Aside from Multnomah Falls, Horsetail was more majestic and calming. This attraction had far less people which made it more enjoyable since I could actually hear the water falling and splashing onto the pond below it. The contrast of white water and the lime green leaves of the tree standing tall in front of it makes it a beautiful sight to see. I'm not sure if it's allowed, but the rocks in the mini pond is nice. I did a bit of rockhounding, but didn't take (leave no trace). Watching the waterfall felt like I was seeing it through the lenses of a television show, but it was honorable to see it in person. This waterfalls is a hidden gem. The parking lot out front is plentiful and free. If I lived in Portland (which I wish), I'd come here more often than not. It's a great place to meditate and reflect. There's a few stairs to get below, but not much. I hesitant about too many stairs since earlier in the day I walked quite bit around the city and was a bit tired. Anyways, Horsetail Falls is a must see. Don't get too hung up on the second largest waterfall where you skip out on the others. read more

Horsetail Falls - Hiking Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

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A nice stop on US Hwy 30 Oregon Historic Byway going west from Multnomah Falls. It can be an ideal place to just chill or to picnic. You get a nice view of the Falls while sitting down and no hiking is required. read more

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Horsetail Falls is right across the road from the parking. There are some steps involved, either up for viewing or down to the water for a great photo opportunity. It is very peaceful if you go early enough. read more

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This spot is such a hidden gem and super easy to access - literally right off the freeway. You can park just steps from the waterfall and take in the view without even breaking a sweat. The falls are tall, powerful, and absolutely stunning. We also did the short hike up to the Ponytail Falls (about 0.4 miles), and it was totally worth it. You can actually get to walk behind the waterfall, which felt like a cool little adventure without being too strenuous. It's a quick stop, but one of those places that leaves a lasting impression. Perfect stop if you're waterfall hopping. read more

There is a reason for this waterfall named Horsetail. The waterfall is shaped like one. It was sol beautiful, so pristine, I could sit on a rock all day staring at nature. Yes, approximately 170 feet of it coming down. There really isn't a hiking trail here, but the waterfall is up close and personal. You can walk all the way towards the falls and touch the water. Of course, there are rocks everywhere. So caution is a must. You can see the Horsetail Waterfall as you drive by. Very limited parking, and quite secluded. And probably the one you could get closest to. So beautiful! read more

Horsetail Falls - Horsetail Falls - Hiking Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

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A classic, right off the highway! Its elegant horsetail shape makes it a unique sight. It's an easy stop but just as breathtaking and a great photo spot! read more

Horsetail Falls - Hiking Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

Yasss, Im in waterfall haven! This area of Oregon has quite a few waterfalls, make sure you stop bye the visitor center first for a free map. This will maximize your time, we had alot planned on this trip. The volunteers are indeed helpful with ideas for our day. There is a small parking alot in front of this waterfall, you cant miss it. Dont miss this waterfall, its absolutely stunning!! The best part there is no climbing or walking far to enjoy all this glory. This by far is my second favorite waterfall along the waterfall corridor. Oregon I will be be visiting again real soon!! @glampedlife read more

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Unexpected! We literally stumbled upon it. It's right on the highway. Park and walk right up. Amazing!! read more

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Lovely little falls without nearly as many tourists as down at Multnomah Falls. You can actually dip your feet in the water at this site if you walk down the stairs. Beautiful landscape and super easy to get to! read more

