Are there fees or permits required for Horsetail Falls?

No, there are no fees required to visit Horsetail Falls.

Is swimming allowed at Horsetail Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Horsetail Falls.

Nearby gauge (American River) · 59 ft³/s · Lower than usual

Horsetail Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Horsetail Falls?

Yes, dogs are allowed at Horsetail Falls. Leashed dogs are allowed.

Washington

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Also For 7 other waterfalls also named Horsetail Falls, see below

Snoqualmie National Forest NF · US Forest Service

Photo Credits (5)

David J. Thomas, Ph.D. CC BY-NC 2.0 · Flickr

ricketyus CC BY 2.0 · Flickr

Anomieus CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 · Flickr

tbtalbottjr CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 · Flickr

Difficulty

Drive Up

Trail Length

0.2 miles

Trail Type

Out And Back

About Horsetail Falls

Horsetail Falls is a roadside waterfall on the Little Naches River road just north of State Route 410, in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest northwest of Cliffdell. The falls are visible through the trees from a large pullout, and a short paved path leads closer. Little Naches Campground is nearby.

The Setting

Horsetail Falls sits at 2,644 feet within Snoqualmie National Forest, in the hills of Washington.

Nearby Falls Worth Visiting

West Quartz Creek Falls (126 ft) lies 2.3 miles to the west. Also nearby: Devil Creek Falls (76 ft, 2.7 mi).

West Quartz Creek Falls Devil Creek Falls

Trail & Hike Details

The Approach

No hiking required. Horsetail Falls is accessible by vehicle with a roadside viewing area.

USFS Trail

CATCHUP #SNO-585

Trail Class

Class 0

Surface

N/A

Avg Grade

N/A

USFS Segment

0.64 mi

Trail Description

A short paved path from the roadside pullout gives a closer look at the falls. There is no longer hike.

What to Expect

Dogs are welcome.

Accessibility

This waterfall is viewable from a vehicle-accessible area. No hiking is required.

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Horsetail Falls?

✅ Dogs are allowed
Leashed dogs are allowed.

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Horsetail Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

Late spring and early summer, during snowmelt.

Seasonal Access

The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited. Check with Snoqualmie National Forest for seasonal road closures.

Safety Information

Watch for traffic at the pullout, and stay off slippery rocks near the water.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 1 hour ago Roaring

These readings come from the USGS gauge on American River, 3.1 miles away, not on Horsetail Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

59 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

Lower than usual for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

51 60 145 253

Based on 87 years of record

72.16 ft

Water depth at gauge

7-Day Discharge Trend

What does this mean for your visit?

Flow is lower than usual for this time of year.

About This Gauge

AMERICAN RIVER NEAR NILE, WA

USGS 12488500

3.1 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 79 sq mi

Altitude: 2,700 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge AMERICAN RIVER NEAR NILE, WA (5 km away).

High confidence

Roaring right now

56 cfs

↑ Rising

Today

Roaring

61 cfs

6/10

Tomorrow

Roaring

58 cfs

8/10

Thu

Roaring

56 cfs

8/10

Fri

Roaring

73 cfs

6/10

Sat

Roaring

79 cfs

6/10

Sun

Roaring

77 cfs

6/10

Mon

Roaring

78 cfs

6/10

Best window: Tomorrow — roaring flow, cloudy (trip score 8/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from mid April to mid July, peaking in June.

How we calculate this

This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.

Know when to go.

Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Cliffdell hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Is Horsetail Falls Frozen?

Updated about 8 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately

Horsetail Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 49°F to 35°F.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: 50 ft³/s

Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.

Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail. See every frozen waterfall in Washington.

Weather Forecast

The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR

Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.

Through the falls the surface drops roughly 152 feet over a short, steep run of tiers. Elevation at the pin is about 2,643 feet.

The ground changes about 35 feet in the 500 feet above the falls and 9 feet in the 500 feet below. Facing south, the falls sit in full sun for most of the day, best photographed early or late.

Aerial photo of the same ground around Horsetail Falls near Cliffdell, Washington, for comparison with the lidar view

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Horsetail Falls near Cliffdell, Washington, showing about 152 feet of drop, a steep tiered drop, facing south

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.

Ground elevation: 2,643 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 152 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: South; Sunlit most of the day. Go early or late for softer light.

Ground profile through the falls

A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading south).

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Location & Access

Getting There

Drive east on State Route 410 from Chinook Pass about 22 miles and turn north onto the Little Naches River road. Continue about three-quarters of a mile to a large pullout on the right.

Get Directions on Google Maps

Parking

Large roadside pullout on the right side of the Little Naches River road, about 0.75 mile north of SR 410.

Elevation

2,644 feet above sea level

Coordinates

46.996448° N, -121.108483° W

Land Management

Snoqualmie National Forest NF

Managed by USFS

Visitor Tips & Gear

Download directions before you go, since cell service is unreliable. Combine the stop with Little Naches Campground or other Highway 410 sites.

Where to Stay

4008 Cozy ONE Bedroom in Suncadia with Heated Pool Access

8.6 14 reviews

Suncadia Resort Luxury Suite with Amazing Mountain Views

9.1 30 reviews

Secluded Greenwater Cabin with Loft Near Rainier

The Cabin

See all hotels near Yakima

Cabins & Rentals VRBO

Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby

Glamping Hipcamp

Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses

RV Rentals Outdoorsy

Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip

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Nearby Campground

Little Naches Campground

0.7 miles away · 16 sites

Walking distance Reservable

Overview Little Naches Campground is located along the Naches River in the Northern Cascades Range of Washington, where craggy peaks, mountain meadows and old-growth forests provide visitors with wild and scenic landscapes. Warm summer days and access to a multitude of recreational activities make it an ideal setting for both individual and family camping excursions.Recreation The Naches River, adjacent to Little Naches Campground, is a tributary of the Yakima River in central Washington. In its

Book on Recreation.gov