"Steep Walls, Rough Narrow Slippery Walkways" Top 5 Page for this destination Silver Falls State Park Warnings Or Dangers Tip by glabah

Silver Falls state park is FAR from the worst when it comes to narrow trails that hang out over the edge of cliffs. In fact, many trails in Oregon are more hazardous. However, inexperienced walkers or hikers are also far more likely to come to this park due to its fame and general popularity among the general population over some of the other places where the exact same, or more difficult, conditions exist.

Keep track of your younger children, so that they don't fall over the edge. If it has been cold, watch for ice - even if you don't think it has been below freezing, it may very well have been in certain parts of the canyon floor due to microclimates that form there.

The trail surface is carved out of rock in places, and rough. Gravel used to pave the trail and make it smooth gets knocked away very easily due to the number of visitors walking on the paths, leaving some areas with hard rocks that are easy to trip over if you are not careful.

When you come around a narrow ledge, keep in mind you have no idea what might be around the corner. It might be some jogger with headphones or someone else who is oblivious to other people, and might collide with them if you are not somewhat prepared to meet someone.

The walkways under the falls are particularly dangerous. They are always wearing away due to the water falling on them, and therefore extra rough. They are also slippery due to the water from the waterfall.

HOWEVER as long as you use some sense about this not being a standard playground, but an actual mountanous area that, except for the number of people, is a preserved wilderness, you should be just fine here.

Be really careful about ice on the trails as well. This park is higher in the mountains than the Willamette Valley floor, so temperatures are somewhat colder here. Also, the sun seldom gets a chance to warm the bottom of the canyon, and there is certainly no shortage of water to freeze into ice. So, WATCH FOR ICE as well, as seen in photo 3.

Sometimes, though, there are those who manage to kill themselves here.