⛰️ The Tale of Two Trails: A Guide to the Wild Beauty of Horsetail Falls
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| The magnificent, multi-tiered Horsetail Falls. |
I've repeated many hikes in my adventures, but Horsetail Falls is one I return to again and again. It doesn't matter if I make it all the way to the falls, because the journey itself is the destination. The trail follows what is inexplicably named "Dry Creek Canyon"—a place that contains what is arguably the most beautiful, vibrant river in Utah Valley. This is a hike of choices: the easy, maintained path on the south side, and the wild, unmaintained, and breathtakingly beautiful path on the north side. For me, the choice is always easy, even if the trail scares me every single time.
⚠️ Know Before You Go: A Beautiful but Dangerous Trail
This hike is stunning, but the beauty hides real dangers. Even after 5+ trips, I still get lost and have heart-pounding moments. Please read this carefully.
- ♦️ ROUTE-FINDING IS DIFFICULT: The North Trail is rugged, unmaintained, and requires serious route-finding skills. The paths near the falls are sketchy, steep, and follow faint deer trails. A GPS with a pre-downloaded map (and recording your own track) is not just recommended, it's essential for getting out safely.
- ♦️ BEWARE FALSE CROSSINGS: Do not trust any map (including Gaia) that shows a "bridge" or crossing high up the river near the falls. On my last trip, this turned out to be a dangerous rock-hop across a fast river directly above a waterfall. It is not a safe crossing. Turn back and follow your own GPS track out.
- ♦️ THE NORTH TRAIL (RECOMMENDED FOR EXPERIENCED HIKERS): This trail is for experienced hikers comfortable with scrambling, exposure, and navigating unclear paths. Your reward is being right next to the stunning river the entire way.
- ♦️ THE SOUTH TRAIL: This is the state-maintained trail. It is wide, clear, and much safer. However, it stays high above the river, and you miss out on the intimate, beautiful views.
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- 🏞️ Location: Dry Creek Canyon, Alpine, Utah (Lone Peak Wilderness Area)
- 🥾 Hike: Horsetail Falls via the North Trail
- 📏 Distance: Approx. 4.5 miles round trip.
- 📈 Elevation Gain: About 1,700 feet.
- ⏱️ Time to Complete: 3-4 hours
- ⭐ Shauna's Rating: 💎💎💎💎💎 (5 out of 5 Diamonds for beauty, with a high caution rating)
TRANSPORT YOURSELF TO HORSETAIL FALLS
This VR Getaway takes you right to the base of the falls and along the stunningly beautiful "Dry Creek" river. See for yourself why the rugged North Trail is worth every step.
🥾 The Journey: The Most Beautiful River in Utah Valley
The River Crossing: The First Test
The adventure begins on the main south-side trail. **Do not take the first few social trails that try to lead you down to the river.** Hike up the main, wide path for about 1/8 of a mile. The correct turnoff is around the second major left turn. This trail is steep but well-defined and leads directly down to a log bridge. If you're scrambling down a sketchy bank and can't see a clear bridge, you're on the wrong path—turn back. This crossing is the gateway to the more beautiful side of the canyon.
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| One of the log bridges used to access the North Trail. |
The "Dry Creek" That Never Is
Once you're on the well-marked North Trail, the hike alongside the river is lovely. The sound of the water is soothing, and the views around every corner are a delight as the river twists and tumbles over giant boulders. I have no idea who named this canyon "Dry Creek," but they were so wrong! It's one of the most vibrant and beautiful rivers I've ever hiked alongside.
Finding the Falls (Again and Again)
As you get closer to the falls, the main trail splinters into a series of faint, deer-like paths. This is where the real challenge begins. Getting to the epic viewpoints at the base of the tiers is a heart-pounding experience that involves sketchy scrambles. Even after five trips, I still get turned around. On my most recent hike, I was so glad I had my Gaia GPS recording my track, as it was my lifeline for getting back out safely. Each view is a gorgeous reward, but the mystery of where you'll end up makes this a true adventure every time.
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| Made it! The view from this year's adventure. |
💡 Pro-Tips & Trail Guide
- ♦️ RECORD YOUR TRACK: I can't stress this enough. Start recording your hike on a GPS app like Gaia the moment you leave the car. It is very easy to get turned around near the falls, and having your own track to follow back is the most reliable way to get out safely.
- ♦️ The Golden Nugget: Even if you don't make it to the falls, the hike along the north side of the river is a spectacular destination in itself. Don't feel pressured to go all the way; enjoy the journey!
- ♦️ Look Around: While the river is the star, don't forget to look up! The views of the surrounding mountains in the Lone Peak Wilderness Area are absolutely gorgeous.
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| Dry Creek River Alpine, Utah on Hike up to Horse Tail Falls |
Video on River on the way to Horsetail Falls. It is called Dry Creek, but it always is full and beautiful. Not sure who named it, but they were wrong!
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| Dry Creek River Alpine Utah or HorseTail Falls Hike from North Side of River |
Another Video of River above Alpine Utah - just click on it, and it will come up.
More Videos of another section of the river that is very pretty.
Just click below and video will come up.Video above is a scenic part of the river. There is a shelter here that was built from logs laying around. Probably to keep a hiker dry when crossing back over the river was looking not too smart in the rain.
The beautiful woods you get to walk through right along side the gorgeous river. I love how the ground is just covered in Pine Needles, and I love the big white rocks. I also like how this area is not a set path, but wander around these rocks beside the river. I just love it.
Sunset makes a gorgeous views of the mountains all lite up to beautiful colors.
Video of the important turn off from the Dry Creek Trail that is EAST of the parking lot. This is the easiest safest way to the trail.
If you think you might like this hike, I will reassure you will definitely LOVE the hike along the river. The hike out to the Waterfalls has been stressful for me every time. UGH. But if you would like to see more of this awesome area, click on the HorseTail /Dry Creek GEarth Link, then click on the little dude in the bottom, then click on any blue line or dot to see more.
HorseTail Falls Dry Creek Canyon River Google Earth Link
⭐ Final Thoughts
Horsetail Falls is a hike that perfectly captures my love-hate relationship with tough adventures. It's a bit of a puzzle, a bit of a challenge, and it scares me a little every time I go. But the beauty is undeniable. Whether you're there to see the powerful waterfall or just to enjoy the magnificent river, the poorly named Dry Creek Canyon never disappoints. It’s a true Utah Valley gem that reminds me why I love exploring the wilder, more challenging paths.
Sending Love and Positive Vibes,
Shauna from VRGetaway
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