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Double Falls is the tallest waterfall in Silver Falls State Park - by a hair - and also the best of the handful of tributary waterfalls found along the Trail of Ten Falls. The falls occur along Hullt Creek a short distance upstream from where it merges with North Silver Creek. While Hullt Creek isn't known to be an intermittent stream, the drainage area is certainly small enough that it could potentially dry out during an extended dry period in the summer. In 5 different visits to the falls over the span of several years, we have never seen the falls dry, so this likely speaks to it's staying power (though during the summer it will be reduced to a trickle).
Officially Double Falls are said to drop 178 feet in two steps, when we measured the falls in November 2012 we achieved a measurement of 184 feet. When our measurements are off by 10-feet or less, we usually default to the official measurement, however in this case, we came away with distinct figures of 43 and 141 feet for the two drops which make up Double Falls, so we are a little more inclined to think our measurement may be closer to accurate.
- Double Falls is the Official name of this waterfall.
The waterfalls of Silver Falls State Park were discovered and named by local photographer June Drake in the late 1880's. Double Falls was obviously named for its two-step form.
Silver Falls State Park straddles Highway 214 east of Salem and can be reached from either the north or south. From Salem, exit Interstate 5 onto Highway 213 eastbound and proceed 10 miles to Silverton. In Silverton turn right (south) onto Highway 214, following signs pointing to Silver Falls State Park, and drive another 15 miles to the Winter Falls trailhead. Alternatively, from I-5 in Salem drive east on Highway 22 to its junction with Highway 214, then follow Highway 214 for just under 17 miles to Winter Falls. Hike the Winter Creek trail to the bottom of Winter Falls and beyond to the junction with the Canyon Trail in a half of a mile, then bear left and hike another half of a mile, past Middle North Falls and Drake Falls, to the bridge spanning Hullt Creek, then bear right where the sign points to Double Falls and follow the short spur trail to its end at the base of the falls.
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