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Oneonta Trail

4.8 (27 reviews)

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Me and the beautiful falls
Jake R.

This is such a beautiful hike! It's also nice and short too. I came down here with a friend on a last minute road trip for Labor Day weekend and I'm really glad I did. This hike is so beautiful and I got some great shots! It was getting a bit late in the day so I'm glad this was a short hike. It was a little confusing to find the trail head, apparently you start on either side of the bridge, but once we found the trail it was easy going. That said, the hike is a bit treacherous as you are climbing over boulders and fallen trees. Also, you will get wet, no way around it so plan accordingly. We were not that prepared but made it work anyways, just had to roll up our pants and soaked our shoes, luckily we had spare pairs. Most of the parts where you have to walk in the river are pretty shallow but at least one spot is pretty deep but if you are smart, like us, you can scale the wall a bit and only get your feet wet. Be sure to make it all the way to the falls at the end, that's the best part. The falls are gorgeous and the valley that you hike in just looks so cool. I would highly recommend this hike and I'll be doing it again for sure!

Masses of people
Catalina M.

Two words: Log Jam. Get here early to avoid crowds. Wear tennis shoes or Tevas, not flip flops, and prepared to get wet up to your chest just to get to falls. So bring a change of clothes and leave in your car. Bring waterproof pack to hold keys, phone or camera. It us breathtakingly beautiful. However get here early to avoid stupid people. The large traffic jam on the big logs with people bringing small dogs big dogs kids and babies is crazy. You have to transverse the logs getting in, then getting out. The logs are wet and at times slippery. We saw some narrow misses with dog owners letting their large dogs off the leash and almost knocking 4 people off the log jam. That was scary Then there was the guy with the baby, infant almost fell out if it's baby pack when he was leaning over. Baby could have easily been killed. It was nutty. People were helping each other. I had a few helping hands. My husband helped some other ladies climb over the large piles of wet logs. We both had to encourage 3 kids who were on the verge of breaking down crying and shaking in fear. Clearly parents don't have a clue. We found out later with talking to a nice ranger who had the day off that they rescue people 3-5x a week from those who fall off the logs and break arm, legs, ribs etc Anyway why do this? The narrow slot canyon gorge with ferns and moss clinging to the rocky walls has a gorgeous waterfall with ice cold pool of water. Yes! I went swimming in the waterfall! It was soooooo cold yet so beautiful. So come early to avoid crowds, wear proper gear, bring waterproof container. Have a change of clothes, towel and dry shoes in your car. Lastly, the ranger said cars are broken-in and items stolen quite a lot here. So leave valuables at home and hide everything out of sight!

Triple Falls, the worthy destination of this hike.
Sean G.

There are a number of hikes that can start at the Oneonta trailhead. Many enjoy the wading hike directly up the creek, but I like to take a loop up the canyon to Triple Falls, and then over to Ponytail and Horsetail falls on the way back. This is one of my favorite hikes in the Columbia River Gorge. It doesn't suffer from the crowds of Multnomah or Latourelle, and it is just as beautiful. As usual, for the first half mile or so, you'll run into other people, but once you pass the fork in the trail leading to Horsetail falls, you're going to have the place mostly to yourself. Triple Falls is majestic and beautiful, and just past the falls there is a great resting area where you can sit quietly and enjoy nature. Then it's a quick walk back, with a swing down the other trail to Ponytail and Horsetail Falls. The gorge at it's best!

This is so beautiful. Highly recommend if you're down to get wet and climb through some logs!
Stephanie T.

My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this trail, but we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. However, it was the most beautiful hike I have ever done and I could do it over again & again. We didn't bring extra change of clothes like what other people recommended because we didn't know, but luckily the weather was warm and beautiful so we didn't mind getting wet. Getting wet is an understatement because there is one part of the gorge where you have to wade to the waterfall. My bf and I are tall people.. 5"9 and 5"11 respectively and the water went up to our chest. We had to carry our backpacks above our head. But the trek through climbing the logs and wading through 36 degree water was sooo worth it. It is absolutely breath taking. Highly recommend to do this hike, but come prepared! If you want beautiful scenery and a gorgeous waterfall at the end, this hike is for you :)

Rebecca W.

