Ponytail Falls

Ponytail Falls, also called Upper Horsetail Falls, is an 88-foot cascade above the Historic Columbia River Highway in the Columbia River Gorge. It is separate from the larger roadside Horsetail Falls below. The two are easy to confuse: lower Horsetail is the fall beside the highway; Ponytail is reached on Horsetail Falls Trail #438 and is known for the path that slips behind its water through a naturally eroded basalt overhang. This waterfall stop has a short hike attached, and the rock alcove is the reason to make the climb.

From the Horsetail Falls trailhead, Ponytail is about 0.4 mile uphill; return the same way for roughly 0.8 mile round trip. The track climbs in switchbacks before leveling above the Gorge floor. It is short, but steep, rocky and narrow in places; spray and wet stone can make footing slick. The route passes steep cliffs, so take care near exposed edges. The classic photograph is from behind the falling water, where the white curtain frames the view through the alcove. Expect spray at this spot. The trail continues beyond the falls to Oneonta Trail #424 for hikers making a longer outing. Dogs must be leashed on the Horsetail and Oneonta Creek trails.

Reach the Horsetail Falls day-use area on the Historic Columbia River Highway, 2.75 miles east of Multnomah Falls. From I-84, take Ainsworth Exit 35 and follow the Historic Highway west about a mile. ADA parking is provided at the trailhead, but the roadside viewing area and picnic tables are across the highway. Those facilities serve lower Horsetail Falls; Ponytail itself is reached only on the uphill trail. There is no restroom at the trailhead; the waterfall route is a steep hike rather than a level roadside stop.