Oneonta Falls

Saturday was raining, gray and cold here in Portland. But the weather didn't keep us home.

We grabbed a cup of Starbucks and drove 1/2 hour up the Columbia Gorge for a hike to Oneonta Falls.

There is no trail for hikers to follow to the falls. Only the rocky creek bed itself.

According to our guide book, this massive log jam near the entrance of the creek indicated we were on the right trail to the falls.

The log jam serves as a natural barrier that keeps all but the serious explorers away. Climbing over it is a challenge and not one suited for the faint of heart, dogs, or small children. As we soon discovered, it's not the wisest thing to do on a rainy day either. One slip of foot and down you would tumble, through the labyrinth of logs, into deep pools of water below. I crawled over the logs on all fours clinging tightly for dear life. My daughter scampered over it standing straight up and dignified. Of course.

Once we made it over the slippery wood pile the reward was fantastic.

Steep walls of basalt covered in moss and ferns loomed up on both sides of a crystal clear creek.

There is no other way to reach Oneonta Falls then to walk straight through the creek. The water is so clear, the actual depth was deceiving and in some places up to our waist.

We saw plenty of wildlife: fish, frogs, and birds and the mysterious archways of basalt beckoned us further.

After 30 minutes of walking, we rounded a corner and saw this magnificent view of Oneonta Falls.

Oneonta Falls is truly one of Mother Natures miracles in the Columbia Gorge. We feel so lucky to live within 30 minutes of it.