8:30 a.m. departure, 6-7 hours, $130
Silver Falls State Park, only a little more than an hour from Portland, is a unique geologic canyon filled with stunning and diverse waterfalls. Once proposed as a national park, the canyon was rejected in the early 1900s because of forestry operations in the 1880s leaving it “unsightly.” Since then like a vengeance, the forest has been reborn, and it is a rich place filled with wildflowers and now-stately trees.
We will start in Portland (or pick up in the Willamette Valley if desired) and drive out through the historic town of Silverton, about an hour from Portland, and then through Christmas tree farms to the surprising canyon.
Once in the canyon, we will begin by discovering South Falls’ stunning amphitheater and history as the centerpiece of a failed attempt to become Oregon’s first National Park. From here we will descend into the up-and-down trails that make up the gorgeous canyon, encountering century-plus-old trees, wildflowers, and a variety of fantastic rock formations.
We will bring along a lunch and enjoy it in the heart of the canyon before emerging — and of course after experiencing up-close encounters with some of the state’s most geologically unique waterfall formations.
On this hiking experience we will explore five to ten waterfalls and enjoy a picnic lunch. Our hike will range in distance depending on group energy and desire. In all the day will be six to eight hours (depending on pickup point).
6-8 hours, 5-8 miles (8 – 14 km).
Book the tour below!