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3d ago

Tourist Dies After Slipping From Top of South Falls at Silver Falls State Park

This underscores park rules that close areas above and below waterfalls to prevent falls.

FILE: A tourist with a red hat and yellow jacket stares at South Falls in Silver Falls State Park, Ore.
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The South Falls waterfall cascades 177 feet through Silver Falls State Park near Sublimity, Ore. The waterfall is part of the Trail of Ten Falls, a 7.2-mile loop through the park’s forested canyon.
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Overview

  • Oregon State Police identified the victim as 20-year-old Zachary Nicholas Mertens of Burlington, Kentucky, who slipped about 177 feet after entering a closed area above South Falls to pose for photos.
  • Bystanders attempted CPR at the scene and Oregon State Police troopers with Marion County deputies responded around 6:36 p.m., with Marion County Search and Rescue leading the body recovery.
  • The Marion County Medical Examiner released the body to search-and-rescue personnel and Unger Funeral Chapel later took custody, and the park reiterated that restricted zones remain in effect.
  • Silver Falls State Park restricts access within roughly 300 feet above and below most waterfalls and asks visitors to stay on designated trails because rocks and fast water can make edges deceptively slippery.
  • Local school and community leaders expressed condolences and the incident could prompt renewed enforcement or safety reminders for high-traffic viewpoints at state parks.