United States · Multnomah County
Horsetail Falls
Horsetail Falls is a waterfall located on Horsetail Creek along the Columbia River Gorge in Multnomah County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. The falls drop over a cut over the columnar basalt cliff within the Oneonta Gorge.
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Horsetail Falls drops over a series of steps on the Horsetail Creek. It is a horsetail-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Multnomah County, United States. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a horsetail waterfall, water stays in contact with the rock as it falls.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Horsetail Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Multnomah County are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Snowmelt-driven: April to June is the big-water window, and some falls almost disappear by late summer.
Getting there
- Base town Multnomah County, United States
- Country United States
- Region Multnomah County, United States, North America
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Horsetail Falls
United States
Height—Width—
Most similar
Bridalveil Fall
United States
Height189 mWidth—
Also a horsetail waterfall and in the United States too
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
We don't have a reliable crest width for Horsetail Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
On the map
45.5894, -122.068
Quick answers
Where is Horsetail Falls?
Horsetail Falls is in United States (Multnomah County). The nearest base is Multnomah County, United States. Its coordinates are 45.5894, -122.0680.
When is the best time to visit Horsetail Falls?
Peak flow is April to June. Snowmelt-driven: April to June is the big-water window, and some falls almost disappear by late summer.
What can you do at Horsetail Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Horsetail Falls?
The usual base is Multnomah County, United States. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
Closest to Horsetail Falls
Full guide Multnomah Falls
Oregon's most-visited natural landmark
Wahclella Falls
Wahclella Falls is a waterfall along Tanner Creek, a tributary of the Columbia River, Multnomah County…
Latourell Falls
Latourell Falls is a waterfall along the Columbia River Gorge in the U.S. state of Oregon, within Guy W.…
Twister Falls
Twister Falls is a prominent waterfall that is formed as Eagle Creek cascades 140 feet into a narrow canyon…