Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Silver Falls is briefly illuminated by a break in the clouds.

Head out to the Oregon coast and drive south on U.S. 101, past the cliffs of Cape Perpetua and the sprawling Oregon Dunes, then at the foot of the bridge that leads to North Bend turn east, twisting and turning along remote backroads for 27 miles until you find them – two towering waterfalls tucked away in the woods.

Golden and Silver Falls don't rank among the tallest waterfalls in Oregon (at 254 and 259 feet, they rank 21st and 20th, respectively), and they're certainly not the easiest to access, but a trip to the two falls in the lush coastal rainforest is a spectacular experience, and well worth the winding journey it takes to get there.



Managed as an Oregon state park site, the waterfalls sit on 157 acres of public land, where three miles of moderate trails provide multiple viewpoints of each. The parking area is fairly small, and vault toilets are in need of repair, but the parks department gets the main attraction right with well-maintained trails to the beautiful falls.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A hiker stands on a boulder to get an up-close experience with Silver Falls.

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There are three trails in the park, and while you can hike them in any order you like, I found success by hiking the shorter trails first, and leaving the lone uphill climb for the end.

Start by going left through the parking area to the Silver Falls trail. This short, flat hike winds around to the base of Silver Falls, where the beautiful domed plunge comes down in wisps of water, sending out spray in all directions (photographers be warned). The clouds can move swiftly overhead, so sit and wait for a break in the gray, when the sun may cast a rainbow at the base of the falls.

Back at the parking area, next take the Golden Falls trail, which soon forks at the base of a large tree. First, take the fork to the right, which leads a short way through the forest and a field of boulders to the base of Golden Falls. This horsetail waterfall is surrounded by cliffs, with tall trees growing throughout the basin – a beautiful scene, though trickier to photograph.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Golden Falls, seen from the lower viewpoint.

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Head back to the fork in the trail and take the final path, a longer trail that heads uphill to the top of Golden Falls. On your way, take the quick side trail to the other side of the base of Silver Falls, which offers a bonus perspective of the waterfall. Back on the main trail, head uphill beneath towering moss-covered boulders and sheer cliff faces that rise high above the path.

A sign in the parking lot notes that this trail was originally blasted by a group of homesteaders in 1901, used as a transport road for passenger cars and timber until 1958, when the last descendants of the homesteaders left. One of the early visitors was Dr. C.B. Golden, grand chancellor of the Knights of Pythias of Oregon and the namesake of Golden Falls.

It’s certainly a scenic spot to traverse. At the top of the trail, Glenn Creek bubbles quietly along before abruptly dropping off the edge of the cliff to become Golden Falls. The scene of the sudden drop, with forested hills on the horizon, is as memorable as the waterfalls themselves.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Glenn Creek disappears over a cliff and becomes Golden Falls.

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The trail continues into the forest, but it’s not advisable to carry on – soon after it becomes inundated with brush and becomes impassable.

Instead, take a moment to sit at the top of Golden Falls and head back down the trail when you’re done. After driving so many miles on the long, winding roads, and with those miles to drive all over again, it’s nice to take your time at Golden and Silver Falls. The park site may be small, but the waterfalls hidden away in the forest help make it a beautiful escape into the rain-soaked wilds of southwest Oregon.

To get to Golden and Silver Falls, take U.S. 101 south to the north side of the McCullough Memorial Bridge leading into North Bend. Turn left onto East Bay Road and enter Golden and Silver Falls State Natural Area in your maps app or GPS device. The backroads to get there can be confusing, but after a few turns it's pretty much a straight (but winding) path to the end.



(SEE MORE PHOTOS BELOW)

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A short trail leads to the base of Silver Falls.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Golden Falls, seen from the lower viewpoint.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Golden Falls, seen from the upper viewpoint.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Mist hangs over a mossy cliff above a trail.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A trail leads to the top of Golden Falls.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

The cliff walls beside the trail at the top of Golden Falls.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Silver Falls is briefly illuminated by a break in the clouds.

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB