Horsetail Falls

Horsetail Falls is easy to see, it sits right next to the Historic Columbia River Highway and there’s a parking lot across the street from the falls. A trail leads up past the falls to Upper Horsetail Falls, which you can walk behind. The trail continues up to Oneonta Falls, and from there you can either return to your car, continue on through Oneonta Gorge to Multnomah Falls, or head up Larch Mountain.

There is no fee to park at the falls, but as with other areas in the Columbia River Gorge, it’s a popular spot so arrive early if solitude is your desire.

Horsetail Falls

Easy Access I headed into the Columbia River Gorge again on this weekend, just like I had the previous two weekends. This time I started my hike at Horsetail Falls, went up past Oneonta Falls, part way up Larch Mountain, then down through the Oneonta Gorge to Multnomah Falls before heading back to my car at Horsetail Falls. I turned around on the trail to Larch Mountain when the trail ran along some very steep and very high cliffs, I hiked it for a while but eventually my fear of heights demanded that I turn around. Even crossing the wooden bridge through Oneonta Gorge to get to the falls was not easy for me in the morning, but on the way back down I breezed through it without a second thought, it seemed like child’s play compared to the exposed trail.

Upper Horsetail Falls (Ponytail Falls)

East and West The first picture shows the view of Upper Horsetail Falls as you approach from the east (the path from the parking lot). You can see the trail in the middle of the picture as it wraps behind the falls. My favorite picture of the morning was the second picture, a look back at the falls from the western side and including only a portion of the falls.

Jacob’s Ladder I originally set up my camera directly behind the upper falls to photograph a panoramic view from top to bottom. But I also like this shot focusing just on the falls as they hit the pool of water, the column of water looks more like a shaft of light descending from above.

Oneonta Gorge

Green is the Color of the Oneonta Gorge I’m scared of heights so I was queasy taking this picture of the lush gorge even though my position beside the bridge was safe and secure. I had a brief thought about taking a picture while on the bridge itself but despite the high railings such brave thoughts quickly dissipated.