Gary-Summer: January 16, 2023 - Silver Falls State Park

Monday, January 16, 2023

January 16, 2023 - Silver Falls State Park

Title: January 16, 2023 - Silver Falls State Park
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail head: SouthFalls Trailhead

Trail: South Falls Loop

Destination: Loop

Distance: 1.16 miles ¹

Start Time: 1:15

End Time: 2:07

Travel Time: 0:51 (1.37 mph)

Moving Time: 0:36 (1.94 mph)

Elevation Rise: 144'

Descent: 210‘

Maximum Elevation: 1,529'

GPS Tracks

Type: Hiking

Trail head: Winter Falls Trailhead

Trail: Winter Falls, Canyon Trail

Destination: None

Actual Destination: Lower North Falls

Distance: 2.92 miles ²

Start Time: 2:31

End Time: 4:30

Travel Time: 1:58 (1.48 mph)

Moving Time: 1:35 (1.84 mph)

Elevation Rise: 559'

Descent: 554‘

Maximum Elevation: 1,495'

GPS Tracks

¹This trail went under a rock shelf and a waterfall. I have manually removed distortions when the GPS could not contact its satellites to determine a correct position.

²This trail went under a rock shelf and a waterfall. I have manually removed distortions when the GPS could not contact its satellites to determine a correct position.

Description:

South Falls

It is the day which we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday. Andrea has off, but Lawrence needs to go in. I woke up around 7, but stayed in bed until after Lawrence went to work. Then I got up, had my granola breakfast. Sherri, Andrea and Steven got up after 9:30. Another relaxed morning, well mostly. I think sometimes when a bunch of people are together for a while there are times of friction, which happened briefly this morning. But it did not hamper the overall day. We still enjoyed the rest of the day.

We got out of Andrea’s place a bit late, a little afternoon, and headed towards Silver Falls State Park with Andrea driving. Sort of nice to be able to observe the landscape without having to worry about the road. Andrea wants to stop at South Falls then head over to the Winter Falls area. Sounds good. Last June Andrea took us to South Falls and it was wonderful. So I do not mind seeing it again. This is Steven’s first time here. Hopefully he is as enchanted with this as I am.

Sherri, Andrea, and Steven

We walk to the top of the falls. Everything is wet-this is Oregon after all. After observing South Falls from the top, we go on down. This is where the wetness could be an issue as there are worn rocks on the way down to the falls. Fortunately the only thing we lose is our heart to the view. The trail goes behind the falls for a singularly exceptional view. Last time I was here, I thought this is one of the most marvelous things I have seen. Seeing it a second time does not diminish this thought.

South Falls and Steve, Sherri and Andrea

Winter Falls

We come up the trail back to the edge of the creek lip and take one last look at South Falls. Then it is onward to some covered picnic tables. Yep, it is time to have lunch, even though it is approaching 2pm. It is nice getting out of the dampness.

But we still have some more hiking to do. The main trail Andrea would like to take us on is to go down to Winter Falls. So she drives us up to the parking area and there is a space for us. The trail to the falls leads us down-why does it seem like all Oregon trails to falls lead you down rather than up to start with? Well, this is not too bad. Still it is a bit of a down. But then after 10 minutes we see Winter Falls. These falls are not spectacular, but in their simplicity there is beauty. We take many pictures here.

Middle North Falls

Then Andrea leads us on further down the trail. We soon get to the North Fork of Silver Creek and take a left to head west. I thought we might go to the right to the Upper Falls, But then again I am not the one who knows this park, so I am content to follow Andrea’s lead. Another ten to fifteen minutes gets us to the Middle North Falls. These falls remind me of the South Falls. We take a side trail which wraps us around the backside of the falls, just like South Falls. Unlike South Falls, it does not continue on beyond the falls. Still it is so unusual for us to be looking out through the falls, seeing the trees through water. We live in a wonderful world.

A little ways further down the trail we came to Drake Falls. These falls are wide with a drop of 15 feet (GNIS says 27 feet), giving the look of a white wave. There is also little fallets coming down the sides of the banks around this fall as well.

Double Falls

Andrea has promised at least six falls today. By my count she owes us two more. So we travel down another quarter of a mile. Through a tangle of moss and trees, there is another set of falls, the Double Falls. When we get a clear view of the falls, there is an upper falls with a taller lower one. I study these falls for a while and wonder if there is water coming through the rock as well as over the top. Then again, it could just be the spray coming off the falls. It is interesting. There is some debris at the base which spoils a bit of the effect of the falls for me, still I like these falls just for the mystery.

Lower North Falls

It is starting to get late and Sherri is slowing down. Even though in one way, Double Falls can count at two, there is one more fall which Andrea would like us to see. So she starts to go back with Sherri, while Steven and I go forward about 300 yards further. When we turn around, there is the Lower North Falls. It is hard to get a complete view of these falls. Still they are pretty nice.

Steven and I start back up to catch up with Andrea and Sherri. Steven quickly outpaces me. I like to think it is because I stop to take a few pictures, but in reality, Steven is faster. I can tell my legs are not up to snuff on this. Plus it is uphill. On a slope I used to be able to climb very easily, I easily get tired. Still I do keep Steven mostly in sight. Going back up an already trode trail does give a whole new set of things to admire. Usually not the main views, but the little things. Different reflections on the water, a side to a tree with an interesting relief, or a stone having a different outline than when you passed by it before. Things to be reminded of.

I caught up to everybody at Winter Falls. And then it is a climb back to the car. We stopped at the North Falls parking area for the outhouse there. Then Andrea continues on to Mt Angel. This is a town which in my mind is similar to Solvang in California. Instead of Swedish, it has a German atmosphere. But it is late and the shops are not open, except for a place called Mt Angel Sausage Company. That is where we decide to have dinner. As the name implies, we had a platter of sausage so we could sample different kinds. All were good, some a bit more spicy than others.

Andrea had me drive back, more precautionary than anything else as all except me had a couple sips of beer. The one part of this was that I forgot I had my boots on. So my right boot comes off so I can push down on the proper pedals. We made it home a bit tired. Lawrence was appreciative of the plate from Mt Angel.. Then it is time to lounge until Lawrence and Andrea have their Yoga with Adrienne time. After that, it is time for bed-Andrea and Lawrence have work to go to.