What is it?
The Oneonta Gorge is a slot canyon just barely .6 mile long. Designated by the U.S. Forest Service as a botanical area, the steep basalt walls of the canyon are home to numerous rare plants. At just over a mile round trip, this hike doesn't set any distance records. However, burning lungs and thigh muscles aren't why people visit.
Why Visit?
Where to start? This little adventure is indeed one of a kind. The moment visitors descend the staircase leading to the creek, they are welcomed with air temperature that is as much as 20 degrees cooler than where they parked. The cool canyon is narrow, with 100 foot walls of rock on either side. Hikers first have to climb up, over, and around a large log jam that changes with each season. Once the jam has been negotiated, the actual journey begins. Don't bother looking for a trail here, Oneonta Creek is the trail.
This is definitely a summer adventure. Hikers make their way through the shaded gorge in a creek that ranges from ankle deep, to chest high water. Things never get too scary; families frequent this area as much as anybody else.
The rocks are slippery and the water is cold, very cold. Feet can get a little numb in these waters. Good water shoes, a bathing suit, and the love of cold mountain water are a must here. Shortly after a waist/chest high wade through a narrow spot in the canyon, hikers can see the 100 foot high Lower Oneonta Falls emerge from around the corner. The falls are long and elegant, with an invitingly swimmable splash pool. This area can become crowded on hot summer weekends, but having this grotto to oneself on a weekday is reason enough to live here.
Get there:
Take I-84 east to exit 35 and follow the Historic Highway 2 miles to a parking area just past the recently re-opened Oneonta Tunnel. Walk down a set of stairs located just before the bridge and begin making your way upstream.
For more of Adam's writing, reviews, and photography, visit AdamSawyer.com
Comments
Very inviting.
I almost forgot how beautiful it is.
Sweet as!!
I love the waterfalls.
A rich riparian zone. In California, these kind of places would be heavily regulated and overly-managed. I love the Northwest.
Looks like a very cool place -- and at only a mile round trip it's pretty accessible.
Good write up and great idea with the ninety degree weather coming up.
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