Horsetail Falls

Horsetail Falls is a stunning waterfall located in Alpine. The long, hard climb features beautiful forests, lovely side streams, wildflowers and wildlife. We've done this one before but for some reason I did not remember how tough this trail was, and it really kicked our butts today. So, we only made it to the first overlook before turning back. It was a little hotter than I thought it would be, between that and the smoke in the air it was just really hard on us today.

Quick Details:

Length: 4.5 miles out and back.
Trail Type: Out and back
Difficulty: DR5 this is a relentless climb.
Elevation Gain: 1768 Ft.
Restroom: No.
Dogs? Yes. The sign says they must be leashed in high traffic areas.

To Get Here:

Take i15 towards Utah County exit 284 Timpanogos Highway and head east. You can take the main road or the commuter highway for about 5 miles to 6000 west and turn left. After a mile turn right on Westfield Rd. 1.7 miles later turn left on Grove Dr. 1.8 miles later turn right to stay on Grove Dr. continue another half mile past the Rodeo Grounds to the Dry Creek Trailhead.



American Fork Canyon (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)).

The Trail:



Some lovely fall color starting.



Trailhead sign. This wasn’t here last time we came up here.

More color.

Some of the peaks above.

Another peak.

Looking into the canyon. The first 1/2 - 3/4 of a mile is pretty exposed with no shade.

More color.

More peaks.

Cliffs on the other side of the canyon.

Finally starting to get some shade.

Some color across the canyon.

Fallen tree appears to still be thriving and all the branches on the top side are still growing.

This trail is just a never ending climb. Oi.

One of a couple of the dry side ravines.

The first stream crossing has dried up for the year.

Pretty forest.

This little stream is dried up as well.

Some more color on the hills above.

The clearing, or Horsetail Falls Trail Campsite. This is about 2/3 of the way up. And the already tough trail is going to get a little tougher.

The wildflowers are just about done, but not completely yet.

The trail is just a relentless climb, and quite rocky.

Some water running down the trail. Wasn’t too muddy today.

Coming from this spring.

Man this trail is the devil.

2nd major stream crossing. It’s a little easier later in the year.

Another minor stream crossing.

Itty bitty waterfall.

More climbing. Oi.

Some more daisies hanging on.

There is a little off-shoot trail that offers this great view, and the first view of Horsetail Falls.

Pretty view.

It looks like we are maybe 1/4 - 1/2 mile away, but this trail really was kicking our butts. I know it is kind of ridiculous to make it this far and not reach the end prize, but we decided this would be it today. We just couldn’t muster anymore. So we decided to rest up and take in the views.

Color under the peak. I think it is Lone Peak.

Tree growing out of the boulder.

View down canyon. There is a better, unobstructed view closer to the waterfall.

Pulled out the telephoto lens. Some of it is blocked, but it’s nice to see it a little closer.

A couple more.

After resting up a bit we decided to head on back. With one parting view.

Heading back down the steep, steep trail.

More of the pretty forest.

Split tree.

There was a wildfire here a couple years ago. There are still large bare spots.

Itty bitty waterfall.

One of the crossings.

Back to where the water starts running down the trail.

More forest and deeper cut trail.

I believe this is a hairy woodpecker. They look very similar to the downy woodpeckers we get on our feeders at home. Aside from being larger, which is hard to really tell, they have much longer beaks than their downy counterparts. Downys beaks are about the length of the base to their eyes. Hairys beaks are about as long as their head.

A little closer.

I should have taken video, but I noticed that they, or at least this one, closes his eyes when he strikes the tree.

I am kind of excited to get a pretty close photo of one of these now that I know how to tell the difference between them.

Back down to the clearing. There was a trail split that I wasn’t sure which way to take, but I took the other version today than I did last time we came up here, and I can confirm both lead back to here.

Back into the forest.

I love this candelabra tree. Similar to a more famous candelabra tree in the Redwoods.

Some early color.

I noticed quite a few dead trees in the area.

More lovely forest.

Big mossy boulder.

More early changers.

View down canyon.

I love when trees do this.

Out of the forest and back to the open foothills.

Smokey valley below.

Some lovely color.

The smoke sure does suck, but it can make for some interesting scene.

More color.

Peaks above.

This kind of looks like petrified wood. But I don’t know for sure.

Itty bitty lizard.

Oh, you can see Utah Lake from here.

More color.

The next canyon over.

Pretty purple flowers. Whatever these are, the bees sure love them.

Some turkeys. Not sure if they are wild, or on a farm though.

That hike was a lot tougher than I remember it being, and it really kicked our butts. As mentioned I am willing to acknowledge the conditions likely played a big role in that today. It is a little frustrating we put all the work in and didn’t make it to the end, but at least we made it to a good overlook and got to see the waterfall. 9 out of 10 squirrels. Losing one for just how tough it was today.

One final note, this miiiight be my last post. Google has forced a new 'improved' interface that is kind of a pain in the butt to use. Unfortunately, it is not as enjoyable to continue posting so. Unless I figure something out, I don't know. This is just a pain.

As for difficulty, this is a long climb, that doesn’t ever let up and the trail is quite rocky. DR5.

Dogs are allowed, should be leashed in high traffic areas.