Casing Oregon: Silver Falls...Without the Falls: Howard Creek

Looking for a lovely forest hike without crowds and without a long drive? Those can be few and far between in the summertime, especially in the populous western half of Oregon. It seems that more people are hiking these days, but we have lost many westside trails to wildfires in recent years, putting more pressure on the trails that remain. It's good to see so many people enjoying the outdoors, but that far-away-from-everything feeling doesn't come so easily.

But there is a west Cascades hiking area that is easily reached from the valley on a good paved road with over 40 miles of trails, plenty of parking, and very spotty cell service (a plus in our opinion). Don't rule out Silver Falls State Park as a summer hiking destination; believe it or not, this park is over 9,000 acres! The Trail of Ten Falls is just one little corner. Save the waterfalls for after the summer crowds go home; there is a lot more here to explore. Click here for a map of the whole park and you will see an entire network of intersecting trails that allow for easy customization of your hike, just take the map along because the many junctions can get confusing at times!

214 Trail

Lying in the Cascade foothills east of Salem, the park is reached via the Cascade Highway out of Silverton or from Highway 22 out of Salem (go north from the Stayton/Sublimity exit). Look for Silver Falls Highway, a peaceful country drive through fields and forests.

Today's hike in the Howard Creek area has shorter and longer options, depending on your fitness level and how much of the forest you would like to see. The longer option also has more elevation change (read: climbing) but is well worth the extra time and effort. Expect a few muddy areas after a rain, especially with the longer version, but overall the trail here is well-maintained, and parts of it are graveled.

Nature Trail

We will start with the longer, 7-mile version, which begins right after you enter the park. Just past a viewpoint over the valley, watch on your right for the 214 Trailhead (be aware that you will need a parking pass anywhere in the park; at this writing it is $10 unless you have a State Parks pass or are staying at the park. Consider purchasing ahead.). Head north on the 214 Trail, which is also open to horses and mountain bikes. The trail meanders gently downward through dense, lush Oregon forest. There are many places where it's easy to see that this was once a road, although Nature appears to be taking it back. Wildflowers tend to linger later here due to the elevation, so keep an eye out alongside the trail. As the path levels out, the trees thin to an open, brushy meadow; a trail on the left offers an easy one-mile loop around this meadow and through lush rainforest (this trail runs right through the South Falls Campground, which could be another access point for the hike).

Howard Creek Horse Camp

Back on the 214 Trail, continue through brushy woods with Howard Creek on your left until you come to a road. A short detour to the left leads to a bridge with good views of the often-obscured creek. Continue briefly to Howard Creek Horse Camp. At this popular equestrian site you will also find day-use trailhead parking for those travelling on two feet. Look for a sign commemorating the filming of "Twilight" in this area.

Smith Creek Village

This is also where our shorter hike begins, a mild-to-moderate 3-mile forest walk. Leaving the parking lot at the horse camp, our trail briefly follows the Buck Mountain trail on the right, then take another right turn back onto Howard Creek Loop. This stretch passes along a wetland, then through beautiful, lush Oregon forest with a thick understory and flourishing ferns. Overhead, mossy Douglas firs mix with hemlock trees. About 2 miles out from the horse camp watch for a trail to the right that drops down to Smith Creek Village, a collection of cabins and cottages tucked into the woods. From the lower parking lot, pick up the Howard Creek Loop again. Here the trail runs near the Smith Creek Village road and alongside a wide wetland where Smith Creek flows.

Howard Creek near junction of 214 Trail

Hike to the junction with the 214 Trail, which heads left alongside Howard Creek. If you are doing the longer hike, retrace this back up to your car. For the shorter hike, turn right across Howard Creek towards the horse camp.

Whichever route you choose, Howard Creek Trail is a good introduction to the back country of this popular state park. There are many more miles here to be discovered, some of them rugged and steep, but Howard Creek is a friendly first hike at Silver Falls...without the falls.