Murali Narayanan Photography

Over the course of six days, we embarked on a fun & productive 1200-mile journey across Oregon, exploring captivating destinations such as Silver Falls State Park, the Cascade Lakes, Crater Lake, and the Painted Hills. Our primary objective was to capture the enchanting beauty of waterfalls, mountains, lakes, wildflowers, and even the Milky Way.

This post marks the first installment of a three-part series, focusing on our exploration of Silver Falls State Park’s breathtaking waterfalls and one of the exquisite Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes nestled within the Oregon Garden Resort grounds in Silverton, OR. Part 2 delves into our scenic drive along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway and US97, leading us to the awe-inspiring Crater Lake National Park. Finally, Part 3 chronicles our unforgettable visit to the Painted Hills unit within John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, situated just outside the charming town of Mitchell, OR.

We collected our rental car at 8:30 am, setting off along I-5 towards Portland, OR. With ample time on our hands, we took a detour to checkout Lucia Falls, located just outside the town of Yacolt, WA. Unfortunately, the intense sunlight of the cloudless day deterred us from capturing the falls with our cameras. Nevertheless, the falls showcased their beauty, enticing us to return and photograph them during an overcast morning in the fall.

Following a quick lunch at the deli inside Battle Ground’s Fred Meyers, we proceeded towards our accommodation for the night: the Oregon Garden Resort in Silverton, OR. Situated approximately 20 miles north of Silver Falls State Park, we arrived at around 3:30 pm and checked in.

At around 430pm, we drove down to the Silver Falls State Park. Our goal was to photograph the South Falls. Of the ten waterfalls in the park, it is the tallest, dropping a spectacular 177 feet off a basalt shelf. The lollipop trail which is about a mile long with a 200 feet of elevation change was in excellent condition. It was not crowded either. We soon realized that we were at least two hours too early as the sunlight was directly hitting the water. Best time to start hiking down on a summer day is at around 6pm. We did succeed in taking a couple of good images between 6pm and 9pm.

I had shot an image 9 years ago from the same spot. Due to vegetation growth, the scene has changed since then. Below is the shot from June 2014.

We hiked back to the parking lot after sunset and drove back to Silverton. In June, almost all the restaurants close at 9pm and we found one, Mac’s Place, that was open. Food and service were both excellent. We returned to our hotel at about 11pm.

Next morning, we got up early drove back to Silver Falls State Park at 615am. Our first stop was at the Upper North Falls. It is a hidden gem as most visitors go to the more popular North Falls that is close to it. This picturesque waterfall cascades gracefully down a rocky cliff face, dropping approximately 65 feet and the surrounding lush forest creates a vibrant backdrop, accentuating the beauty of the falls. After parking the car at the North Falls Parking Lot, we did the short hike to the falls. Although it was a cloudless morning (bad for waterfall photography), it was still in the shadows, and we ended up spending over an hour to grab a few shots.

The North Falls, a majestic waterfall, considered by many as the best in the park, plunges from a towering basalt cliff, plummeting approximately 136 feet into a crystal-clear pool below. The sheer power and beauty of North Falls are truly mesmerizing, as the rushing water creates a misty spray. Hiking along the scenic trails surrounding the falls offers a captivating experience, allowing visitors to witness the raw beauty of nature up close. The lush greenery and moss-covered rocks further enhance the enchanting atmosphere, making North Falls a must-see destination within the remarkable Silver Falls State Park. The trail led us behind the cascading curtain of water, granting us the privilege to photograph the falls from the left, right, and even from its magnificent backside.

By 9am, the light was getting harsh the sunlight started hitting the water. It was a productive morning, and we packed our stuff and hiked back to the parking lot by 920am. The doors of the hotel restaurant close at 10am sharp for breakfast. We parked the car at 955am, and we were the last ones to sneak in. After a terrific breakfast, we checked out at around noon to drive to the ultimate destination for the day – Elk Lake Resort, along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway near Bend, OR.

Within the grounds of Oregon Garden Resort is the Gordon House designed by the famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. One of the last of Wright’s Usonian homes, it is based on the design for a modern home commissioned by Life magazine in 1938. Construction was started in 1956 but only completed in 1964, after Wright’s death in 1959. The perforated wooden window treatments (fretwork) function as light screens and display patterns unique to the Gordon House. Designed for maximum efficiency, inventive storage solutions are used throughout the house and eliminate the need for a basement and attic. The only Wright building in Oregon, the Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy saved the building from destruction in 2001 and moved it to its current location in Silverton, where it is now open to the public as a museum.

As the house was closed, we walked around it and captured a few images.

At around 115pm, left the house and drove to the nearby Safeway to grab groceries for the next 2 days at the Elk Lake Resort. At around 2, we started to drive to Elk Lake.