Triple Falls

We were lucky enough to get some awesome sunny weather last weekend, and we took advantage of it by getting out on a hike. We decided to hike up to see Triple Falls, which in in the Columbia River Gorge.  It is about 4.5 miles round trip, and it gained about 600 feet in elevation.  Most books and websites rate it as a moderate difficulty level.  

The hike starts at Horsetail Falls, which is right off of exit 35 on I-84 East.  It had a moderate incline at first, but then flattens out at .4 miles when it reaches Ponytail Falls.

Me carrying Owen, and Lacey in the background (pictured above), at the beginning of the hike on our way up to Ponytail Falls (pictured below).

Ryan and Lindy underneath Ponytail Falls (pictured below).

 

The hike continues to climb after the falls until you are looking down into the Oneonta Gorge (pictured below).  The Oneonta Gorge is quite spectacular to see, and pictures do not quite do it justice.  I have heard that it is a great place to go explore on a hot Summer day.  

 

Above is a picture of me and Owen crossing a bridge that goes over the gorge.  The picture below is of a small waterfall behind the bridge.

Here is Owen and me at the trail junction for Triple Falls.  On a side note, Owen always looks very uncomfortable in his backpack.  We are looking into getting him one similar to Lindy's.  Hopefully that makes him look a little happier on hikes. 

Here is Triple Falls.  This is the first viewpoint of the falls.  It was so nice and sunny right here, but it wasn't great for pictures.  Below is Me and Lacey at the falls, and then Marlee and Ruby at the falls.  They were very happy pups that day.  (Little Man was also with us, but he was in a shadow in the picture, so I cropped him out).

 

Above is Ryan (and Lindy) taking the picture that is below.  The bridge they are on goes above the falls, and the picture below is of the creek that feeds the falls. 

Below is Lindy at our lunch spot.  She was exhausted from all of the hiking.

All in all it was pretty good hike.  Ryan and I both felt it was a little too long for the babies.  They both got a little fussy during parts of the hike.  I think they just get a little uncomfortable in their backpacks, but regardless, it was an unusually beautiful day in February and I'm glad we got to get outside and enjoy it.