Revision as of 00:42, 30 December 2006

Describe destination image here

• Start Point: Horsetail Falls Trailhead
• End Point: Upper Rock of Ages Junction
• Trail Log : Trail Log
• Hike Type: Loop
• Distance: 10.4 miles
• Elevation gain:
• Difficulty: Difficult due to length and creek ford
• Seasons: Apr-Oct
• Family Friendly: No
• Backpackable: Yes
• Crowded: Only at trailhead

Hike Description

Describe destination image here

This is a remote hike on a steep, non-maintained path. Plan on being self-reliant if you attempt this one.

The hike starts at Horsetail Falls Trailhead. You can spend a bit of time staring at the falls now, or you can wait until you return. Start up Horsetail Falls Trail #438, which switchbacks up about 300' in 5 switchbacks. You'll pass a junction with Gorge Trail #400 at the third switchback. Soon the trail levels out and you'll make a turn into the natural amphitheater that houses Ponytail Falls. Just after this corner is a hidden trail junction with Rock of Ages Trail. The best way to identify the trail is a sign on a tree about 50' up the trail stating "Trail not Maintained". Turn left here and head up the hill.

Rock of Ages Trail is unmaintained and unsigned. That means that you'll need to step over the blowdown and around the poison oak on your own. The lower end of the trail has several side paths that we haven't explored yet. Much of what follows is from guidebooks. The first side path heads to the right, presumeably to the top of Ponytail Falls. About 0.4 miles from the junction, there are supposed to be 2 side trails to lookouts. At mile 0.8, there.s another side trail this one to a rock arch and a lookout. Just after this last side trail, at mile 0.9, you'll come to Devil's Backbone, where the path climbs directly on top of a jutting rock formation. From here, the trail levels out a bit, although you're still climbing. There's another side trail to a lookout at 1.5 and at mile 2.6, you'll reach the Horsetail Creek Trail #425.

Turn right on the Horsetail Creek Trail and enjoy a slightly downhill pattern for a ways. In the first mile, you'll cross 3 forks of Horsetail Creek, (East, Middle and West) all through simple fords. You'll meet the Bell Creek Trail #459, which heads off to the left into some great old growth. The you'll start switchbacking steeply down toward Oneonta Creek. There's a side trail to a viewpoint of Larch Mountain after the sixth switchback. After two small creek crossings and over 20 switchbacks, you'll come to Oneonta Creek Ford. There's no bridge here and this can be a difficult ford in the winter or spring, when water levels are high. After the ford climb 50 feet to a junction with the Oneonta Trail #424.

Turn right and head down Oneonta Creek. You'll cross Oneonta Creek two more times, but your dry feet will be happy with the bridges. The trail continues past Triple Falls to a junction with Horsetail Falls Trail #438. Turn right here, hike down to Middle Oneonta Falls, past Ponytail Falls and back down the hill to your car.

Maps

• Maps: Hike Finder

Fees, Regulations, etc.

• None

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Guidebooks that cover this hike

• Day Hike! Columbia Gorge, by Saebury Blair, Jr.
• Afoot and Afield Portland/Vancouver, by Douglas Lorain
• 35 Hiking Trails, Columbia River Gorge, by Don & Roberta Lowe
• Columbia River Gorge, 42 Scenic Hikes, by Don & Roberta Lowe
• Hiking the Columbia River Gorge - 1st and 2nd Editions, by Russ Schneider
• 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon - 3rd Edition, by William L Sullivan

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• Stevefromdodge (creator)