Mazamas — For the Love of Mountains
Starting from North Falls, this backcountry loop takes the Perimeter Trail to the Buck Mountain Loop to a 0.4 mile road to the Rackett Ridge Trail. These trails are more popular with mountain bikers and horse riders than hikers. The Silver Falls Backcountry's forest is interesting at all times a year, but there are neither mountain views nor waterfalls on this route.
Activity Notes
This is the third in a series of three #OptOutside hikes I'm leading for Mazamas over Thanksgiving weekend 2023. All are among my favorite fall hikes in western Oregon, and this hike, the Silver Falls Perimeter Loop, is the most recent hike I scouted, back in August.
We will start this hike from the North Falls trailhead. Normally the backcountry loop visits no falls, but we'll start by visiting the new accessible viewpoint of North Falls, which just opened a few months ago. Then we'll take the Perimeter Trail to the Buck Mountain Loop Trail to a short road to the Rackett Ridge Trail. Total stats are 17 mile and 2,600'. 11 miles of it are on the counter-clockwise lollipop and 3 miles each way are on the lollipop's long stick.
Rather than ten falls, we'll experience the healthy backcountry forest of Oregon's largest state park. Rather than being surrounded by hiking hordes, we'll share our trails primarily with mountain bikers and horse riders.
Drivers should note that, if you can't display an annual Oregon State Parks day use pass, $5 parking is available from a machine at the trailhead.
| Other Information | |
|---|---|
| Driving Distance from Portland | 55 miles |
| Driving Time from Portland | 1 hours |
| Distance - Round Trip | 17 miles |
| Expected Duration | Car to car in one day |
| Relevant Books | https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Silver_Falls_Perimeter_Loop_Hike |
| Relevant Maps | https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Silver_Falls_Perimeter_Loop_Hike |
| Useful Links | GPS Track GPS Coordinates Map |
