Silver Falls

Silver Falls
Silver Falls, in Mount Rainier National Park
Interactive map of Silver Falls
LocationMount Rainier National Park, Lewis County, Washington, United States
TypeTiered, punchbowl
Total height95 feet (29 m)[citation needed]
Number of drops4[citation needed]
WatercourseOhanapecosh River

Silver Falls is a waterfall on the Ohanapecosh River located within Mount Rainier National Park in Washington.

Description

Silver Falls is located on the Ohanapecosh River in Mount Rainier National Park. The river meanders through an old-growth forest. Beginning as smaller cascades through a small canyon, the final waterfall plunges approximately 40 feet (12 m) into a punchbowl that continues on into a gorge.

The waters are described as clear as the river is formed from snow melt rather than glacial runoff, which usually contains sediment. A footbridge over the river provides access to an overlook of the waterfall.

Recreation

The Silver Falls Loop Trail is 2.7 miles (4.3 km) that loops around both sides of the Ohanapecosh River. Beginning at the Ohanapecosh Campground, or accessible via the Grove of the Patriarchs, the trail has an elevation gain of approximately 600 feet and considered "moderately strenuous".

The trailhead at the campground was closed in 2026 due to maintenance at the site. The trail could still be hiked but not as a loop.

Environment and wildlife

Wildlife recorded on the Silver Falls Trail, or at the waterfall, include deer and woodpeckers. Ferns and moss are prominent at the falls and the surrounding forest contains Douglas fir and Pacific silver fir, along with western alder, cedar, and hemlock.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The height of the final drop of the waterfall varies per source. The National Park Service lists the final drop to be 60 feet (18 m) tall. See sources throughout the page for the discrepancy.
  2. ↑ The National Park Service lists the Silver Falls Trail to be 2.7 miles (4.3 km) but other reports vary on the length of the path, often as 3 miles (4.8 km) or more. See sources throughout the page for the discrepancy.

References

  1. ↑ "Silver Falls". National Park Service. 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  2. 1 2 Graham, Ron (August 15, 2002). "Hiking - Prizes of the Park - Grove of the Patriarchs, Silver Falls two treasures near Mount Rainier". Yakima Herald-Republic. NewsBank 0FCE4C46C06F857D. Retrieved May 28, 2026 – via NewsBank.
  3. ↑ "Waterfalls are rain cascades". The Seattle Times. May 20, 1990. p. L14. NewsBank 0EB533F8D7FFAF0C. Retrieved June 9, 2026 – via NewsBank.
  4. ↑ Hill, Craig (July 30, 2009). "More to explore with access to road". The News Tribune. p. C1. NewsBank 129C971AAECDB080. Retrieved May 28, 2026 – via NewsBank.
  5. 1 2 3 "Silver Falls Trail". National Park Service. 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  6. ↑ Sykes, Karen (June 19, 2003). "A one-way trip to waterfalls and solitude". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. 8. NewsBank 0FBCB3D966D1FC65. Retrieved May 28, 2026 – via NewsBank.

46°45′09″N 121°33′34″W / 46.7526°N 121.5595°W / 46.7526; -121.5595