This is one of the best hikes in the gorge! It's not too difficult for the wee ones, but is challenging and/or rewarding enough for the avid hikers. The trail isn't very long, but there are options for longer hikes as you follow the trail deeper into the gorge. We chose to follow the Horsetail Falls Trail which led to Ponytail Falls (upper horsetail) and the Lower Horsetail Falls. If you have never seen the Ponytail Falls I highly recommend you make a trip out to this location and make the hike. It's well worth it! You can start from Oneonta Trail, or from Horsetail. The latter of the two is shorter. Either way, the trail is no more than a couple miles in length total; less than that if you just hike to the Ponytail Falls from Horsetail and back again the way you came. Ponytail Falls is spectacular! The Horsetail Falls trail actually slips in behind the waterfall under a rock face. From there you can peacefully enjoy watching the massive plume of water splash into the shallow pool below. The pool is shallow enough to wade through, though the water is very cold! Burrr! I imagine on a hot day it would feel heavenly! Heading just east of the Horsetail Falls Trail Head you'll find another trail head for the Oneonta Gorge Trail It is not well marked, but is just off to the right (south) before you walk through the Old Columbia River Hwy passage through the rock face. This trail is not for the wee ones, nor the old ones, nor the disabled ones! It is slightly treacherous in areas and requires hikers to wade in knee deep to chest deep water towards the end. There are also large boulders, slippery logs and rocks that you must navigate to reach your final destination on this trail. At the end there is a beautiful waterfall and swimming hole to enjoy! What makes all these trails so wonderful is that there is little work required to be rewarded so greatly with such spectacular views. What better way to spend the afternoon?

Oneonta Gorge, Oregon
Myrthe G.

This is one of the best hikes I've done in USA so far! The hike is not too long but it takes a lot of effort and energy to get what you came for which is the stunning waterfall. This is NOT a hike to bring your little kids or dogs to!!!! You really need to climb on logs and walk trough ice cold water. It would be irresponsible and stupid if you think you can carry your infant in a backpack! I have seen those stupid parents climbing around which made my heart almost stop a couple of times! The logs can get wet and slippery. Be prepared to get wet up till your chest. Wear clothes that is suitable to go in the water with and wear proper footwear like water shoes, hiking shoes, sport shoes. Do not wear flip flops or sandals that would be very uncomfortable when you are climbing those logs. This hike is totally worth the climbing and getting in the water for! Just be prepared for the unexpected.

Shea R.

I came to Oregon for this trail & I would do it again' It was the best experience ever. First off, if you go to the address listed (like I did) it takes you to the trails that are 2 miles + for Triple Falls and Horse tail trail but we couldn't find the Oneonta Gorge waterfall! So we went back to where we parked and saw people walking a little up the road and there it was!! So if you go a little further and see the tunnel, you are there and its about 1 mile hike & you have to be able to climb over logs, and you WILL get wet(about waist length).. but it is so worth it! Bring your bathing suit & jump in with the waterfall!

Oneonta, Oregon. Columbia river

Oneonta! Oneonta! Woo! You will feel like you just join american ninja, with all the log obstacles and rock climbing.. You will get wet, there's no option for that, unless you can fly. Its nice if you are just wearing flip flops. If you want to wear your sneakers, make sure it's not the expensive Jordan's.. Put your phone on something water proof. If you get scared, don't back up! The view is worth hiking for.

Just getting started
Tram T.

One of my fav hike in Portland. It's about 2 miles round trip. If you're afraid to get wet I do not recommend this trail. The trail start off by climbing over a bunch of logs. After you're in about deep waist water until you reach the fall! It's a really fun and beautiful hike.

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15 years ago

Awesome, majestic views. Nice hike. Beautiful. Highly recommended.

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15 years ago

Pretty easy trail with small parking lot at the bottom. Only a 1.8 mile hike to a very good view of Triple Falls.

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13 years ago

Oneonta Gorge is amazing! Bring water gear! Half the hike is in knee-high water!

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Review Highlights - Oneonta Trail

Getting wet is an understatement because there is one part of the gorge where you have to wade to the waterfall.

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Hamilton Mountain Trail - Picnic tables

Hamilton Mountain Trail

(10 reviews)

When researching hiking trails to add to our vacation itinerary, I chose Hamilton Mountain Trail…read morebecause of the waterfalls..Pool of The Winds, Hardy Falls, & Rodney Falls and also, because it was located across the way from Beacon Rock. It was perfect weather for our hike on September 3, 2021 & it took my hubby & I almost 2 hours to hike up to the Pool of The Winds waterfall & back down. We did make multiple stops along the trail to take pictures/videos & to catch our breath. :)) While, I don't consider myself an avid hiker, I do consider myself in pretty good shape BUT I did NOT feel in good shape a few times during our hike up Hamilton Mountain! Going straight up that mountain is no joke! No worries though, I pulled through & made my way up that mountain & back down w/out any assistance...barely! :)) There are a few spots where the climb is very steep & slippery so be mindful of your steps. For sure having actual hiking boots would have served me better than the running shoes, I had on. Okay, so enough of my "out of shape" info..let's move on to the awesomeness of Hamilton Mountain Trail. As you are climbing up the trail, you're surrounded by huge trees & everything around you is so still & just peaceful. There is a small bench for sitting along the way & if you keep going pass that, you eventually come to an open clearing and the waterfalls. The waterfalls themselves are just so awesome! Mother Nature really is displaying her best work when you're standing right next to a waterfall! The Pool of The Winds waterfall was my favorite & there's a bridge right beneath it that is the perfect picture backdrop. I also wanted to add that it wasn't crowded at all during our visit & we did go on a Saturday around 2:30pm. Lastly, there was plenty of parking & a restroom at the beginning of the trail head. Hope this info helps! ~Rebecca out

