Coopey Falls, Horsetail waterfall in Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, United States.
Coopey Falls is a tiered waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge that drops through dark basalt formations, creating white water as it cascades down the rock face. Multiple levels of falling water create a dynamic visual display where the creek meets these layered stone formations.
The falls were named after Charles Coopey, a British-born tailor from Portland who owned extensive land in the area. He envisioned using the waterfall's power for textile manufacturing, though his industrial plans never fully developed.
The falls sit on private land behind a convent of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. Visitors reach the cascade by asking permission at the convent, then following a path from the parking lot in front of the building. The name comes from Charles Coopey, an English tailor who owned the adjacent land.
The falls flow year-round but with varying intensity depending on rainfall and season. Multiple viewpoints along nearby trails allow visitors to see the cascade from different angles without difficult terrain.
Charles Coopey, an English tailor, bought the land by the falls and planned to use water from nearby Wahkeena Falls to power a woolen mill for spinning, weaving and wool scouring. Simon Benson bought Wahkeena Falls from him, ending the scheme. The falls carry Coopey's name, not his mill's.
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