Horsetail Falls - Hiking Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

Stunning waterfall right along the road with perfect view as you drive by; if you want to see it up close and personal, just park in the small lot in front and cross the street. Bam, there it is! No hiking necessary means every single person of every ability can experience this beautiful piece of nature. Horsetail Falls is on the strip of the Historic Columbia River Highway that contains seven waterfalls. It is the furthest east, about 3 miles from the most famous, Multnomah Falls. While I have been to Multnomah many times and have hiked to the top and enjoyed the expansive views of the Columbia River along the way, sometimes I don't have the time for that hike. For zero effort - literally - you can see this powerful and majestic waterfall. Just park in the small lot directly across the two lane road, walk a few steps and the entire waterfall is right in front of you. If you want to hike to the top it's about 2.4 miles round trip. The trail starts with a steep incline, and it is rocky, but then levels off. You can enjoy Horsetail Falls this magnificent and have plenty of time to take in other sites or hikes. Today was a sunny and blue sky day, with no wind, so I decided to take a ride from Portland out to Chanticleer Point, which offers an incredible view of the Columbia Eiver and Crown Point in the distance, the vista House perched on top. Afterwards I drove to the Crown Point to see the Vista House, the interior is once again open after being closed most of Covid. It was a pleasure to walk around without getting knocked over by the typical winds! Deciding to follow the old highway along the Waterfall loop afterwards, I was enjoying twists and turns of the road with glimpses of the river along the way. When I got to Horesetail Falls, I was stunned that the falls were right there! I paused to take in the sight and noticed the parking lot was half empty. What? That is an opportunity one can not pass by! So I pulled in and stayed about 20 minutes enjoying the beauty of the falls and walking a little bit up the trail. There were just a few people there so I was able to get some great shots of just falls sans people. The trees are just starting to bloom, but the ferns and moss make it so green and lush. When the weather is warm, you can walk in the water at the base. It will be cold but refreshing! So don't just drive by! Stop and take in the beauty of Horsetail Falls. It has quickly become one of my faves! read more

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This is one of my favorite waterfalls and Oregon has a lot of beautiful hiking trails and waterfalls! Love this one because you can definitely go for a dip in the water and it's great on a hot, summer day, especially if you did some hiking. There's a parking lot available and you can park at the side of the road. Definitely when visiting Horsetail Falls, pack a swimsuit or rash guard and enjoy the water! read more

Horsetail Falls - Hiking Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

This is the somewhat scaled down falls within a mile or so (east) of Multnomah Falls. It has a small parking lot; we were able to wait for a couple of minutes and get a space. Once in the lot, you merely have to cross the road to see the falls. While not nearly as tall as Multnomah Falls, this is impressive in its own right. There are a couple of different vantage points, and you can get good photos from either one. Again, as we visited in the morning the lighting was not ideal. If you are driving through the gorge, this is definitely worth a stop just for the convenience to impressiveness ratio. read more

Horsetail Falls - View #2 - Hiking Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

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Great trail but under repair. The gorge fire from a few years ago it's still evident and the trails are damaged. We hiked to the third fall - there were wash outs, rocks on the trail, and other issues. But, it was lovely. The climb wasn't too long but the elevation gains were significant. I would call it a moderately difficult hike to the third waterfall but well worth it. read more

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We just stumbled upon this waterfall after coming from another waterfall. I would recommend to exit 35 after 5p so you don't have to make reservations and pay a fee. There won't be rangers stopping you as well. There is a small parking lot for @15 cars on the right. From the parking lot, you can already see the waterfalls. Many come here to hangout on a hot day like the day we came and to get in the water to cool off. I would recommend to wear waterproof sandals to walk in the water as the rocks hurt as you walk on it. The waterfall runs pretty hard and I have not see anyone go in it but only close to it. I am sure the water is cold. Very clear water and beautiful scene of this waterfalls. Picture worthy. I loved it so I would bookmark this place as well. It was worth it!! [79th R] read more

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We had planned on hiking up to Multnomah Falls but so many of the parking and entrance points were closed off due to COVUD. We ended up doing a quick search for waterfalls and found this less popular yet still stunning spot for a quick hike. I, unfortunately, was wearing a dress and sandals but was still able to pull off the half mile hike up to the upper falls of Horsetail Falls. We only encountered a few folks along the way so it was nice to feel like we had the spot mostly to ourselves. Parking can easily be found across the street (bonus: it's shaded). There were three to four trail options at this point with one mile round trip being the shortest. You can, however, easily swim in and enjoy the falls directly off the road. It seemed to be popular fir a few families with kids. Otherwise, the trail was somewhat steep and not ideal for all audiences. The spots of shade along the trail and under the waterfall were such a nice break on a hot summer day. This is a great quick pit stop for movement along the Columbia River! read more

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This is the smaller waterfall in the area compared to the others but it's right by the street and easy to see, no need to hike anywhere. There's also a small parking lot near it which is free. read more

