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South Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 177 ft high | Oregon
7.2 mi loop
South Falls Hike at a Glance
The South Falls hike via the Trail of Ten Falls is 7.2 mi loop.
| Falls height | About 177 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | Trail of Ten Falls |
| Distance | 7.2 mi loop |
Your time: about 2 h 25 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 3 h at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 1,360 kcal. No elevation gain is published for this route, so climbing time isn’t included.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 7.2 mi distance for this hike is verified (stateparks.oregon.gov), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About South Falls
South Falls is a waterfall in Oregon, about 177 feet high, on land managed by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (Silver Falls State Park). Its height is from stateparks.oregon.gov.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Trail of Ten Falls: 7.2 miles as a loop, from South Falls Lodge Trailhead. Distance from stateparks.oregon.gov.
Before You Go
- A day-use parking permit for Silver Falls costs $10 for Oregon residents and $12 for out-of-state residents. (stateparks.oregon.gov)
- Pets and bicycles are not allowed on the Canyon Trail. (stateparks.oregon.gov)
- South Falls can be viewed with a pet, but the trail to walk in behind it is not accessible to pets. (stateparks.oregon.gov)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (Silver Falls State Park) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to South Falls?
The Trail of Ten Falls to South Falls is 7.2 miles as a loop.
Where does the South Falls hike start?
It starts from South Falls Lodge Trailhead.
How tall is South Falls?
South Falls is about 177 feet high.
Is there a fee to hike to South Falls?
A day-use parking permit for Silver Falls costs $10 for Oregon residents and $12 for out-of-state residents.
Are dogs allowed on the South Falls trail?
Pets and bicycles are not allowed on the Canyon Trail.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The South Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- stateparks.oregon.gov
- Distance
- stateparks.oregon.gov
- Falls height
- stateparks.oregon.gov
- Falls location
- en.wikipedia.org
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.