The best waterfalls near Salem, Oregon are South Falls, North Falls, Abiqua Falls and 7 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is Lower South Falls, about 19 miles east of Salem.
For more waterfalls around Salem, browse the nearest towns: Silverton, Dallas, Sublimity, McMinnville, Lyons, Willamina, Yamhill, Grand Ronde. You can also see every waterfall on the Oregon waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 85 publicly accessible Oregon waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Salem that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
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1. South Falls
19 miles east of Salem. Our top pick near the city 5.0 out of 5 from 86 reviews.
Marion County, OR 97381 (GPS 44.8788, -122.6590)
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South Falls is about 19 miles east of Salem, near Sublimity. Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 86 Google reviews, and 97% of them give it five stars. In short: "Waterfall surrounded by forest, tumbling over an overhanging rocky ledge into a pool." The USGS gazetteer describes it as: The falls have a vertical drop of 177 feet.
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2. North Falls
21 miles east of Salem. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 49 reviews.
Marion County, OR 97381 (GPS 44.8847, -122.6224)
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North Falls is about 21 miles east of Salem, near Lyons. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 49 Google reviews, and 94% of them give it five stars. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: The falls has a vertical drop of 136 feet.
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3. Abiqua Falls
23 miles east of Salem. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 280 reviews.
Marion County, OR 97375 (GPS 44.9263, -122.5673)
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Abiqua Falls is about 23 miles east of Salem, near Lyons. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 280 Google reviews, and 86% of them give it five stars.
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4. Upper North Falls
21 miles east of Salem. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 13 reviews.
Marion County, OR 97381 (GPS 44.8832, -122.6142)
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Upper North Falls is about 21 miles east of Salem, near Lyons. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 13 Google reviews.
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5. Latourell Falls
57 miles northeast of Salem. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 599 reviews.
Multnomah County, OR 97019 (GPS 45.5369, -122.2181)
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Latourell Falls is about 57 miles northeast of Salem, near Troutdale. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 599 Google reviews, and 88% of them give it five stars. In short: "This 249-ft-high gorge waterfall in Guy W. Talbot State Park can be accessed via a trail." Older records also call it Latourelle Falls.
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6. Lower South Falls
19 miles east of Salem. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 14 reviews.
Marion County, OR 97381 (GPS 44.8854, -122.6610)
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Lower South Falls is about 19 miles east of Salem, near Sublimity. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 14 Google reviews. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: The falls have a vertical drop of 93 feet.
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7. Bridal Veil Falls
59 miles northeast of Salem. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 230 reviews.
Multnomah County, OR 97010 (GPS 45.5543, -122.1802)
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Bridal Veil Falls is about 59 miles northeast of Salem, near Troutdale. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 230 Google reviews, and 90% of them give it five stars.
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8. Horsetail Falls
65 miles northeast of Salem. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 386 reviews.
Multnomah County, OR 97014 (GPS 45.5894, -122.0687)
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Horsetail Falls is about 65 miles northeast of Salem, near Cascade Locks. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 386 Google reviews, and 87% of them give it five stars. In short: "Forested site with waterfalls offering a short hike suitable for all skill levels & scenic views."
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9. Sahalie Falls
65 miles southeast of Salem. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 412 reviews.
Linn County, OR 97413 (GPS 44.3490, -121.9970)
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Sahalie Falls is about 65 miles southeast of Salem, near Sisters. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 412 Google reviews, and 93% of them give it five stars. In short: "Picturesque waterfall along the McKenzie River features a viewing platform, trails & nearby camping." Name history: "Sahalie is a Chinuk Wawa word meaning ""heaven"" or ""high""."
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10. Koosah Falls
66 miles southeast of Salem. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 218 reviews.
Linn County, OR 97413 (GPS 44.3440, -122.0006)
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Koosah Falls is about 66 miles southeast of Salem, near Sisters. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 218 Google reviews, and 93% of them give it five stars. In short: "Moderate hike to a 70ft-tall waterfall dropping into a deep pool, ringed by ferns & moss." Older records also call it Middle Falls.
Waterfall Day Trips From Salem
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower South Falls | 19 mi east | Sublimity | 4.8 |
| South Falls | 19 mi east | Sublimity | 5.0 |
| North Falls | 21 mi east | Lyons | 4.9 |
| Upper North Falls | 21 mi east | Lyons | 4.9 |
| Abiqua Falls | 23 mi east | Lyons | 4.8 |
| Latourell Falls | 57 mi northeast | Troutdale | 4.9 |
| Bridal Veil Falls | 59 mi northeast | Troutdale | 4.9 |
| Horsetail Falls | 65 mi northeast | Cascade Locks | 4.9 |
| Sahalie Falls | 65 mi southeast | Sisters | 4.9 |
| Koosah Falls | 66 mi southeast | Sisters | 4.9 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Salem. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Salem?
South Falls tops our 2026 list. It is about 19 miles east of Salem and rated 5.0 stars from 86 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Salem?
Of the waterfalls on this list, Lower South Falls is the closest, about 19 straight-line miles east of the city, near Sublimity.
How many waterfalls are near Salem?
We track 85 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in Oregon within 100 miles of Salem, 5 of this list's picks within 50 miles. See every waterfall in the state on the Oregon waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 85 publicly accessible Oregon waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Salem that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
Why does Oregon have so many waterfalls?
Thick layers of hard basalt from ancient lava flows create cliffs that streams pour over, and heavy Pacific rainfall plus Cascade snowmelt keep those streams running. The Missoula Floods also carved the Columbia River Gorge, leaving many tributaries dropping over its walls.
Summary
South Falls is our top waterfall pick near Salem, rated 5.0 out of 5 and about 19 miles from the city. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access and water levels vary through the year, so confirm conditions before you go.
Oregon's waterfall seasons vary by region. West of the Cascades, rain-fed falls in the Gorge and Coast Range run highest from November through May, with spring offering the best mix of full flow, green moss and longer daylight. Winter visits can be spectacular, but east winds through the Gorge sometimes bring ice storms that coat trails and roads. In the High Cascades, falls on snowmelt-fed rivers such as the McKenzie and North Umpqua peak in late spring and early summer, though roads and trails at higher elevations may remain snowbound into June. Summer is dry, and smaller coastal falls shrink, but snow-fed and spring-fed falls keep running. Fall brings the return of rain in October or November and vine maple color. Wildfire smoke can affect visibility in late summer.
For more Oregon waterfalls, see the full Oregon waterfalls page, or read 15 Best Waterfalls in Oregon, 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Oregon and 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Oregon.