Horsetail Falls, Waterfall in Desolation Wilderness, El Dorado County, California, United States

Horsetail Falls is a waterfall in the Sierra Nevada, west of Lake Tahoe in the Desolation Wilderness of El Dorado County, California. It falls in stages for 791 feet (241 m) and is reached by hiking north from the Twin Bridges trailhead on U.S. Route 50, where a forest service parking area is designated.

Horsetail Falls lies in Desolation Wilderness, west of Lake Tahoe in El Dorado County. The area was designated wilderness under the Wilderness Act of 1964, which set aside federal land to keep its natural condition; the falls and their water source fall within that boundary.

Horsetail Falls is reached by hiking north from the Twin Bridges trailhead on U.S. Route 50, where a Forest Service parking area serves visitors. The falls drop in stages for 791 feet (241 m) at 38°49′40.28″N 120°7′23.87″W, west of Lake Tahoe in El Dorado County.

The best time to visit is from May through October when snow has melted and trails are accessible. Start early and bring plenty of water and sturdy hiking boots, as the terrain is demanding and the elevation requires good stamina.

The waterfall drops in stages for 791 feet (241 m), a figure that comes from its full cascade rather than a single plunge. Hikers reach it by heading north from the Twin Bridges trailhead on U.S. Route 50, where a Forest Service parking area is set aside for the trail.