Niagara Falls
Waterfalls never lose their allure. We’ve seen dozens of them across the U.S., from mighty Niagara in New York to McWay Falls in California’s Big Sur, one of the few in the world to pour directly into an ocean. And yet we never tire of them. In fact, we still seek them out.
We hit the waterfall mother lode near Portland, Oregon, where more than 77 of them flow in a national scenic area a short drive from the city. The area around Crater Lake in the southern part of the state is rife with them, too. But it turns out Oregon has even more waterfalls flowing within her borders.
Of the cascades along the Trail of Ten Falls in Silver Falls State Park, a short drive from Salem, one in particular is a standout for the unusual way it’s presented. While following a forested path, teasing views of South Falls can be seen through the trees.
South Falls as seen from the Trail of Ten Falls in Oregon’s Silver Falls State Park
Emerging from the wooded area brings an unobstructed view of the graceful, 177-foot waterfall off in the distance. What makes this waterfall special, though, is how the horseshoe-shaped trail winds behind the veil of rushing water for an up-close look at this powerful and elegant natural wonder.
The trail leading behind the cascade sets South Falls apart from so many others we’ve seen
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