Silver Falls

My friend is on a hiking kick to see hikes with waterfalls, so she decided that we would go to Silver Falls. We kind of made the mistake of coming in the Nisqually entrance and had to drive about 15 miles to the Stevens Canyon Entrance on the other side of the park which can make for some slow driving since the roads are windy.
Anyway, once we got to the Patriarch parking lot, the hike can by 2 – 3 miles round trip. You can park at the Grove of the Patriarchs lot and cross the street at the sign that says Eastside Trail and follow the trail south toward Silver Falls. There are small signs along the way that guide you to the falls so keep your eyes peeled. There are several smaller falls along the way and several spots where people were able to take a cooling dip in the pools of water captured in the rocky slope. I don’t know if swimming is sanctioned by the park, but enter at your own risk as there is still rushing water nearby and cliffs where death is probably imminent. I would say keep an eye on your kids as well as several areas lead directly to the water’s edge with no barrier and the rocks can be slippery. The trail is very easy though and perfect for kids, but no strollers though.
The other way to get to the falls is to park at the Ohanapecosh Visitors center and follow the trail labelled Silver Falls Loop Trail going north toward the falls. I believe Silver Falls is only accessible by the routes I’ve mentioned in the summer months as parts of Hwy 123, the Ohanapecosh visitors center, & the Stevens Canyon entrance are closed during the winter. You can always check with the park rangers for directions. With that said, the falls can still be reached in the winter by taking the Eastside Trail off of Stevens Canyon Rd at the Grove of the Patriarchs lot.
This hike was a lot of fun and almost completely shaded and moderately manicured so it was nice to just hang out by the rushing sounds of the falls and take in the breeze with a few good friends. I’d say maybe one bottle of water would suffice and maybe some bug spray and some decent shoes. It’s not a strenuous trail and is a very beginner trail.