Parking
Start at Horsetail Falls Trailhead on the Historic Columbia River Highway; the parking area has accessible spaces. Day use is sunrise to sunset, and there is no restroom.
Overview
About Horsetail Falls Loop
Why go
- The path passes behind 88-foot Ponytail Falls through a cavern.
- Waterfall views and a creek crossing fit in a short Gorge loop.
Heads up
- The final half-mile follows a narrow highway without a sidewalk.
Horsetail Falls Loop is a 2.5-mile circuit from Horsetail Falls Trailhead, linking Horsetail Falls and Ponytail Falls with Oneonta Creek before a half-mile return on the Historic Columbia River Highway. Allow about 1.5 to 2 hours with stops. The highlight is the walk through the cavern behind 88-foot Ponytail Falls; the tradeoff is a few steep viewpoints and a road walk at the end. It’s a good choice when you want several waterfalls without committing to a long Gorge hike.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this loop for you?Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Columbia River Gorge map
Full mapElevation47–362 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Columbia River Gorge alerts
- CautionAircraft and drone restrictions at developed recreation sitesMentions this trailAircraft and drone landings, drop-offs, and pickups are prohibited at six high-use developed recreation sites to protect visitor safety.Official details
- ClosureEagle Creek Fire area closureDo not enter Oneonta Gorge or the specified trail sections because hazards remain following the Eagle Creek Fire.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Columbia River Gorge Tour Guide
Your drive to Horsetail Falls Loop, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Horsetail and Ponytail Falls0:00 / 0:29
“You're nearing Horsetail Falls, where the creek pours over a rounded basalt lip into a pool just off the highway.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Columbia River Gorge Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Oneonta Trailhead and Triple Falls
- The Tunnel They Buried
- Franz Lake Viewpoint
- The Falls’ Hidden Supply
- 217 audio storiesacross Columbia River Gorge’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bald Eagle, Black Bear, American Pika, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 111 trails, 78 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Horsetail Falls Loop
Up to Ponytail FallsStart on Horsetail Falls Trail 438, just east of Horsetail Falls.
Start on Horsetail Falls Trail #438, just east of Horsetail Falls. The path climbs the hillside by switchbacks, then levels out high above the Gorge floor. At about 0.4 mile, Ponytail Falls comes into view. The path goes through a naturally eroded cavern behind the 88-foot cascade, so you see the water from both sides of the rock. Pause inside the opening for a photo framed by the falls, then continue west along the bluff. A short side trail reaches viewpoints; stay back from the steep edges.
Down into Oneonta CanyonThe route continues toward Oneonta Canyon, passing a weeping wall before switchbacks descend…
The route continues toward Oneonta Canyon, passing a weeping wall before switchbacks descend toward Oneonta Creek. From the second switchback, you can look into the upper end of Oneonta Gorge. Cross the creek on a metal bridge above Middle Oneonta Falls; just below it, the creek drops over Lower Oneonta Falls into the gorge. Then climb back to the junction with Oneonta Trail #424. Turn right and descend, passing a viewpoint spur and an old stone wall near the junction with Gorge Trail #400. Turn right again to stay on #424 and head down to the highway.
The way backThe final half mile follows the Historic Highway past Oneonta Gorge and through Oneonta Tunnel.
The final half mile follows the Historic Highway past Oneonta Gorge and through Oneonta Tunnel. The road narrows beyond the tunnel parking area and has no sidewalk, so keep an eye on traffic. At the start, the parking area has accessible spaces. The day-use trailhead is open sunrise to sunset and has no restroom. Dogs are allowed on leash.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Columbia River Gorge
267 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
51 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
136 sightingsAmerican PikaMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
16 sightingsWapitiMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
195 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
74 sightingsChinook SalmonMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Columbia River Gorge. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
