Columbia River Gorge NSA Horsetail ~ Ponytail Falls Loop Hike Hike 16
Length: 2.5 mile loop Elevation Change: 440' gain Season: Year Round Difficulty: Easy Permit: Not Required Features: This loop hike can be done clockwise or counterclockwise.
You can begin the hike at either Horsetail Falls trail head or the Oneonta Gorge
trail head. This narrative will begin at Horsetail Falls. You begin climbing
immediately for a short distance where you hook up with Gorge Trail #400. Follow
this trail west for about a half mile to the beautiful Ponytail Falls. You are
rewarded not only with its beauty but by being able to walk behind the falls as
you continue your hike around this loop adventure. Another half mile and you come
to Oneonta Gorge with a superb bridge spanning the chasm formed by Oneonta Creek.
Looking downstream you are looking at the top of Oneonta Falls. After crossing
the creek, you begin a brief steep climb and continue west for about another half
mile. A trail will lead you back down to the Old Columbia River Highway and a
short half mile walk past Oneonta Gorge to Horsetail Falls.
