Just up the trail, the path curves under a natural overhang. After all, we wanted to hike behind the waterfall as soon as possible. We held off on this path until our hike back down the trail. The roar of water tumbling 100 feet over a cliff alerts you that you’re close!Ī very short path spurs on your left that gives you an unobstructed view of the falls from below. It was also a bit muddy and slippery in parts, so I held Maxine’s hand as we walked the quarter-mile to the waterfall. Here, the path becomes significantly more narrow. Hike to Shellburg FallsĪt the bridge over Lower Shellburg Falls, take a left up the stairs to hike to the real star of the show: Shellburg Falls. We opted instead to hike the short remainder of the hike to the dramatic Shellburg Falls. I, though, have a paralyzing fear of heights and kept my kids far from the edge. A few brave/reckless hikers crawled out onto a boulder overlooking the falls, and experienced hikers can bushwhack down to the base of the 40-foot falls from the far side of the bridge. The exposed roots and tumble of dirt and rock offered a clear example to teach my kids about erosion.Ībout a quarter-mile past the Santiam State Forest sign, you’ll reach a small bridge that crosses Lower Shellburg Falls. Just be careful you do not worsen erosion, which you’ll see along the hike. (That’s a welcome relief on a hot day!) Keep an eye out for Rocky Mountain irises growing here.Ī few side paths spur off from the main trail in this section. Here, the trees grow more tightly together and sunlight doesn’t reach the trail easily. Hiking in the Santiam State ForestĪ mile in, you’ll enter the Santiam State Forest. Male cows are bulls, unless they’ve been castrated, in which case they’re called steer.)Ī little farther along the trail, you’ll pass a tree farm on your right and enter a forested area. (Fun trivia facts to impress your fellow hikers: A female cow is called a cow, unless it hasn’t yet had its first calf, in which case it’s called a heifer. Keep dogs on a very short leash here, and don’t make sudden movements-especially around a calf. The cattle are friendly but are still large animals. This is private land, which the owners have graciously allowed hikers to use. (Maxine spotted a garter snake in one!) It’s clear why this path needs the grates: Cattle graze on the grasses along either side of the path. This wide path crosses several cattle guards. Keep an eye out for wildflowers here, including foxglove, buttercup and stinking chamomile (which Edie has called “daisy funk” since she could talk). The Shellburg Falls hike begins on a gently sloping unpaved road. The beginning of the Shellburg Falls trail is unmistakable: From the parking lot at the trailhead, simply walk past the yellow gate blocking the road to vehicle traffic. We refer to it often! Hiking through pasturelands This book is pretty much a must-read for any Oregon hiker. If you want even more hikes in this area, check out William Sullivan’s 100 Hikes in the Central Oregon Cascades (affiliate link). No matter how you bribe your little hikers (or encourage yourself to trek one more mile), you’ll love this waterfall hike near Salem, Oregon. I dole them out individually and say the candy gives them energy!) (M&Ms are my go-to treat to “entice” them to walk just a little farther. They had plenty of energy on the way up, and I only had to bribe them with M&Ms a few times on the gradual downhill to the Shellburg Falls trailhead. This kid-friendly hike near Salem, Oregon was the perfect length for Max (4) and Edie (6). (For details about visiting Silver Falls as well as other breathtaking spots in Oregon, see my post on the best day trips from Portland.) What’s more, you can hike under the waterfall like at Silver Falls State Park, but without the hundreds of other visitors. This 3-mile out-and-back hike takes you to gorgeous Shellburg Falls. Access to the waterfall is currently closed. That’s why we tried Shellburg Falls, an easy hike near Salem, Oregon!Ģ020 edit: The trail to Shellburg Falls was burned in the 2020 Labor Day wildfires. Of course I can’t blame them-I’m out for the same reason-but recently we wanted a more low-key, kid-friendly hike. Oregon’s beautiful waterfall hikes have just one problem: They’re so popular! If you hike on the weekends near Portland, OR, you’re bound to run into about a bajillion of your neighbors.
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