A Friday afternoon hike in the Columbia River Gorge ended in tragedy when a 70-year-old woman fell approximately 400 feet from a trail near Horsetail Falls, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said the accident happened at approximately 1:45 p.m. on Friday, August 28. The woman was about half a mile up the trail when she fell, suffering injuries that proved fatal. A friend who was hiking with her witnessed the emergency and called for help.
Officials have not publicly released the woman’s identity while they work to notify her family. No additional information has been provided about what caused her to fall.
Horsetail Falls is one of the most recognizable waterfalls along the Historic Columbia River Highway, about 35 miles east of Portland. The 176-foot cascade is visible only a short distance from the parking area, making it a popular stop for families, photographers and travelers exploring the Gorge.
Beyond the roadside viewpoint, however, the surrounding trail system quickly climbs into much steeper terrain. The route leads toward Ponytail Falls and connects with portions of the Oneonta Trail, carrying hikers through dense forest and areas with dramatic elevation changes. The views can be breathtaking, but sections of the trail pass through rugged country where even a brief loss of balance can have devastating consequences.
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Friday’s tragedy marks the third fatal accident associated with an Oregon waterfall hike this summer.
On August 1, a 19-year-old man from Kennewick, Washington, died after falling an estimated 50 to 80 feet from a cliff above Punch Bowl Falls, one of the Columbia River Gorge’s best-known waterfall hikes. According to authorities, the young man had been attempting to climb down toward the waterfall when he fell onto the rocks below. More than 20 volunteers participated in the difficult recovery operation.
Just nine days later, a 20-year-old man died after falling from South Falls at Silver Falls State Park. Oregon State Police identified him as Zachary Nicholas Mertens of Burlington, Kentucky. Investigators said Mertens had entered a closed area near the top of the 177-foot waterfall while attempting to pose for photographs before slipping and falling into the pool below.
Another park visitor attempted CPR following the fall at South Falls, but Mertens could not be saved. His death came only nine days after the fatal accident at Punch Bowl Falls, and Friday’s tragedy near Horsetail Falls followed less than three weeks later.
The three deaths occurred at different locations and under different circumstances. Authorities have not indicated that the woman at Horsetail Falls left the established trail, crossed a barrier or entered a closed area. Still, the incidents offer a sobering reminder that even Oregon’s most popular and frequently visited natural attractions can contain serious hazards.
The area surrounding Horsetail Falls has also been the scene of previous fatal accidents. In March 2024, a Portland woman was found dead at the base of a cliff near the Horsetail Falls Trailhead after she failed to return from a planned solo hike near Oneonta Falls. Search and rescue crews discovered 63-year-old Terina Kaye Chapman the following afternoon in the same general trail system where Friday’s fatal fall occurred.
The earlier tragedy underscores how quickly conditions can become dangerous in this part of the Columbia River Gorge. Although Horsetail Falls itself is an easily accessible roadside attraction, the connected trails lead hikers into steep, rugged terrain with cliffs, narrow passages and significant drop-offs. Familiarity and popularity do not necessarily make these trails forgiving.
Waterfall trails can be particularly deceptive during the summer. A path may appear dry while still containing slick areas caused by waterfall spray, shaded moisture or loose soil. Exposed roots, gravel and unstable rocks can also make it difficult to regain balance, especially along narrow sections bordered by steep slopes.
Photographs shared online do not always show the terrain surrounding Oregon’s waterfalls. A destination that looks like a simple roadside attraction may connect to a much steeper and more demanding trail system beyond the primary viewpoint. Cliffs and drop-offs can also be difficult to judge through a phone screen, particularly when photographs are carefully framed to emphasize the waterfall rather than the surrounding hazards.
Visitors exploring the Columbia River Gorge and other waterfall destinations should remain on established trails, follow posted closures and avoid moving beyond fences or barriers. Sturdy footwear with reliable traction is important, even on relatively short outings, and hikers should slow down when approaching wet, narrow or exposed portions of a trail.
It is also wise to keep children and pets close, avoid looking at a phone while walking and resist moving into a dangerous position for a photograph. Hikers traveling into areas with limited cell service should tell someone where they are going and when they expect to return.
For now, the identity of the woman who died near Horsetail Falls remains private as authorities complete the notification process. What began as an afternoon in one of Oregon’s most beautiful landscapes has instead left another family grieving during an unusually tragic summer along the state’s waterfall trails.
