Horsetail Falls (lower and upper hike) in Oregon

The Horsetail Falls was not what I expected at all. The tall beautiful falls of the lower falls are breathtaking, and the secluded feeling of the upper falls will leave you wondering if you stepped into your own little world.

This was our first stop after visiting the Ape Caves lava tubes on the south side of Mt. St. Helens. We came the long way, but I wanted to cross over the Bridge of the Gods. It was really cool, but not as big as I expected and probably not worth the extra time it costs us to go that way. Still, no regrets as it was really cool. If you plan on going across, there is a toll fee just so you are aware.

Columbia Gorge

The Columbia Gorge is simply breathtaking with the Columbia River on one side and the beautiful waterfalls and other scenic points all up and down the other side. Also on this road are Bradford Island Visitor Center, Bridal Veil Falls, Multnomah Falls.

We are sharing about Multnomah Falls next week, check back for that. We didn’t get to the Bradford Island Visitor Center before it closed. I was so sad! Be sure to check the hours, as they close early.

Getting to Horsetail Falls

The parking along the Columbia Gorge road is tight. The road is small but we were able to tow our trailer with our big 2500 Chevy Duramax ok. Horsetail Falls parking lot is smaller, but it isn’t as busy as the other places we stopped, so we were able to find parking.

You will have to cross the street to reach the lower Horsetail Falls. There are stairs that lead down to the pool where you can sit and enjoy the falls or play in the water. Also look for the exposed roots of the trees, as they look amazing as well.

Hiking to the Upper Horsetail Falls (Ponytail Falls)

The hike up to the upper falls is pretty intense, but if you are in any kind of good physical shape you should have no issues. The road can be narrow and there are no fences or other protection, so be sure to hold hands of your littles on the trail.

At the top, you can go and walk underneath the falls, go down and play in the water and enjoy the whole beautiful secluded area. There weren’t very many people up there (only a handful) the whole time we were there, so you can really enjoy this without a crowd.

Soak up the sight of the 176-foot waterfall and then head down the street to a fantastic picnic area for lunch!

You can learn more about Horsetail Falls here.

Be sure to take a lot of pictures and videos. It is fun to look back at them. Make sure you go and visit

Road trip on Highway 101

Check out our other stops on our trip from Utah into Washington and down the coast on Highway 101 :

• Top 5 Favorite Things to Do at the Thunderbird RV & Camping Resort
• Thunderbird RV & Camping Resort Review
• Lodgepole Campground in Washington
• Grove of the Patriarchs
• Narada Falls in Mt. Rainier National Park
• How to spend 1 day at Mt. Rainier
• Salt Creek Recreation Area
• Cape Flattery Trail Hike
• Shi Shi Beach Trail Hike
• Klahowya Campground in Port Angeles, WA
• Ruby Beach in Forks, WA
• Kalaloch Beach (Tree of Life)
• Quinault Rain Forest in Washington
• Ape Caves Washington (Lava Tubes)