Silver Falls offers a great variety of terrain for such a short trail -- cool forest paths, multiple viewpoints offering unique perspectives of Silver Falls, and mountain views across the Entiat Valley as the trail passes through areas impacted by recent forest fires.
While short, this trail is steep, so come prepared with shoes or boots that offer good traction. You may even want hiking poles. There has been some great trail work done here, including hundreds of stone steps built along the steepest sections of the trail. We followed a counterclockwise loop, which led up a long series of steps to Silver Falls. Beware, as there was no guard rail at the viewpoint closest to the waterfall.
After leaving the falls behind, we met few other hikers along the trail. Most probably turn around and head back down after viewing Silver Falls. Beyond the waterfall, we left the stairs behind for a dusty trail with moderate switchbacks. This area is very exposed to the elements, but offers fantastic views of the mountains surrounding the Entiat Valley.
There were eight of us on the hike, including five adults and three kids between the ages of eight and 13. With several stops at the viewpoints, it took us about an hour and a half. We all found it quite manageable, although the climb made it a good workout. The chance to walk behind the waterfall and feel the cool spray was a definite bonus, as were the lovely rainbows that appeared in the mist!
For many more photos and a full review, please visit the website linked below.
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