A little past Multnomah Falls along the old gorge highway is Oneota Gorge.
This short hike features a spectacular waterfall at the end of a narrow slot canyon.
There are two nice hikes here, either up the creek or around the canyon to the falls two miles above.
We'll be hiking up the creek and into the canyon.
Plan on getting wet if you want to see the falls.
Park near the bridge then start hiking up the creek and into the canyon.
After about a hundred yards is the famous log jam.
Some time ago, a big boulder fell into the river and as logs fell off the cliffs above
they got stuck here instead of washing farther downstream.
Climb up over them, being careful to keep your footing on their slippery surface.
This fun little climb is as far as most people go, but it gets more interesting as you get farther in.
As soon a you're past the logs, you're in the narrow slot.
The walls close in as the creek narrows to ten or twenty feet.
It's close enough that fallen trees span the gorge above.
For the first half the creek is shallow enough that it's easy to find dry spots
where your feet will stay dry, but as it gets deeper you'll eventually have to abandon
that idea and walk right in the creek.
At one point the walls close in to about ten feet and the water rises to about three feet.
There are few foot holds on the wall so it's best to just wade on in,
rather that risk sliding in and getting even wetter.
The deep part goes by quickly and then you're in the box end of the canyon with the falls right ahead.
This scenic waterfall drops off a 100 foot ledge then turns left off a second ledge as it falls into the pool.
You're surrounded on three sides by wet green walls in a pool 30 feet across and four or five deep.
The water is pretty chilly but nearly everyone who walks this far goes into the pool.
Portland Travels 2005
A little past Multnomah Falls along the old gorge highway is Oneota Gorge. This short hike features a spectacular waterfall at the end of a narrow slot canyon.