Wow, I know Multnomah Falls gets all the acclaim and recognition, but this, Horsetail Falls, in my opinion....obviously wasn't as statuesque...but without a doubt still gets 5 stars in my book! For sure. Funny...I guess, just...visiting and exploring along 74 mile Columbia River Gorge...I didn't have much expectations. I really at first was headed on my cross country road trip primarily to visit National Parks like Olympic NP, Mt Rainier, Mt. St. Helens down towards Crater Lake, Redwood NP and Yosemite. But...upon visiting Columbia River Gorge....I was so blown away by the beauty of all the waterfalls here that I've coined it..."Waterfall Way"! Lol...I've truly fallen in love with waterfalls! They are my new obsession. I think I may need to visit all the waterfalls in the United States, hehehe. So yeah, not just this Horsetail Falls and Multnomah Falls....but also along the scenic drive there's Laturell Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. Waterfalls have afforded me a new perspective, outlook and appreciation for being out in nature. So...yes, visiting this Horsetail Falls...I truly felt humbled and blessed. My only difficulty that I'd like to pass along was the parking. This whole area was so popular and it's situated among the height of all the attractions along Columbia River Gorge...that there just weren't enough spots along the side of the road to pull over or park. I had to drive up and down and back and forth to finally park in a spot, (which was reserved exclusively for an RV/van)....but at that point in time I was willing to risk getting a parking violation for the opportunity to bask in this (literally) roadside waterfall. While you are driving....Horsetail Falls cascades right in front of you! It took me by surprise. But yeah...once I finally parked, I walked straight up to it and basked in it's glory. Taking uninterrupted pictures of Horsetail Falls was hard. As you'd expect there were plenty of visitors playing in the water below or just sort of hogging the picture space without regard towards others. But the good news for me was that I wasn't on any timetable. So I just waited for an opportunity. Finally, I got it. I was able to snap some real wonderful photos not just of Horsetail Falls itself, but also I was able to squeeze myself into the pics as well....feeling so grateful to be here. I visited Horsetail Falls and Columbia River Gorge on the weekend in early September. This was a popular time to visit. But...as I would recommend with any popular attraction, if you get here early enough in the morning, you'll be able to grab a coveted parking spot. I learned this lesson well along my visit. I was able to explore this Horsetail Falls, Laturell Falls and Bridal Veil Falls all in one day when I arrived spontaneously. Though for the biggest attraction, Multnomah Falls, I waited for the following day and arrived when it was first accessible at 8am. And for 8am, I grabbed a parking space right away and rushed to the Multnomah Falls viewing point to grab undisturbed pictures without many people around, lol. Finally, Horsetail Falls was simply a roadside waterfall with a straight drop. But to be allowed such easy access to it from the road...it was quite a pleasure. And the ambiance all around was beautiful. Taking in the majestic water flow of the falls from high above was sort of...hypnotic! Who would think such a terrific waterfall could be so easily accessed?! In all, when visiting Columbia River Gorge, this Horsetail Falls may not win best of breed compared to Multnomah Falls....but it absolutely (in my opinion) was still a breathtaking waterfall that should not be missed....not matter how long you have to wait to find a parking spot. read more

Beautiful waterfall! I've only stopped at 3 waterfalls in the Columbia Gorge because finding parking is BANANAS!!! I came to visit on a Monday afternoon and there were so many people, kids, dogs and no parking. I had my little dog with me and couldn't tell from the website if dogs were allowed on the shuttle bus so we took our chance and drove to the gorge. Horsetail is my favorite of the 3 waterfalls I went to see. Less crowded, but the parking lot smells like urine. There are no bathrooms around here which would explain why. You just have to cross the street and the waterfall is just right in front of you. You may even take a photo simply driving by. Just be mindful of the traffic behind you. read more

