We loved going off the rugged Horsetail Falls trail – where chunky chiseled stones necessitated diligence at every step – to climb down into the Oneonta Gorge and along the creek. OK so part of the way down was on my bottom, but it was so worth it.
Our hike began at the trailhead at Horsetail Falls about 30 minutes from our home in Portland. Up the path we quickly approached Ponytail Falls, then instead of crossing the bridge over Oneonta Gorge we took the detour down to the water itself. (By the way, apparently the bridge – which we later crossed on the way out – had structural damage so that only one person was supposed to cross at a time – Yikes! Double yikes! )
Clear, cold and startlingly magnificent, the Oneonta Falls was our reward.
But to get there we had to scramble over slippery stones and scale steep rocky walls for a bit. (On the return route this is where my iPhone tumbled out of my pocket and into the water for about 30 seconds until Atty could reach in to retrieve it. It survived thanks to my lime green and blue rubbery Otter Box.)
Our trek took us over the creek, passed deep, clear pools, under huge fallen trees and along narrow steep paths where we held onto exposed tree roots to stay a fall.
Atty plunged into a particularly inviting pool while Kiki and I sat on mossy boulders and watched droplets fall from fern-covered cliffs.
We spent so much time in the gorge that we didn’t get to go up to Triple Falls. I’m determined to take the full route the next time.
(CLICK HERE to view the entire gallery.)
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The Horsetail and Oneonta Trailheads can be found immediately east of Multnomah Falls on the Historic Columbia River Highway.
Martha Cerna: Digging it my way 