Oneonta Gorge- Columbia River Gorge, OR

Getting back to the Lower Oneonta Falls is a bit difficult, but for those intrepid souls willing to scale a logjam and wade through chest deep bracing water, the rewards are great. 

Despite the challenges, this area is very popular, so arrive early to make the most of this experience. There is only one way to reach these falls located at the head of a slot canyon, and that is walking upstream, between the vertical walls of Oneonta Gorge. The stream is the trail. The trail became more difficult to traverse following a rockfall in the 1990’s, when a logjam subsequently formed behind the rocks.

Visually, the logjam is intimidating. Any rational being will question the stability of a pile of logs washed down a river and assembled randomly, without even the help of a beaver. You might also question the soundness of your decision to climb over these logs. There have been fatalities. However, if you are reasonably cautious and wear appropriate footwear, you should live to tell the tale of the Jurassic-like experience on the other side of the barrier.

The canyon’s steep 25 million year old basalt walls are alive with life. Ferns, lichens and mosses provide a lush, verdant backdrop for your hike. Tall pines loom above, filtering all daylight below. The water depth varies, but for most of the trail it is pretty shallow and crystalline.

With water depths ranging from a few inches to about a foot, the stream trail should be manageable for most. Until the very end. Right before you reach the falls there is a pool you must traverse. A fairly deep shockingly frigid pool, standing between you and the waterfall. If you have legit water shoes, you can cling to the side of the gorge just below the waterline, but one slip, and you’ll wish you had just walked down the middle. If you come bearing no electronics, swimming is absolutely an option, if crowd size allows. Your heart may stop though. The water is that cold.

After the icy plunge, you are rewarded with the falls. Around a bend, the gorge opens up, revealing a small pool, and the 100 foot falls. It is the perfect place for a swim in the summer if you arrive early enough. At just after 7, there were few people at the falls, and it truly felt like we had discovered The Land of the Lost- minus the Sleestaks. By the time we hiked out, the crowds were already started to form, and I was thankful we had arrived so early.

The Columbia River Gorge is home to several impressive waterfalls, but Lower Oneonta is truly a standout. That said, I have seen pictures of a solid mass of people navigating the stream, which would have totally ruined the experience for me. As with other slot canyons, this hike should be avoided during storms, when river levels are high, or any risk of flash flooding exists.

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