Silver Falls Waterfall Hiking Tour from Portland
Description
Immerse yourself in waterfall hiking in one of the most unique geologic formations in Oregon! Over the course of the three hours we are in the canyon, we will discovering South Falls' stunning amphitheater and history as the centerpiece of a failed attempt to become Oregon's first National Park. From here we will descend into the up-and-down trails that make up the gorgeous canyon, encountering century-plus-old trees, wildflowers in season, mosses, lichens, and mushrooms and a variety of fantastic rock formations. We will experience up-close encounters with some of the state's most unusual and impressive waterfall formations. On this hiking experience we will explore 4-6 waterfalls and enjoy snacks with the option to purchase a light breakfast or lunch from the cafe. Our hike will be between three and eight miles (5 - 13 km) depending on group energy and desire.
Tour Options
Itinerary
On the way to and from the waterfall we will drive through the Willamette Valley, past hazelnut orchards, vineyards and tree farms, as well as past some of the only remaining Garry Oak savannah
With medium-intensity hikes, we will explore some of the most stunning and exciting waterfalls and geologic formations in Oregon. Over the three hours we are here, we will visit 3-6 waterfalls with your group's choice of two medium-length hikes (1-2 miles/3-5 kilometers each) or a longer point-to-point hike (5 miles / 8 kilometers) with your guide starting you at one end and picking you up at the other. We will walk around and behind South Falls, past lower South Falls, and have the exciting experience of walking past the sheet of water coursing over the falls; at North Falls, we will have the unique opportunity to see lava tree casts and near-old growth trees. Please note this hike is not technical but does have a lot of up and down hills and stairways; it's doable for most visitors who are comfortable walking the distance required.
We will pass through the old logging town of Silverton, Oregon, home to one of Oregon's only Frank Lloyd Wright houses
We will pass through the German town of Mt. Angel, learning about the Octoberfest held here each fall
On the way to and from the waterfall we will drive through the Willamette Valley, past hazelnut orchards, vineyards and tree farms, as well as past some of the only remaining Garry Oak savannah
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(43)
Great experience all around! Friendly staff, knowledgeable and friendly guide and a beautiful Portland weather day (rainy, cloudy, then sun... you know, Portland!). Thank you so much for your time and attitude, Sara.
Lovely hike through the canyon to multiple waterfalls. Really neat to see so many different falls in such short mileage. Easy drive to the state park. I appreciated having the guide pick us up without having to complete the full loop! Carrie was knowledgeable about the area and even fed us wild growing berries along the way?
Fabulous...self-guided hike with just enough time to see all the park has to offer. There is nothing like a walk behind the waterfall. The pre-fuel stop at the coffee shop in Silverton was an added bonus. The hike has minimal elevation gain, so don't let the longer hike intimidate you. It's worth it.
Good tour a little mis communication with the guild . Some of the group went wrong way and delayed the trip.
The hike was great, went on a sunny day after days of light rain, got to see many waterfalls, winter falls was beautiful, Carrye was very friendly, fun, knowledgeable and a great guide. Would return to Silver Falls again and it's many trails.
I was on an interstate road trip with friends and booked this outing just last week. We were lucky to be able to visit inbetween rainstorms when the waterfalls were roaring. We also ended up being the only two people on the tour and felt well taken care of. Bottled water and snacks were available if needed. It was nice being able to sit back and have someone else handling the driving, parking, and other logistics. Depending on traffic, expect up to 1.5 hours from the meetup spot to the park. The pictures online do not really do the park justice. The path included the ability to walk behind 3 of them, and the point-to-point pickup option allowed us to shave off an extra mile and keep the hiking distance reasonable to our comfort level. I strongly recommend wearing layers and good hiking shoes, as portions of the trail near the waterfalls were rocky/loose gravel and covered in water. Having complete command of our tour guide's attention, we were also able to ask a lot of questions about the park, daily life, cost-of-living, and sightseeing tips. If not for her, we would not have known the 100 cherry trees near the Portland waterfront were in full bloom and she was able to drop us off there instead of the start point. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this company and trip to any of my other friends.
I booked this tour as a Valentine’s date, and overall we had a really good time. The only reason I deducted one star was because the morning felt a little unorganized. A group of us arrived right at the scheduled meetup time, but no one greeted us for a while. Eventually, a staff member checked us in and then left us standing outside in the cold without any updates. It seemed like they were still setting up the vehicle, which I felt should have been completed before the tour start time. I don’t mind waiting, but as a California girl used to sunshine, standing in 40-degree weather was definitely a bit tough. That said, the rest of the experience was wonderful. Our tour guide was kind and personable. She took us through a few charming towns and brought us to an amazing bakery where we had the best cookie and coffee. We then visited the state park for a beautiful and very enjoyable hike. She joined us for part of the trail before giving us time to explore on our own, which was a nice balance. The trail felt more like a pleasant stroll than a strenuous hike, and I’m glad we started at South Falls since there were more inclines than declines along the way. Overall, it was a great trip and I would still recommend it.
It was a wonderful experience. Our tour guide Ana was very welcoming and knowledgeable! We loved learning about the history and the flora of this area. Definitely would recommend this to anyone visiting Portland.
Our guide, Carrie is one of the nicest humans I have ever met. She came up with a game plan and gave us a hard copy of the trail map before we headed out for the ride. The travel there and back has some great scenic views and Carrie is very well informed of the areas and the nature around it. We took so many pictures, really lucked out with the weather, and had the best day out at Silver Falls.
I went on this tour the weekend of October 26th with two friends for my bday. Garrett, our guide, picked us up right from our hotel, which made everything super convenient. Even though it was raining, he made the best of it and turned it into a great experience. He took us to several beautiful waterfall locations and shared interesting background history about each spot, which we really enjoyed learning about. Garrett was also very thoughtful, he would drive closer to where we were so we didn’t have to be in the rain as much. I also noticed how kind and accommodating he was to an older guest, which really stood out. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this tour! I’m grateful we got to see so many amazing places in such a short time.
I am so glad you had a great time! I just wanted to point out that you likely left this for the wrong experience; we don't drive from waterfall to waterfall nor do we pick up guests at the hotel. However, we do our best to give great service, accommodation and history!
