Horsetail Falls - Micro Spikes/Hiking 3/25/21

Uphill woodland hike to cascading waterfall in Alpine

Drive: I-15, take Timpanogos Hwy/Hwy 92 east, left on Main St in Alpine, rt 200 N, left Grove Dr and take to the Deer Creek/Dry Creek/North Mountain Trailhead.

Permits: None

Activities:

Hike/Snowshoe Horsetail Falls Trail - 4.6 miles out and back. Difficult trail. Steep uphill.

Great for hike enjoying adults and teens. Would not recommend for toddlers.

Dogs: allowed on leash.

Gear: 2021 needed snowshoes on this trail January & early February . Late Feb. & March ice cleats/micro spikes. Rest of year hiking boots or shoes.

Winter gear: Snowshoes/poles or micro spikes/yak traks/ice cleats (weather

dependent), thermal top and bottom, wool socks or just not cotton socks, snow

pants, sleeve fleece, light waterproof jacket, gloves, hat, sunglasses,

sunscreen, camelback or regular back pack (with space remaining to shove

clothes in when you get too warm), 1 1/2 Liters water, 1-2 snacks, lunch,

WATERPROOF boots or non-waterproof boots/shoes and also

rent "overshoes."

Rentals - Snowshoes: $10 (UVU- includes poles and overboots or $8 only

snowshoes); $10 (BYU Outdoors Unltd); $10 (Out N’ Back in

Orem); $13 (Solitude Nordic Center 1/2 day snowshoes only)

Overshoes: $4 (UVU Outdoor Adventure); $5 (BYU Outdoors Unltd)

Poles: $4 (Out N Back); $5 (BYU Outdoors Unltd)

Cross Country Ski package: $16 1/2 day (Solitude Nordic Center)

Gaiters (cover ankles from getting snow): $3 (BYU Outdoors Unltd)

Sample Itinerary:

9:00 am Trailhead Parking Lot

11:45 am Waterfall

12:00 pm Lunch

12:15 pm Hike back down

1:30 pm Parking Lot

Hike Review:

Excellent woodland waterfall hike. It is uphill steep for a few hours, depending on your speed to the falls, but the cascades are worth it. The falls really do look like a horse's tail. If Stewart Falls was a 5 out of 10 on difficulty, I would call this a 6.5.

Parking lot is located just above the Alpine Rodeo Fairgrounds and the mountain bike course. When you pull into the parking lot there are no signs for Horsetail Falls, only the Deer Creek to Dry Creek sign pictured below. Head up the trail that in May and June features beautiful wildflowers. After 20 minutes you enter tall pine tree forest which is great for shade in the summer. Continue up the trail til you see the meadow. It is a slanted steep meadow you will recognize from the break in the trees. You are now almost 2/3rds of the way there. Continue up steep woodland hike and cross 2 streams with log bridges. The views of the valley are spectacular. After that you will see a wooden post sign (see photos below). It will not say Horsetail Fall on it, just Dry and Deer Creek. Someone has hand carved the words "Falls" into it with a nail. This is your only marker and means you are almost there! Go to the left of the sign up the trail. Approximately 50 ft up on the left fork from this trail you will see on the left of the trail some rope railing (see picture). This is your path down to the falls. Continue following this narrow trail til you see the falls. You will then see a steep trail that takes you to the base of the upper falls. Head down for a picnic directly next to the cascades.