Horsetail Falls - Hiking Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

Raw and strong waterfall! This would be the first of the four waterfalls we were to visit on our Columbia River Gorge tour (and the third stop of our tour). Parking was across the street and at 10:30a on a Memorial Day holiday weekend you better believe that this place was overflowing not only with a strong waterfall but also of tourists and locals!! Another reason why I was happy to visit this place on a guided tour so we don't have to hassle with the driving and finding parking. Horsetail Falls is right off highway 30, easy access with no hiking needed. We could hear and feel the falls from the road as we drove in. We walked towards the Falls sign and snapped some photos and proceeded to descend on the steps to get closer to the water. There are hiking trails available but with our limited time schedule we weren't able to do any of that. Just lovely the way the water hits the pond below it... it moves just like a horsetail. The impressive long narrow flowing water of the falls resembled a horse's tail (hence the name). I love all waterfalls even though some are not quite "jaw-dropping." The falls had a robust and vibrant flow at end of May during our visit... roaring and strong! Review #1415 (72nd business review) read more

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This is the easiest falls to get to. You literally can drive past it and see the whole thing, but if you decide to stop, all you have to do is park and cross the street. The water is freezing cold if you decide to step foot in there haha. Not as crazy as some of the other falls but definitely worth a visit especially since it's so easy to get to! read more

Horsetail Falls - Hiking Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

Such a stunning waterfall! Horsetail Falls is one of the many waterfalls located along the Columbia River Highway. I came here with my hiking group in early April, and the falls were flourishing with water. It truly does resemble a horse tail, especially when viewing it from afar. The waterfall is viewable right from the side of the road! There's a decent sized parking lot right across the street that wasn't full when we pulled in around 10 am. We visited this waterfall after doing a short hike from Multnomah Falls to Wahkeena Falls, so they're all relatively close to each other. There's one main hiking trail that stops at various viewpoints and leads to Oneonta Falls. Unfortunately, most of the trail was closed down due to heavy rains in the area. We did a short out and back hike up to Upper Horsetail Falls, and although it was short, the upper falls were insanely beautiful. This was a very easy and short hike, perfect for beginners and even small children. It was rainy and cold in mid-spring, making the trails muddy and slippery. I would highly recommend that you wear hiking boots and a raincoat or poncho if you are planning to come during the springtime. At some of the highest points of the trail, you'll get some incredible views of the Columbia River. There's a cave about a half mile in, and you'll be able to actually stand behind the falls. It's a really neat spot with great up close views of the falls. We took several pictures here and they came out great. The trail is also surrounded by greenery and tons of beautiful trees. I wish we could have hiked all the way to Oneonta Falls, but I guess the rain damage is always pretty bad during the spring. Make sure to research which trails are open before you stop by. We found that most of the hiking trails nearby were closed down due to rain and previous fire damage. This was easily one of the prettiest waterfalls that I've hiked in Oregon. I wouldn't say it's as charming as Multnomah, but it's still worth a visit if you're chasing waterfalls along the Columbia River Gorge. read more

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Multnomah gets a lot of the press - and a lot of the visitors. So the second-tier waterfalls end up more appealing. Take, for example, Horsetail Falls. A small creek cascading down the cliff, hitting the rocks near the bottom so that it looks like a horse's tail. Not as tall as Multnomah, but very pretty. We ate lunch here. The Hunny and girl had gotten worn out hiking from Wahkeena Falls to Multnomah, then braving the crowd, so they stayed at the car. So I was the only one to cross the street to get to the falls. And what did I see? Other people eating lunch. High school girls taking photos of each other with the falls in the background. Kids swimming. And although there were a lot of people there, it didn't feel overwhelming. A lot more relaxed vibe. Therefore, I gave it five stars instead of Multnomah's four. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the waterfalls on the Historic Highway. They are not lesser in any way compared to the big one three miles to the west. Horsetail Falls especially should not be passed up just because you're on your way to Multnomah. As for my family, we liked this one better. read more

Horsetail Falls - And here it is. - Hiking Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

As part of the Waterfall Corridor, my boyfriend and I stopped by here after visiting the Wahkeena Falls and before getting to Multnomah Falls. There is a small parking lot available right in front of the falls, and it's just a short walk to get there. Luckily, it wasn't so crowded when we arrived (August 2022), so we were able to get some nice up close and personal shots. Would definitely recommend stopping by here! read more

Horsetail Falls - Horsetail Falls - Hiking Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

