Ponytail Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 88 ft high | Oregon
0.8 mi round trip
320 ft
Easy
Ponytail Falls Hike at a Glance
The Ponytail Falls hike via the Horsetail Falls Trail is 0.8 mi round trip with 320 ft of elevation gain.
| Falls height | About 88 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 490 ft |
| Trail | Horsetail Falls Trail |
| Distance | 0.8 mi round trip |
| Elevation gain | 320 ft |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Your time: about 25 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 30 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 240 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 0.8 mi distance and 320 ft of gain for this hike are verified (oregonhikers.org), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Ponytail Falls
Ponytail Falls is a waterfall in Oregon, about 88 feet high, on land managed by Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (USDA Forest Service). Its height is from gorgefriends.org.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Horsetail Falls Trail: 0.8 miles round trip with about 320 feet of elevation gain, from Horsetail Falls Trailhead. Distance from oregonhikers.org. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Easy.
Before You Go
- Dogs must be on leash. (gorgefriends.org)
- Use caution around cliffs. (fs.usda.gov)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (USDA Forest Service) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Ponytail Falls?
The Horsetail Falls Trail to Ponytail Falls is 0.8 miles round trip with about 320 feet of elevation gain.
Where does the Ponytail Falls hike start?
It starts from Horsetail Falls Trailhead.
How tall is Ponytail Falls?
Ponytail Falls is about 88 feet high.
Are dogs allowed on the Ponytail Falls trail?
Dogs must be on leash.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Ponytail Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- oregonhikers.org
- Distance
- oregonhikers.org
- Falls height
- gorgefriends.org
- Falls location
- waterfallsnorthwest.com
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Ponytail Falls.