Silver Falls

Lewis County, Washington

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height: 95 ft (29 m)
Location: Lewis County, Washington
Access status: National park trail loop to a falls viewpoint; slippery ledges near the falls
The walk: About 1.3 miles to the viewpoint spur, per Visit Rainier; the full loop is 2.7 miles
Ground & access: Forest trail with a high bridge over the river gorge. The area around the falls is wet, slippery and treacherous; stay on the trail and behind the railings.

Visit Rainier: Hike the Silver Falls Loop

Silver Falls, WA
Photo credit
Photo: VitaleBaby, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Silver Falls is a 60-foot drop of the Ohanapecosh River into an amphitheater of old-growth forest in Mount Rainier National Park. Visit Rainier describes a loop from the Ohanapecosh Visitor Center: walk a short way up the campground's B loop road to the trail on the left, pass the old Ohanapecosh Hot Springs site on a boardwalk, cross Laughingwater Creek, and continue upstream. Cross the river on a high bridge over a narrow chasm; at about 1.3 miles a short spur leads to a viewpoint at the falls. Return the same way, or continue to the Eastside Trail junction, keep left, and follow the loop back to the campground amphitheater. The National Park Service also lists trail access from the Grove of the Patriarchs and Laughingwater Creek trailheads.

Plan your visit

Ohanapecosh Visitor Center, campground B loop road, Silver Falls Trail upstream to the spur to the falls viewpoint

Visit Rainier places the spur to the falls viewpoint at about 1.3 miles and the end of the loop at 2.7 miles. WTA lists the loop as 3.0 miles round trip.

Forest trail with a high bridge over the river gorge. The area around the falls is wet, slippery and treacherous; stay on the trail and behind the railings.

Where to start

Ohanapecosh Visitor Center and campground day-use parking off Highway 123, about 3.5 miles north of the Highway 12 junction.

Timing & water

No season limits are stated. When Ohanapecosh Campground is closed, the National Park Service also lists trail access from the Grove of the Patriarchs and Laughingwater Creek trailheads.

Before you go

Mount Rainier National Park's entrance pass is $30 per private vehicle for seven consecutive days. WTA lists no separate parking pass for this trailhead.

Visitor information

Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.

Explore Washington

Waterfall location

Lewis County, Washington.

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