A visitor from Kentucky died after falling about 177 feet from the top of a popular Oregon waterfall while posing for photographs in an area closed to the public, authorities said.

Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies and state troopers responded to Silver Falls State Park at about 6:36 p.m. local time Aug. 10 following a report that someone had fallen from the top of South Falls, one of the park’s best-known attractions, Oregon State Police said in a news release. Authorities identified the victim as Zachary Nicholas Mertens, 20, of Burlington, Kentucky.

Troopers determined Mertens had climbed over a barrier at the top of the waterfalls’ upper viewpoint, and crossed over the creek directly above it, to pose for a picture, according to state police. At some point, Mertens slipped and plunged into the water about 177 feet below.

Another park visitor attempted lifesaving measures, and medical personnel responded shortly afterward, but Mertens was pronounced dead at the scene. State police said the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team oversaw recovery efforts.

“It was a pretty horrific accident,” Chris Gilliand, a former Silver Falls State Park manager who now serves as a regional manager, told the Salem Statesman Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network. “A very tough situation.”

Oregon State Police said they were assisted by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Marion County Search and Rescue, and Silver Falls State Park rangers. The incident occurred at one of Oregon’s most visited state parks, known for its Trail of Ten Falls and viewpoints that allow visitors to experience waterfalls from designated trails and observation areas. 

Latest incident at Pacific Northwest waterfalls

Mertens’ death follows another recent fatal fall at a well-known Oregon waterfall. On Aug. 1, a 19-year-old Washington state man died after falling from a cliff above Punch Bowl Falls in the Columbia River Gorge.

A hiker told authorities the man fell about 50 to 80 feet from a cliff above Punchbowl Falls. Authorities said the man’s friend reported that he had left the trail and was attempting to climb down a rock face toward the base of the waterfall when he fell onto rocks below.

In June 2025, the National Park Service said an 18-year-old tourist from Texas died after he fell over an about 50-foot waterfall in Olympic National Park in Washington state. Witnesses told authorities that the victim was walking across the rocks at the top of the waterfall when he slipped and fell.

In September 2025, authorities found the body of a missing 49-year-old Washington hiker at the base of Wiesendanger Falls along the Larch Mountain Trail near Multnomah Falls in Oregon, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.

Dangers of waterfalls

While waterfalls are a popular draw for visitors at state and national parks, the U.S. Forest Service warns that they can be deceptively dangerous. Rocks and other surfaces near waterfalls are often slick from mist, algae and constant moisture, increasing the risk of slips and falls.

“While beautiful, waterfalls pose risks to visitors,” the Forest Service states on its website. “The best way to enjoy a waterfall is from a safe distance.”

The agency advises visitors to heed posted warning signs, stay on established trails and view waterfalls from designated overlooks rather than approaching cliff edges or restricted areas. Officials also recommend avoiding climbing on or around waterfalls.

The Forest Service also warns against jumping from waterfalls or diving into pools below them because submerged logs, rocks and other hazards may not be visible from the surface. Visitors should never swim or wade upstream from a waterfall, even when water appears calm or shallow, because powerful currents can quickly pull people toward the edge.

The Forest Service notes that waterfall conditions constantly change because of erosion, shifting debris and fluctuating water flows, making even familiar locations potentially hazardous.