FEBRUARY 2015
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| NORTH FALLS |
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| MIDDLE NORTH FALLS |
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| MIDDLE NORTH FALLS |
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| DOUBLE FALLS |
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| DOUBLE FALLS |
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| LOWER SOUTH FALLS |
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| SOUTH FALLS |
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| WINTER FALLS |
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| NEAR NORTH FALLS |
The Ten Falls Loop Trail is one of the greatest hikes in Oregon. The 8.7-mile trail passes by ten significant waterfalls as it travels through a lush, green forest. I hiked this trail in February, so it wasn't quite as green as would be in the spring or summer, but it was still very impressive. There are a few different places you can start the hike, but I chose to start at North Falls, since it was the first trailhead I came to on my drive.
The trail takes you behind North Falls and down the river past Twin Falls to Middle North Falls. There is a trail leading behind Middle North Falls that will take you to the other side of the river for a nicer view. Next you will pass by Drake Fall and a side trail leading to Double Falls, which was one of my favorite. You will then pass Lower North and Lower South Falls. Lower South Falls was one of the nicest falls, and the trail takes you right behind it. The next waterfall you will come to is South Falls, where you will see a lot of people, as there is a lodge and large parking lot located just above it. This is the most impressive waterfall on the hike due to its incredible size. There is a trail leading behind it to help you appreciate the volume and velocity of the water.
After South Falls it is about a mile walk through the forest to a side trail taking you to the bottom of Winter Falls, then another mile walk to the North Falls parking area. However, to truly finish the route, you will need to cross the street and hike up the river about a quarter-mile to Upper North Falls before returning to your vehicle. Because the hike is so amazing, expect a lot of traffic along the trail. I was surprised how many people I saw while hiking in February. It must get really crowded on summer weekends, so plan accordingly.
