Month: July 2017

Horsetail Falls Loop Trail, Oregon — Excellent Family Hike

by Karen Nierlich

While the hike at Multnomah Falls was disappointing, the hike at Horse Tail Falls was everything I was hoping for and more. The month was April and on the trip were my husband, myself, and our two teens ages 15 and 17. On this hike we saw:

On this hike we saw:

— two beautiful waterfalls, Horsetail Falls and Ponytail Falls (pictured below)
— a bridge over the creek that becomes Oneonta Falls
— an abundance of moss, lichen, ferns, and mushrooms
— fantastic views of the Columbia River Gorge

Ponytail Falls, Columbia River Gorge

All this remarkable scenery is packed into a mere 2.3 miles. Begin the hike next to 176-ft Horsetail Falls. At .2 miles, turn right onto the Gorge Trail which takes you to the 80-ft Ponytail Falls. Here you get to walk behind the falls!

About .4 miles later, you’ll come to several trails to the right. These lookouts have outstanding views of the Columbia River Valley from far above the river. Be careful not to stand at the edge and watch any kids with you. There is a plaque about a teen that died falling from the cliffs here.

Moss Plants, Columbia River Gorge

Continue on the main trail another .4 miles, crossing over a metal footbridge above 60-ft Oneonta Falls. Quickly you’ll arrive at a junction with the Oneonta Trail. Here you have a choice, you can lengthen your hike by turning and walking .9 miles up the trail to the beautiful Triple Falls. Or turn right and head downhill on the Oneonta Trail back to the Highway.

Columbia_River_Gorge

 

Small Rodent Skull in the Columbia River Gorge

Mushrooms

Follow the highway back to your car. Most of the walk has a path, but near Horsetail Falls you’ll need to walk on the highway to get back to your car.

Difficulty: This is a short hike, but given the climbing, I’d say this is a moderate hike.

Crowds and Parking: Available along the highway. We visited in early April when crowds were light. I believe it’s extremely busy in this region in the summer months and packed to crush on summer weekends.

Dogs: Allowed.

Maps: I got a paper map at Multnomah Falls Visitors Center, but don’t go there on a weekend as the crowds are insane.
Digital Map: https://gorgefriends.org/hike-the-gorge/horsetail-ponytail-triple-falls.html
Signage: Trail is clearly marked.

Oneonta Gorge, Columbia River Gorge

by Karen Nierlich

We found Oneonta Gorge by accident on our way to Horsetail Falls. We were walking along the pedestrian bridge when we spotted a stairway off to the side and a super mossy wall. It seemed like a secret passage, so we went.

Oneonta_Falls_Stair

We followed the wall away from the bridge; the wall was, in fact, the side of the gorge and completely covered in moss and small plants. There was no one else on the little path, and we had to climb boulders to proceed. We bouldered over a 15-foot pile of rock and found ourselves in an enormous, green gorge — surprisingly full of people. Honestly, Oneonta Gorge was one of the most beautiful sights any of us had seen. I felt I was in a movie or the garden of paradise.

The people were another thing. What were they doing here? There was no sign to mark the entry, but there’s a group of 10 kids under 8 years old over there. We were puzzled and amazed.

Later we learned Oneonta Gorge is well documented online, I mean what wonderful place isn’t. We looked around that Sunday and then came back a couple of days later. The only other person there was a woman with a wetsuit and a professional camera who was making her way up the Gorge. My online sources explain that it’s a freezing but awe-inspiring trek up the gorge to Lower Oneonta Falls. We didn’t do it as there was so much water and it was so cold. It was Spring, after the rainiest year in many, many years. But I’ll be back to hike the Gorge!

I Heart Moss

I Heart Moss is a project about moss, trees, waterfalls and the forest. I, Karen Nierlich, am a nature photographer, living in the San Francisco Bay Area. You can also visit our shop.iheartmoss.com for gifts and jewelry for nature lovers. Handcrafted gifts made by artists, craftspeople, and makers just for you!

Ainsworth Campground, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

by Karen Nierlich

 

I found my favorite moss photo of our trip to Columbia River Gorge in the early morning. I was hiking on a trail behind the campground when I came across a log with these bright green layers of moss and lichen that made me giddy.

Mosses and Lichen

We camped at Ainsworth Campground in the Columbia River Gorge in early April during the week. The friendly ranger told me the campground is 100% full from late April throughout the summer, so book early. This is mostly an RV and car camping campground. There are only 6 walk-in only tent spots. However, these tent spaces are nestled in trees and have a good amount of room separating one from another. Very lovely.

Alert for Light Sleepers: Be aware that trains come through the whole Columbia Gorge with their horns blaring several times a night. If I was a light sleeper, I might choose to stay outside the Columbia River Gorge area.

The night we arrived we stayed in a car / RV space near the road. The train noise kept my husband, who is a bonafide light sleeper, up all night. The following nights we were in one of the 6 tent only walk-in spaces which worked fine for him. The trees seemed to muffle the train noise.

Other Amenities: This campground was perfect aside from the train noise. It’s close to the waterfalls and trails. The bathrooms are large, clean and there are even free showers. There are a few other things like a tether ball court. We found the wood we bought at the campground was poor and heard others say the same, so you might want to bring firewood with you.

Ainsworth Campground, Columbia River Gorge, OR