WOW. the views here were WONDERFUL. This waterfall in particular had an area for you to get in and play/hangout in the water. Its great for kids since the water is not too deep. I took great pictures and visited here after hiking the Oneonta Falls which is literally right down the street. Lots of people brought their canvases and painted this waterfall. The pics I posted do not really do justice!! This is def. worth a few moments to check out!! read more

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There is a plethora of waterfalls to visit along the Columbia River Gorge- one of my personal favorites is Horsetail Falls. The falls itself is long and narrow, and strongly resembles a horse's tail (hence its name). Tip: If the weather permits, pack some flip flops so you can get up close to the waterfall in the ankle-deep water. THINGS TO KNOW: -Parking is free here. -Horsetail Falls is a 40-minute drive from Portland. -The waterfall does not require a hike- you can reach the bottom of the falls by taking a short walk from the parking lot. -Other waterfalls to visit near Horsetail Falls: Multnomah Falls, Wahkeena Falls, Bridal Veil Falls read more

Horsetail Falls - Hiking Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

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Horsetail Falls is a great place for a quick hike. If you live in the Portland area or are visiting Multnomah falls and need something easy and quick, this is your hike. At 2.6 miles, the hike can be done in under an hour. I wouldn't travel great distances to get here though, it's nice, but not that nice. There is a bit of an incline at the beginning, but it quickly evens out after a few hundred feet. The two highlights of the hike, walking behind the waterfall and a beautiful viewpoint, happen rather quickly. There is also a plaque remembering Glen. I highly recommend adding a little distance to this hike by joining it with the Triple Falls Hike. Make a left at the Oneonta Trailhead to do an out and back to the triple falls. This adds a total of about 3 miles to your hike and is a little more strenuous than the basic Horsetail trail. You can even keep going past the Triple Falls if you have a lot of time and energy and do the Larch Mountain Hike from there. Once you see the Triple Falls, head back and go the other way at the Oneonta Trailhead junction. You'll be dropped off at the highway and you'll need to walk back on the side of the road. It would be nice if a little trail was added by the Columbia so you didn't have to walk on the highway, but it isn't far. Although the hike is easy, it's not ADA accessible as the path has lots of jagged rocks sticking out of it. Wear good shoes and watch you kids so they don't end up like Glen. read more

Horsetail Falls - Hiking Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

This waterfall is easy to access to. All we did was parked our car, walked across the road, took a photo and off we go! It was raining heavily the day we went, beautiful and huge amount of waterfall. read more

Horsetail Falls - Hiking Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

Nice Hike, Clean Trails, Beautiful Place Cool little baby hike that's great even with little kids since it's so short... Virtually one of the shortest we saw... Pretty much park the car and hike a few minutes from the parking lot... Lol... Worth a few moments to check out if you are chasing waterfalls like we were.... Other than that be sure to check out the other falls all along the Columbia River Gorge and this scenic highway... SO MUCH TO SEE! read more

Breathtaking. Great pit stop as you're making your way over to the Oneonta Gorge. You won't spend too much time here, but you sure will appreciate the beauty while you're over here. read more

Definitely stop and see this while exploring the Columbia River Waterfalls - easy to park and to see with barely any hike/walking. But even better, make the trail up to ponytail falls above - it's so much better because you literally get to walk behind and potentially swim if you want in this waterfall!! Unless you want to, don't stay on the tail after ponytail falls, it will take you on a hike to Onetonta Creek, away from where you parked your car. read more

If you went to Multnomah Falls first, Horsetail Falls will probably be a dud. But if you came here first, its quite lovely! If it was a bit warmer, and NOT raining, I might have even gone in for a dip in the pool...is that legal? read more

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The Horsetail Falls may not be one of the most spectacular waterfalls you'll ever see. In fact, it looks quite simple compared to the other waterfalls in the area, but what sets it apart for me (and why I gave it 5 stars) is that after a short, easy hike you can get actually behind waterfall. The experience is quite unique!! I took great pictures and I actually made a canvas out of one them. read more

