Silver Falls State Park - Oregon

I remember the first time I visited Silver Falls State Park near Silverton, Oregon. My wife and I and our two children were living in Texas at the time. We took a family vacation and drove up to Oregon to visit my wife’s relatives who lived in the little town of Silverton. Soon after our arrival, my sister and brother-in-law planned a “welcome to Oregon” picnic for our family at Silver Falls State Park, about a 20 minute drive up the mountain that the town of Silverton sits near the foot of.

I had never seen a "real" waterfall (Texas has a few short ones) before our trip to Oregon and Silver Falls State Park has 10 of them. South Falls, which is pictured above is a favorite of most visitors to the park. If you've got the stamina, there's a trail near the spillway that leads to the bottom of the falls and then snakes around a little alcove behind the falls. The park has plenty of places to picnic and even has a pooled up section of the river that you can swim in. There are also both cabins and tent sites available for rent. Any time of the year is a good time to visit the park. Right now, autumn leaves are displaying a blazing array of color and the accompanying rainy weather lends it own special kind of romantic atmosphere to the area. You’ll also enjoy the drive up the mountain where you’ll pass through some beautiful scenery that includes a number of Christmas tree farms.