We hiked Beacon Rock the day before, and this trail is right across the street. In fact, you can…read moreget a good view of Beacon Rock through the trees from the Upper Parking Lot. The hike to Rodney Falls and Pool of the Winds seemed do-able, and we had a short amount of time, so we thought we could knock it out. As we started out, we learned that it had a pretty steep incline, and was a bit of a butt burner on the way up. I'm not an avid hiker, so let's just say I had a bit of a rough time (gasp) with lots of stops for photos (read: to catch my breathe). There are tons of trees for shade, with a few sun spots here and there. Just as I thought I couldn't hike another step, a fellow hiker offered encouragement, letting me know it was just a few minutes farther. And boy was it worth it. Pool of the Winds is a gorgeous falls with a clear pool of mountain water. And there are several spots to get good views of Rodney Falls and to continue on the hike if you choose (I did not!). Easy time going down. Quite a few people had hiking poles, to make it easier on the knees. I'd call this a success! (even with sore legs for a day or two afterward).

Dry Creek Falls Hike

Dry Creek Falls Hike

(10 reviews)

Beautiful hike. How to get to the hike you have to drive down a long gravel road I recommend…read moredriving a suv or a car you don't care about it's a tight trail at some points so you will get scratches on ur vehicle but the hike is amazing one of my new favorites

This is a beautiful hike! If you follow all trails map, it will start you at the bridge of the…read moregods trailhead. There is another lot a couple of blocks away. The bridge of the gods trailhead does not have a lot of parking. If you do park there, cost is $5 cash for the day be sure to bring that with you. Bathrooms are open. There are trash cans at the parking lot. The views of the bridge of the gods are stunning from the parking lot. the first bit of the trail is a little bit loud. It is very cool to be on the PCT. Especially if you are not from the area. It is nice to have had my feet touch a small portion of the PCT, hopefully someday there will be more. The trail is very green and lush. It is also well signed and marked. The birds were singing. I arrived at 730 am and was the 2nd car in the lot. I didn't see anyone out until i was on my way back down and in my last 3/4 of a mile. From reading reviews on all trails though it can get busy so best to know where the other parking lot is in case you can't get a spot at the bridge of the gods trailhead parking lot. The trail has a gentle but steady incline from the get go. The falls at the end are of course lovely. If i were in the area again i would do this one again.

Gillette Lake Hike - View of Gillette Lake from the trail on the way there.

Gillette Lake Hike

(3 reviews)

Moderate difficulty hike that's 5.4 miles from the North Bonneville Trailhead to Gillette Lake. I…read morerecommend looking up the trail on the gorgefriends.org website for directions and additional helpful info. You do have to pay to park at the trailhead unless you already have a Northwest Forest Pass (it's currently a $5 day-use fee to park if you don't have that pass). There's a couple pit toilets and picnic tables at the trailhead parking lot as well. The trail is dirt in some sections and loose gravel/rocks in others. There are sections of inclines as well, so along with the rocky sections of trail, some people may prefer to use trek poles for stability. The incline sections aren't too long and it's a good mix of up and down, so you don't get too winded of you're in relatively good shape. It's also a nice mix of shaded sections in the forest, and open areas in the sun. There's nice views of the surrounding area in the upper open sections and the lake itself is quite pretty. There aren't any benches at the lake, though, so plan on sitting on the ground, or bring your own camp chair, if you want to hang out at the lake a bit. There also isn't a lot of open shoreline, either, so keep that in mind.

This is a super easy hike. You follow the trail from the Bonneville dam trailhead for about 1/2…read moremile, until it connects with the Pacific Crest Trail. Hang a left, and it's 2 miles to Gillette Lake. The trail has a mix of Forrest, clear-cut, and rocky talus. While the clear-cut is a little depressing, it does allow for some nice views throughout the hike. You pass by another lake on the way to Gillette, and there is a nice stream just past the lake. You can continue up the Pacific Crest Trail for as long as you like. There is a decent little loop about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile past Gillette lake. It's worth it if you want to add a few miles onto the hike. There is supposedly a viewpoint or overlook up this way, but we did not find it. The trail is fairly muddy if you hike in winter. But this is a nice alternative to many of the very hard hikes out here in the gorge. A great Sunday outing for the family. There is a fee to park, unless you have a Northwest forest pass or a Discover pass. I think the fee is five dollars. There are some pit toilets at the trailhead if you need that sort of thing.