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Big and powerful Horsetail Falls is just 2.75 miles east of famous Multnomah Falls ... and when the water is flowing at full force, this waterfall is well worth a few extra minutes to see. The waterfall is easily visible from the the Historic Columbia River Highway. Use the small parking area across the road to get out and snap a few pics from the compact viewing area with a couple picnic tables. Plunging just over 176 feet, Horsetail Falls gets its name from the shape of the rounded cliff and the wide downward flow of the water which actually resembles a horse's tail. There is a short, but steep (sometimes very steep) 2.5-mile loop hike that passes behind the base of Upper Horsetail Falls and through a basalt half-tunnel before leading to nearby Oneonta Trail. The path back is along the road, so, plan accordingly and be safe. Horsetail Falls is not the most famous or most visited waterfall, but it is still totally worth a stop and/or scenic hike along your Oregon Waterfall Tour. read more

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Beautiful place. Great for kids as there's not a long walk there. The only downside is that because it is so close there seemed to be a lot more people but it's a great place if you don't want to walk or want to get a bonus waterfall in before or after your hike! read more

Horsetail Falls - Horsetail Falls - Hiking Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

Beautiful waterfall with virtually no hike to see it! Pretty quick turnover in the parking lot and a quick street crossing to see this marvel. read more

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It's a fact: Living in Portland means having lots of visitors. And they'll probably want to go hiking. This is where you should take them. A short drive from the city, this is the first main trailhead East of that (gorgeous) tourist-bait Multnomah Falls. As a result, it's still going to be fairly well traveled, but for the ratio of effort to reward, I don't know that it can be beat. Before you even hit the trail you have a great view of the eponymous Horsetail Falls, and then after a (relatively) easy climb, you're rewarded with gorgeous views of Ponytail falls (which you get to walk under), Oneonta falls, and if you extend the hike, up to Triple Falls. All of which I found to be pretty dang impressive - again, in relation to the effort it takes to get here. It's easy to do this whole thing in just a couple of hours, even including photo-op time. If you (or your guests) are new to the area, there will be a ton of that. I'd say go early in the morning to beat the crowds. We started off feeling like we were relatively secluded, but on the way back down we passed quite a few parties. TL:DR? Got tourists? Go look at Mutlnomah Falls, but hike this one instead. Much higher payoff, with relative fewer crowds. read more

Horsetail Falls - A really kickass view of a gorge. - Hiking Near Me - Cascade Locks, Oregon

Another water fall along the Columbia River Gorge. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/horsetail-falls-cascade-locks?select=zNkRvCZ3fwyqaESMSnl9eg#kWyulaGtq0jKC-VCa8Ao4w Again smaller and less dramatic then Multnomah Falls, but no less calming or beautiful. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/horsetail-falls-cascade-locks?select=zNkRvCZ3fwyqaESMSnl9eg#mit0VThCak8rHfxjlNZJeQ Very nice indeed! read more

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Horsetails Falls does does not receive the press that Mulinomah Falls does, but they are beautiful in the their right. Parking was a little tight, but we found a spot. Truly worth a few minutes of your vacation time. read more

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Part 13 in my Oregon adventures! "Waterfalls are teaching us that despite of the chaos, there is peace." --Mahalel Less than three miles east of the mighty Multnomah Falls is the lovely Horsetail Falls. It is named as such because its 176 ft cascade really does resemble the shape of a horses' tail! There is a nearby trail that allows hikers access to a smaller "upper" waterfall called Ponytail Falls, but our tight touring schedule didn't allow us time to do that. Plus, I took much too long putzing around in the Multnomah Falls giftshop. I regret nothing. Still, this is a beautiful waterfall. The state did an amazing job of creating a serene and peaceful stone walkway and viewing area. I could spend a whole day here with a good book and a warm sweater. read more

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The waterfall is pretty awesome to see and the hike was fairly easy. Though you can travel and explore to different hikes. The trails is pretty well marked. The trail(s) can be as difficult as you want it to be, because there are many splits to connecting hikes along the way. You'll feel in one with nature here. Just use common sense on staying on the trails and follow the recommended signs. It does get slippery at some parts, just something to be aware of. Some parts on the trails are steep, so you can get a good workout in. The scenery is spectacular all around as you can see the near lake and distant mountains nearby. There seems to be plenty of parking nearby. read more