Yacolt Burn State Forest - Appaloosa Trail

The Appaloosa Trail is a 6-mile round trip connector through the heart of the Yacolt Burn State Forest, linking the west and east sides of the larger Tarbell Trail loop. Recently reconstructed by DNR with help from several volunteer organizations, this is one of the better-maintained paths in the forest.

From Rock Creek Campground, the trail crosses Rock Creek three times on solid bridges, then follows Coyote Creek upstream through a mix of alder groves and mature Douglas-fir. The route rolls through old logging road sections (flat and easy walking) before steepening briefly into older forest. The payoff at the end is Hidden Falls, a tall, plunging cascade tucked in a lush green drainage with a bench placed perfectly for lunch.

This trail works well as a standalone out-and-back to the falls, or as one leg of a loop using the Tarbell Trail. Runners love the Tarbell-Appaloosa loop from Rock Creek Campground. The bridges and moderate grade make it a solid family option, and the forest is varied enough to hold interest. Expect to share the trail with horses on occasion.