Silver Falls State Park

Yesterday I took a day trip from my Insiders Guide to Portland, OR (thank you Elizabeth, Bill, and Caroline) to Silver Falls State Park. It is located about 70 miles south of Portland in the lower elevation of the Cascade Mountains. The book describes the Silver Falls State Park as "being located in a temperate rain forest. Canyon trail or Trail of 10 Falls is one of the most beautiful trails in Oregon. It descends to a forest floor covered with ferns, mosses, and wild flowers amid a forest of Firs, Hemlock and Cedar. The trail follows the rushing waters of Silver Creek."

I took the Trail of 10 Falls and started my hike at the South Falls. What a start to a hike. The first thing you see is a large waterfall of 177 Ft. It is beautiful, and the trail actually walks you behind the water if you choose. I of coarse went behind the water and got wet due to mist, but enjoyed every minute of it. My overall hike was approximately 5 miles and I saw 7 of the 10 falls. I decided to save the final three for when Adrienne gets out here. Here is a link to the park page if you are interested (http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_211.php). I have also posted my pictures from my journey on Flickr for anybody to check out.

If the rest of the hiking in this area is even close to the hiking experience from Saturday, I am going to love hiking and riding my bike here. I have decided my next day trip (also a recommendation from the book) will be to Mount St. Helen's.