North Falls in Silver Falls State Park

North Falls in Trail of Ten Falls Oregon

North Falls is a waterfall located in the Silver Falls State Park at the east end of the city of Salem, in Marion County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located in a privileged area on the west foothills where Mount Hood National Forest meets with the Middle Santiam Wilderness.

North Falls is the third tallest along the Trail of Ten Falls and the only one in the park that can be viewed from highway 214. The falls drops in a straight plunge down approximately 136 feet (41 m) channeled through a narrow crack in the basaltic bedrock to a steeply slanted protrusion of basalt which causes splashing of the cascade into the pool. At North waterfalls, erosion caused by the action of water has undercut the softer rock beneath the basalt lip to form a cavern.

·         Name : Middle North Falls

·         Height : 136 feet

·         Access : Trail of Ten Falls

·         Hiking Distance:  0.4 mile from the north falls parking lot

·         Location : Silver Falls State Park Silverton Oregon ( Near Salem )

The North Falls trail is a 1/4 mile trail with a moderate elevation gain approximately 80 stairs that lead behind North Falls through a large cutout on the rock. It continues west and roughly follows North Creek through the Canyon Trail, passing several waterfalls, including Twin Falls, Middle North Falls, Drake Falls, and Lower North Falls. On the opposite direction from the North Falls trailhead is the short, flat trail to Upper North Falls.

The North Falls trail passes behind North Falls in massive undercut cliff that extends back from the falls for at least 100 feet. The large size of the undercut rock allows the roar of the falls to be considerably amplified.