5 miles RT
Min / Max Elevation:
45 ft / 683 ft
Elevation Gain:
2,849 ft
Kristin, Dexter & I
We had ventured up Horsetail / Ponytail Falls way a few weeks earlier experiencing some extremely cold temperatures and icy landscapes. The combination of the Columbia River Gorge’s strong winds and cold temps are a recipe for beautiful frozen waterfalls. This time around the temps were much warmer and the water levels much higher. The jump in warmer temps, snow melt and massive amounts of rain put many areas in flood danger.
[Horsetail Falls]
I had never seen the waterfalls flowing with this amount of water ever. They were extra powerful with an intense plummet creating a massive mist soaking everyone around. There were many people hanging out in awe – we were lucky enough to sag a parking spot before the crowds started to flock. I snapped a few pics and let Dexter pull me up the trail..
[Ponytail Falls]
[Kristin & Dex gearing up to get soaked]
[Beneath Ponytail falls]
Hiking along the stretch of trail beneath Ponytail Falls it was nearly impossible to hear anything but the sound of falling water. Underneath the waterfall is an eerie feeling as you see and feel water leaking through the rock above and hear the intense vibrations from the water flowing off the rock from which you are standing beneath.
As you continue hiking around to the other side of Ponytail Falls prepare yourself for a water-soaker. As we pop out the other side I always put it into high gear hiking quickly through the 100 ft of trail you are most vulnerable to the cold misting waterfall.
[Oneonta Gorge]
Oneonta Gorge in the summer time is a fun hike wadding through waste deep water at times. I was interested in seeing the gorge with this amount of water – I’d never seen it so high and with so much ‘white water.’
[On bridge just above Oneonta Gorge Falls]
With all of the water the area had received and the quick change in temps this had created some good landslides.
[We noticed a few new creeks and waterfalls along the trail]
[Dex lovin the water]
[Much more water than usual making creek crossing interesting at times]
[Kristin & Dex atop Triple Falls]
[Triple Falls – hmm more like double falls..]
[Checkin things out from the other side of the falls…]
I always enjoy hiking trails during all seasons as they are dramatically different from season to season. Just be sure to stay safe and be alert during this time of year with huge potential for trees falling and landslides.
PDX Hiker 