Exploring the American Wilderness and Other Adventures

Trail of Ten Falls, Silver Falls State Park, Oregon

May our misguided spirits always be bulletproof and our mad-hatter minds be drunk on imagination forever – Erin Van Vuren.

I’m convinced that to not give up when learning to live with chronic illness, I have to be the most stubborn I’ve ever been and “drunk on imagination forever.” I freely shed expectations put on me by others and try to honor my feelings, the good and the bad. It all sounds romantic or bearable until the Real Bad Days assert themselves. There’s nothing sweet about the crushing pain in my joints or the fatigue. Oh man, the fatigue. To the core. I have not figured out a sure way to prevent or combat it; sometimes, it runs me over like a cement roller while far from home, and determined to find beautiful things. Once I’m going, it’s much more difficult for me to quit than keep going. So, I go.

A couple of hours away from Dog Mountain and Spirit Falls is Silver Falls State Park (written here yesterday) is the home to the Trail of Ten Falls. Ten miles of trail to see ten waterfalls. It was incredible, even if I was not. Barbarian Scientist and I walked the Canyon Trail, Rim Trail, and Trail of Ten Falls. There are numerous access points to the trails, with most people not hiking waterfall to waterfall but instead driving to the nearest access points to each trail. That meant we were mostly alone for the day, with minor congestion points near the waterfalls closest to parking lots. 

The waterfalls, in the order we saw them:

Winter Falls is a skinny waterfall plunging 100’ down the basalt wall.

Upper North Falls is less than 100’ tall, with layers of water flowing over the edge. One of my favorites. 

North Falls is a 136’ plunging waterfall that can be seen from the highway.

Twin Falls is less than 50’ tall and is only called Twin Falls because a large rock separates the flow. 

Middle North Falls is one of the waterfalls you can walk behind. It is very beautiful. It is 100’ tall and is a cascading waterfall. 

Drake Falls is the smallest waterfall in the state park and the least accessible. We did a steep climb to it, and I only almost slipped off the canyon wall a few times. 

Double Falls is also one of my favorites. It is nearly 200’ tall and plunges into a higher pool before it continues plunging to the base of the canyon. 

Lower North Falls is very short (30’), but the trail provides many beautiful access points to photograph. We climbed down from the trail and enjoyed time at a little rocky beach at the base of the falls. 

Lower South Falls is another tall and cascading waterfall you can walk behind. It felt more busy than the other waterfalls. 

South Falls is a  nearly 200’ tall waterfall you can see from the top or hike down the Canyon Trail to walk behind. 

We stayed at the Cascade Locks KOA for this trip, which was nice. Barbarian Scientist learned that he loves that little town, which makes me want to go again with him. The Pacific Crest Trail goes through there, and the thought of fulfilling that dream still makes my heart ache.

We spent the following day in Portland, doing Portland things. We made ourselves sick on an abundance of Voodoo Doughnuts followed by a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant. Then, we rented a Kerr Bike surry from the Governor to McCall Waterfront Park. We did the Eastbank Esplanade Loop Trail that goes along the Willamette River and crosses some beautiful bridges. It was stupid and probably made more difficult by the heat and overindulging. I am pretty sure that Barbarian Scientist has a different opinion, but I have no regrets!

Once again, get outside. Go chase waterfalls. Or something. Do the things that make you feel alive.