Chasing Waterfalls | Johnny G Adventures

Arrive at Portland (PDX) and ride in your van through Willamette Valley toward Silver Falls State Park, Oregon’s largest at over 9,000 acres.
After check-in and lunch, your hike follows the Maple Ridge Canyon (South) Loop (~2.6 miles total)
On this loop you’ll see South Falls (177 ft plunge) Friends of Silver Falls and Lower South Falls (93 ft) — both of which allow trail passages behind the curtain of water.
The loop gains roughly 200 feet in elevation. As you walk, observe basalt cliff stratification (three visible basalt layers are often noted in the canyon walls) and spot mosses, ferns, and lichens that thrive in the spray zones. In the evening, dine on BBQ on your private deck overlooking the great lawn and forested valley.

Day 2 – North Loop: The deeper canyon, multiple falls, higher drama

After breakfast, embark on the North Loop—the remainder of the Trail of Ten Falls network. In your segment, you’ll visit waterfalls such as North Falls (136 ft), Middle North Falls (106 ft), Winter Falls (134 ft, seasonal), Twin Falls (31 ft), Drake Falls (27 ft), and Double Falls (178 ft, the park’s tallest). Four of the ten waterfalls allow you to walk behind them (including North Falls and Middle North Falls) You’ll cross footbridges, descend staircases into the canyon, and experience mist-soaked amphitheater walls. Trail surfaces vary: expect wet rock, muddy stretches, slick roots, and stair segments. The forest canopy is dense, often filtering daylight into emerald shafts.
Dinner that night by Chef Boyar G.

Day 3 – Optional Activities

After two days of canyon hiking, treat yourself. Nearby golf courses feature forest boundaries, elevation changes, and scenic fairways. Alternately, a spa day in Silverton or at a nearby resort resets your muscles. Use this day to absorb and mentally catalog the textures, echoing drops, and layered green of the falls.

Day 4 – Return to Portland

After breakfast, depart Silver Falls. The drive back offers last glances at ridgelines and forested hills. You’ll arrive at Portland in time for your departure or onward travel.