Touch Grass: Horsetail Falls

Adrian Keller Feld

25.Feb.24

The Columbia River Gorge is known for its breathtaking views and waterfalls, with “the greatest concentration of high waterfalls in North America” per the Gorge Guide, and one hidden gem of this Oregon landmark area is Horsetail Falls. Located just “2.75 miles east of Multnomah Falls on the Historic Columbia River Highway,” the waterfall is “named for its characteristic form, Horsetail Falls plunges 176 feet within view of the Historic Columbia River Highway's ‘Waterfall Corridor’” and “just east of the falls is a great picnic spot to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area,” according to the Forest Service website, which also has a video exploring the site. While the base of the waterfall is a gorgeous spot for a short walk, a picnic, or a quiet meditation at the water’s edge, Horsetail Falls is also the starting point for a trail. 

Per the Forest Service website, “This is also a trailhead for Horsetail Falls Trail #438, a short but steep hike that passes behind the base of Upper Horsetail Falls (also called Ponytail Falls) and through a basalt overhang before leading to Oneonta Trail #424. Be aware there are steep cliffs in places, so use caution. The Horsetail Falls Trailhead is also used by a section of Gorge Trail #400.” According to OregonHikers.org, the trail starts at the Horsetail Falls Trailhead and ends at the Oneonta Trailhead, and is a 2.6-mile loop. With an elevation gain of 565 feet, the hike is marked as easy and family-friendly. Open all year, the trail is also crowded. For more information about the hike specifically, Oregon Hikers gives a long and poetic play-by-play description of the hike’s path on their website. 

While the hike is marked as easy it is still a hike, but visitors can choose their own adventure with the space, as the Gorge Guide says “the aptly-named Horsetail Falls cascades 176 feet down columnar basalt just steps from the historic highway, making this one of the few Gorge waterfalls you can see without even getting out of the car. And after just a 10-minute walk, visitors can make it up to Upper Horsetail Falls (commonly called Ponytail Falls), which makes this a great day trip from Portland.” The Falls parking lot contains handicapped spots, however, visitors must walk across the highway to get to the picnic area, a move that contains stairs, so it is not the most accessible destination. For more information on this and other locations, visit the Forest Service Website’s section on accessible recreation. Getting to the Falls is a roughly 40-minute drive from Reed, and there are no public transit options. To learn more visit its section on the Forest Service website, and check out the multiple YouTube videos about the falls. So, go out and touch grass (and water) at Horsetail Falls!