the basalt over and over until it became close to what the Columbia River Gorge looks like today. Since the end of the Ice Ages, Multnomah Creek has been eroding the basalt away to create the waterfall you see today. In fact it is still eroding as we look at it, sometimes only a sand grain at a time, other times, although rare, a chunk of rock breaks off like the boulder in 1995 did.

If you feel like viewing Multnomah Falls, make sure you take appropriate gear if you go in winter, as there could be ice along the trail. The trail is quite steep, but it is all downhill on the way back. Until next time, get outside and enjoy hiking to one of the many waterfalls in the great Oregon Outdoors.

Waterfall Wednesday # 2

Upper North Falls

Of all the waterfalls in Silver Falls State Park, The Upper North Falls is the only one that is not surrounded by a deep canyon. At 65 feet high, this waterfall is the fourth smallest waterfall in the park. The trail to this waterfall starts at a three-way intersection with the Rim Trail and the Canyon Trail; I personally call it the Upper North Falls Trail as it doesn't yet have a name. After walking under the footbridge and the vehicle bridge, the small trail winds its way along the stream past small seasonal waterfalls until it opens out onto a rocky platform that is often slippery. Although this trail is not part of the canyon trail, and though it is relatively safe, pets are not allowed on the trail to this waterfall.

The Geology of the Upper North Falls

The three layers of rock you see that make up the height of the Upper North Falls are from basalt lava flows that came through the region between 15.2 and 14.5 million years ago. These streams of lava moved at a rate of 30 mph from northeastern Oregon, through a low area near the present-day Opal Creek Wilderness, and on toward the ocean. Most animals would have sensed the lavas coming near; but a few animals, such as the slug, would have been buried and burned below the hot rock.

The History of the Upper North Falls

Although the Kalapuya Tribe was known to be in the area, no artifacts have been found at the Upper North Falls. Perhaps one reason is that winter floods of years past could have taken the items downstream. Another possibility is that erosion of the hillsides might have buried the artifacts; and of course, there is the possibility that they didn't leave any behind.

If you feel like viewing the Upper North Falls, make sure you take appropriate gear if you go in winter, as there could be ice along the trail. If you go in summer and plan to swim, be aware of signs posted that prohibit swimming in certain places. Until next time, get outside and enjoy hiking to one of the many waterfalls in the great Oregon Outdoors.

Waterfall Wednesday #1

South Falls

Spilling over five layers of basalt, this 177-foot waterfall is the highest single-drop waterfall in Silver Falls State Park. Only Double Falls, which is a double-drop waterfall, is taller at 178 feet. With a trail that allows people to walk behind the waterfall, this is the most visited waterfall within the park. Near the trail head is an ADA accessible viewing area for those who cannot walk down the steep slope to the bottom of the canyon. Also, keep in mind that pets are not allowed on the canyon trails.

 

 The Geology of South Falls

As you walk behind the waterfall, you can see gaping holes in the rock, and if you look closely enough, you can see the sedimentary rock of the Vantage Interbed. If you are feeling adventurous, you can climb onto this sedimentary rock to get a better view of a tree cast. This particular tree cast will have a hollow 'cast' of a tree with green mineral deposits on the sides. All of the gaping holes that you see from the trail that goes behind the waterfall are called 'erosional chimneys' as they are tree casst that have been eroded outward.

The History Of South Falls

Due to the fact that a small town was built where the present-day day use area is, the South Falls was one of the first waterfalls in the present-day park to be discovered by settlers. In those days, the locals explored the animal trails to see the waterfall. In the late 1800's, locals from a far away as Salem would ride their horses up to the the town to see the falls. By the early 1900's, a man known as D. E. Geise happened to own the piece of property that South Falls flowed over. As a way to make some money, he charged visitors a dime to see the waterfall, and a quarter to witness stunts, such as pushing Model T Fords off the top of the falls. One stuntman, the daredevil Al Faussett, climbed inside a rubber canoe filled with tires from early Fords and went over South Falls and survived with some bruised and broken bones. On March 21, 1931, Superintendent Samuel H. Boardman of the Oregon State Parks division of ODOT purchased the first 100 acres that would become Silver Falls State Park, which included South Falls.

 

If you feel like viewing South Falls yourself, make sure you take appropriate gear as it can be easy to slip in any season. Until next time, get outside and have some happy trails in the great Oregon Outdoors.