Oneonta Gorge

Cascade Locks, Oregon

4.8/5

based on 30 reviews

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Distance

0.92 miles

Elevation Gain

531 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Michael Matti

*Currently closed (except a small portion of the upper trail between Multnomah Spur and Trail #444 on Larch Mountain). Oneonta is a unique gorge that leads to beautiful Oneonta Falls. The experience of wading through chilly water to reach the falls only adds to the adventure.

*Currently closed (except a small portion of the upper trail between Multnomah Spur and Trail #444 on Larch Mountain)...here

This hike is very short (1 mile roundtrip) but does take some time to do. The trail leads down from the road into a stream bed. You follow the stream bed upstream through a narrow gorge. At the entrance to the gorge there is a large log jam. This requires some balance to climb over; be very careful if it is wet.

I like the path over the log jam on the far left near the gorge wall. Once you're over the log jam, the rest of the hike is just walking in and then wading through the stream. At one point in the stream the water gets quite deep, maybe 5ft depending on time of year. This section isn't very long but the water is cold. It is possible to cling to the rock and shimmy along the right side of the gorge and only have the water go up to about your knees. After the deep section, you arrive at the end of the gorge and the spectacular waterfall.

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Waterfall

Swimming Hole

Oneonta Gorge Reviews

Amy Paez

Oneonta Gorge

04/19/15

Definitely wear shoes. It's very slippery throughout. I wore cross trainers with dual layered socks, and they got the job done well and dried out enough to be comfortable for a separate hike right after finishing this one. Boots would have been too heavy for me. Around the beginning with the log jams, it's more muddy and you may sink into it a bit. I'm only 5'2" and the water in the deepest part (about 3/4 of the way in) was up to my chin. I had to swim that short distance as the current was too strong for me to try to walk it when it at that depth. Most of the hike it varied between ankle and waist deep though. The water was also really cold! I almost instantly went numb. There are a few spots to try and get out of it for a moment that I utilized along the way. There's no place to change your clothes except your car. I was comfortable with quick drying material for the rest of the day. I wouldn't recommend bring kids on this one. You won't get very far with them. Teenagers should do well enough though. It was a great experience, and I'm glad I did it!

4.0

Katherine Burton

Oneonta Gorge

03/16/15

Bring electronics in waterproof bags (ziplocks are cheap decent options) as it's hard to keep things dry.

4.0

Chelli Montrose

Oneonta Gorge

03/16/15

Yes, crowded in summer but still worth braving the crowds for its beauty! Gear up in winter and the treat is stunning ice on the falls!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Triple Falls

Access to Triple Falls is currently closed. Learn more on the Forest Service Site. This hike, starting at the Oneonta Trailhead is a 3.2 mile roundtrip. You will gain approximately 600 feet in elevation as the trail often switches from moderate flat easy hiking to more difficult elevation gain and even a little bit of downhill. You will soon reach a junction point (#438) that leads to the Hors...

Horsetail Falls Loop

Start off on this loop from Horsetail Falls Trailhead. It never hurts to start a hike with a view of Horsetail Falls. This 2.5 mile loop will start you off on Gorge trail #400 up Horsetail Falls Trail. You’ll encounter a few switchbacks before the trail flattens out and leads you into the valley toward Ponytail Falls. As you continue on this loop, you’ll get to hike behind the falls. After con...

Ponytail Falls

Ponytail Falls is an easy 0.8 mile hike located in the gorge that begins at Horsetail Falls. After hiking up mild switchbacks, continue to your right at the first trailhead intersection. The path levels out before coming around the mountain and opening up to the waterfall. This is the easiest waterfall hike in the Oregon Gorge and is accessible all year around. It is also a great spot to begin...

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls is worth a quick stop anytime you're visiting the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Oregon. This waterfall is the tallest in Oregon at 620 feet and the third largest in the Pacific Northwest behind Bridal Veil Falls (1,289 feet) and Green Lake Falls (979 feet) and has an average flow rate of 150 cu ft/s over two drops. The falls are only about 30 miles from Portland a...

Larch Mountain's Summit

Done as a loop or one way shuttle (in summer/fall), the full Larch Mountain experience starts at the large (but still always full) Multnomah Falls parking lot. There you'll have the chance to grab a final snack, use the restroom, and fill water bottles before joining all the "tourist" hikers on the paved walk up to the top of the falls, where they tend to stop and this adventure truly begins. ...

Multnomah-Wahkeena Loop

The Multnomah-Wahkeena loop is a classic hike in the Columbia Gorge. Few hikes take you by as many waterfalls, and the tree cover makes it a great hike in the rain. Starting at the Multnomah Falls Parking Area, head to the main viewing area of Multnomah Falls. If you get there early in the morning, you can avoid some crowds while you take in one of Oregon's iconic sights. Be sure to read the...

Oneonta Gorge

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Oneonta Gorge Reviews

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Nearby

Triple Falls

Horsetail Falls Loop

Ponytail Falls

Multnomah Falls

Larch Mountain's Summit

Multnomah-Wahkeena Loop

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