Lower North Falls

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. The top of Lower North Falls is passed immediately after crossing the footbridge spanning Hullt Creek below Double Falls. The best views of Lower North Falls are had about 300 feet further along the trail as it wraps around in front of the falls where the stream makes a hard bend to the left.Lower North Falls is the sixth and final major waterfall along North Silver Creek and is the farthest waterfall from any trailead along the Trail of Ten Falls in Silver Falls State Park. North Silver Creek produces the falls as it rumbles down a 30-foot tall dome-shaped protrusion of basalt and forms a large pool at its base. The domed shape of the falls inspired the nickname "The Thunderdome" among the whitewater kayaking community. Unlike at it's upstream sibling Middle North Falls, North Silver Creek will sheet out over nearly the entire breadth of Lower North Falls at all but the lowest levels of flow, creating a curtain of rivulets across the rock face. In low water the stream usually splits into two channels which occupy the extremes of the cliff face.The waterfalls of Silver Falls State Park were discovered and named by local photographer June Drake in the late 1880's. Lower North Falls was most certainly named because it is the final major waterfall along North Silver Creek.