Do go chasing waterfalls 💦

Hike of the Month: Trail of Ten Falls

Looking out from behind a thin waterfall upon a forest of evergreen and deciduous trees.

Fall colors loading in 3... 2... 1... (scroll down for the transformation) | Photo by @cambrieee_

Silver Falls State Park gives the Columbia River Gorge a run for its money when it comes to surreal waterfall hikes. The park near Silverton boasts more than a few pedestrian paths to explore, but only one takes visitors above, behind, or around 10 waterfalls: the aptly named Trail of Ten Falls.

🥾 Quick facts

Starting point: South Falls Lodge Trailhead, Silver Falls Hwy. SE, Silverton
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 7.4 miles
Route type: Loop
Elevation gain: 1,151 ft
Trail surface: Mostly unpaved
Wheelchair accessible: No
Open: All year, times vary
Dog friendly: No

👑 Brief overview

Known as the “crown jewel” of the Oregon State Parks system, Silver Falls is also the largest in the state at 9,000 acres. The Civilian Conservation Corps turned it into a park in the 1930s following a long campaign by local photographer June D. Drake for whom one of the falls was named after.

📸 Why you should try it

Where else can you walk behind four waterfalls in one afternoon? The Trail of Ten Falls is a photographer’s paradise, offering views of some of Oregon’s very best: massive Douglas firs dripping moss, fern-blanketed forest floors, seasonal wildflowers, craggy basalt canyons formed by ancient lava flows, and, of course, waterfalls. This is a must-do hike if you live in the PNW.

A slideshow of several waterfalls during autumn surrounded by deciduous trees, pines, and basalt cliffs. — Summer is a popular time to visit, but rainy seasons produce larger waterfalls.

🗺️ Pro tips

Bring $5 or a State Park Pass to park at Silver Falls State Park and try to arrive early because the trails are extremely popular nearly every day of the year. We recommend taking the loop clockwise to see the park’s tallest waterfall, South Falls (177 ft), right away. Be prepared for wet paths and getting “rained” on by waterfall spray. Download a map before setting out since there are many spur trails, bridges, and junctions without markers along the way.

🗣️ Let us know

Did you try this hike? Do you know of one we should check out? Send us your thoughts + recommendations.

Click here to have your event featured.

Wednesday, October 19

Eugenia Riot | Wed., Oct. 19 | 7-9 p.m. | Winery Tasting Room at McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey St., Troutdale | Free | Portland-based singer-songwriter Leigh Jones will treat your ears to original songs with folky vocals.
Mixology Masterclass - Spooky Potions | Wed., Oct. 19 | 5-7 p.m. | Straightaway Cocktails, 901 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland | $85.00 | Learn to build, mix, and shake four craft cocktails with a partner and learn a little history behind each libation.

Thursday, October 20

“The Last White Man” | Thu., Oct. 20 - Sun., Oct. 30 | 7-9 p.m. | The Vault Theatre, 350 E. Main St., Hillsboro | $20.00 - $35.00 | In this play-within-a-play, three successive actors fight their way through Shakespeare’s longest and most challenging role: Hamlet.
Tai Chi with Peter Lin | Thu., Oct. 20 | 10-11 a.m. | Lan Su Chinese Garden, 239 NW Everett St., Portland | Free | Gently build your strength, flexibility, balance, and mental focus through this graceful exercise and ancient martial art; every Thursday at 10 a.m., March-October.

Friday, October 21

Ekphrastic Creative Writing Lab | Fri., Oct. 21 - Fri., Nov. 18 | 7-9 p.m. | Carnation Contemporary, 8371 N. Interstate Ave., #3, Portland | $0.00 - $200.00 | Explore how art communicates with its viewers and learn how to translate your inspirations into written words.
Graveyard Night Tour | Fri., Oct. 21 | 7-9 p.m. | Davis Graveyard, 8703 SE 43rd Ave., Milwaukie | $50.00 | Get a closer look at the neighborhood haunt and meet the couple behind the spooky decorations at this 21+ event benefiting the Cascade AIDS Project.

Saturday, October 22

“101 Extraordinarily Awful & Truly Terrible Ways to Die (in one night)” | Sat., Oct. 22 | 6 p.m. | Beaverton Masonic Lodge, 4690 SW Watson Ave., Beaverton | $35.00 - $92.50 | This Monty Python-like dark sketch comedy will have you cheering “Death! Death! Death!” as actors shamelessly bring to “life” true stories of cringy deaths.
Flower Crown Workshop | Sat., Oct. 22 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Nordia House, 8800 SW Oleson Rd., Portland | $5.00 - $35.00 | Celebrate nature’s bounty by learning to craft a Scandinavian-style flower crown with a base of woven birch branches.
The Oddities & Curiosities Expo | Sat., Oct. 22 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland | $10.00 - $235.00 | Shop for one-of-a-kind oddities, take a two-headed duckling taxidermy class, see the “World’s Largest Traveling Freak Show,” and more.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

IT'S FALL, Y'ALL

Try this for your next night out 👀

A couple posting with axes at Celtic Axe Throwers.