Ponytail Falls

Ponytail Falls

(2 reviews)

Ponytail Falls is also known as UPPER HORSETAIL FALLS in the heart of the waterfall section of the…read moreColumbia River Gorge. It's an easy reach and visit for everyone. It's located 4/10th's of a mile along Horsetail Falls Trail, which is a pleasant hike through the forest. For everyone that comes to check out Horsetail Falls, which sits right beside the Historic Columbia River Highway, I'd suggest at least doing the hike up to Ponytail Falls. It's worth it. It may not be as grand as Multnomah Falls (which is obviously in a league of its own), but I'd categorize in the second tier rankings of waterfalls around the area. When you see the Horsetail Falls Trailhead sign, there will be NO MENTION of Ponytail Falls. It'll specifically say Upper Horsetail Falls (which will be your cue for Ponytail Falls) and that it's 4/10th's of a mile to reach. Ponytail Falls (or Upper Horsetail Falls...I know I'm getting redundant, lol) is 88 feet tall and splashes down into a pool of water. You can go swimming in it, but when I stopped by in late August, temperatures were still pretty cold. Also great about Ponytail Falls is that the trail navigates about 270 degrees around and right underneath the waterfall. You can catch dramatic views watching behind the falls as the charging water splashes down below. Plus, the surroundings hiking into the lower bowl where the waterfall is situated, can offer undisturbed vantage points from almost any angle. It doesn't take long to experience Ponytail Falls, especially if you're turning around and heading back to the trailhead below. But if you do continue on Horsetail Falls Trail, there are cool glances from the tree line horizon looking down on the Columbia River Gorge from high up. Plus, you can connect with the Oneonta Trail leading to Triple Falls Waterfall (which gets slightly difficult the higher you climb) or continue towards the right hand side where the pathway navigates throughout the forest before returning back down to the road. Overall, although it may be rewardingly efficient to see Horsetail Falls and then immediately return to your car and heads towards the next activity around the Columbia River Gorge, I'd keep in mind making the effort to hike to Ponytail Falls. I think it's impressionable and you'll get to check off two waterfalls right near each other for the price of one admission.

Great hike went on a not sunny day had the place completely alone to enjoy it very beautiful hikeread more

Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail

Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail

(9 reviews)

Extraordinarily beautiful! Whether you are taking a drive, riding your bike, or hiking the trail,…read morethe historic Columbia River Highway (Scenic Hwy 30) is a must experience. As you follow the twists and turns of the road, incredible vistas of the Columbia River, the basalt cliffs of the gorge and the rolling hills dotted with orchards and farms awaken all of your senses. This is incredible territory and makes you understand why the early settlers came from far away to live here! Accolades to the Civic Engineering team who built the the many stone guardrails with arches, meticulous work to creat the symmetry, and the many tunnels along the way. The tunnels were cut right into the rock cliff. Amazing! over 100 years later, we are still marveling at the engineering feat and using this road, tunnels and bridges to explore this marvelous country. In several areas there are white metal guardrails that create a stunning contrast to all the green and blue along the way. The road starts around Corbett - make sure to stop At Chanticleer Point for the most amazing view, the Crown Point and Vista House for more - and continue to Hood River and then Mosier, a quant and charming town of just 430. Along the way there are dozens of trails to hike, look out points to pull over, and waterfalls to see from the road. This route never gets boring. Every day is different based in the sun, clouds, blooms and foliage. it's living art and it makes me happy every single time I am traveling this route. Breathe it all in, it's good for the soul!

Go see the wondrous twin tunnels in Mosier on the historic Columbia River Highway. It is shut down…read moreto vehicle traffic. So you can go by bikes, Ebikes, running shoes, walking shoes and strollers. Hatfield east side or west side entrance it's about 5 miles one way. From the East side it's 1 mile to the tunnels - a construction marvel for any time in history. The tunnels have been preserved and are over 100 years old. Pretty amazing that construction workers cut the tunnel right in the side of a sheer rock cliff. About 500 feet above the Columbia River level. We enjoyed a good bike ride starting at the eastside in Mosier and road west towards Hood river and back again which was a little over 10 miles. The ride totaled 1,300 feet total elevation gain on a flat to rolling paved double wide trail. Average elevation was 170 to 670 feet. Pedaling along you have extraordinary views of the Columbia River and sheer cliffs surrounding the river. Plenty of look-out stops. The majority of time you're riding under the shade of some maple and pine tree canopies. Have fun - you will enjoy!

Oneonta Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

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