Get creative by planning your next night out with Celtic Axe Throwers. | Photo provided by Celtic Axe Throwers

Looking for a unique night out? We thought you’d never axe. From date night to a get-together with your best buds, make it a night of fun and competition at Celtic Axe Throwers.

The company partners with local bars and breweries, like Laurelwood Brewing and Stickmen Brewing Company, to put together a safe, one-of-a-kind experience equipped with wooden-handled axes, end grain targets, trained professional staff + more.

Celtic Axe Throwers also hosts larger events like birthday parties, team building groups, and bachelor or bachelorette parties.

For those on the more competitive side, there’s also an upcoming Winter Axe League with six weeks of league play open to all skill levels.

Pro tip: Reserve a lane ahead of time to get the time slot you want (and pay less per hour).

To save even more, PDXtoday readers can use code axetoday at checkout for 25% off the deposit. 🪓 *

FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU

Weather

77º | Sunshine + near record-high temperatures | 7% chance of rain

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 7:32 a.m.
Set: 6:18 p.m.

Health

Smoke from the Nakia Creek Fire has led to unhealthy air quality across many neighborhoods in the Portland metro area. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality suggests people stay indoors with doors and windows closed and use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters when possible. (KGW)

Cause

Antonio Marquez wants to teach kindergartners in his PE class at Echo Shaw Elementary School how to ride bikes. All Kids Bike will supply the school in Cornelius with equipment like bikes and helmets if it can raise $6,000 in one year through an online fundraising campaign. 🚲 (KOIN)

Trending

A seafood boil restaurant with a robotic server opened on Northeast 82nd Avenue in August, but its popularity has suddenly boiled over thanks to a viral TikTok video. Over the weekend, people waited up to two hours to try the fresh — and messy — crustacean cuisine at Bag O’ Crab. 🦀 (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Arts

Beaverton Teen Library Council’s 20th annual Teen Art Show is just around the corner. Young artists in grades 6-12 can submit up to two pieces of work Thurs., Oct. 27-Sat., Oct. 29; visitors then vote on their favorites at Beaverton City Library’s downtown location the first week of November. 🖌️ (Beaverton Valley Times)

Try This

Looking for a scare outside of Portland? Beaver Homes Grange Haunted House in Rainier is bursting with animatronic horrors, costumed actors, and detailed decorations. The spooky attraction is open 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as Sunday and Monday nights on Halloween weekend. 👻 (KOIN)

Music

A Portland-born rapper, singer, and songwriter will make his orchestral debut next month. Aminé — whose breakout single “Caroline” reached No. 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart — is set to perform with the Oregon Symphony Orchestra on Wed., Nov. 9 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. 🎤 (KGW + Billboard)

Plan Ahead

Sound the horn, TUBACHRISTMAS is seeking tuba and euphonium players to join its annual holiday concerts around the world. Portland musicians can sign up online for the Sat., Dec. 10 performance in Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Eat

There are two weekends left in October, which means you have plenty of time to treat yourself to some Halloween delights. Eater Portland has a list of places around town to find everything from cinnamon rolls smothered in a blood-red glaze to a pop-up serving CBD-infused pumpkin spice chicken wings. 🩸 (Eater Portland)

Seasonal

If you WFH like us, it’s nearly time to break out the space heater. Solve chilly mornings the energy-efficient way with the Dr. Infrared Heater that warms objects, not the air. Hello, cozy legs. Bonus: Heat your patio with infrared, too. 🔥*

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Anjou thought pumpkins were fall’s best 🍐

5 fast facts about Oregon’s state fruit

A sunset casts Mount Hood in a warm glow with orchards of pear trees in the foreground.

Pear trees thrive in the Hood River Valley thanks to well-draining soil, cool mornings, and warm afternoons. | Photo by Pear Bureau Northwest

Of the two fall fruits that start with the letter P, one takes all the attention in October while the other — despite being Oregon’s state fruit — doesn’t get any fun Halloween parties thrown in its name. Poor pears.

Right now, local growers are wrapping up their pear harvests, so this is a great time to fall back in love with one of the world’s oldest cultivated fruits. Pear Bureau Northwest represents hundreds of pear-growing families in Oregon and Washington, including in Hood River, so we got in touch to learn more.

Here are five fast fruity facts:

Pears are harvested August-October. This year’s harvest was delayed by a few weeks thanks to a prolonged, cold spring.
Together, Oregon and Washington represent 84% of the national pear crop.
Bartlett pears (the fan favorite) are grown in this area, but our largest crop is the green Anjou.
Pears are a low glycemic index food packed with vitamin C, potassium, and a surprising amount of fiber (one medium-sized pear contains 21% of your daily value).
Pears don’t ripen on the tree. They’re harvested when they’re mature and most don’t change color when they’re ripe.

A PEAR-FECT FALL RECIPE

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Cambrie.

Editor’s pick: Here’s one more fun fact about pears — to figure out when they’re ripe, press near the stem with your thumb. If it gives to gentle pressure, the pear is ready to be eaten.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Swish — the Blazers are back, bay-bee.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Cambrie Juarez, Ben McBee, Trevor Peters, Britt Thorson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Terri Kiesenhofer | Advertise with us.

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