Oneonta-Gorge Trail Junction

From Portland Hikers Field Guide

Signs at the trail junction (Steve Hart)

The stone wall above the junction (Steve Hart)

Hikes including this location:
- Bell Creek Loop Hike (TH | <-- --> | LOG)
- Horsetail Falls Loop Hike (TH | <-- --> | LOG)
- Larch Mountain via Oneonta Trail Hike (TH | <-- --> | LOG)
- Nesmith-Oneonta Traverse Hike (TH | <-- --> | LOG)
- Triple Falls Hike (TH | <-- --> | LOG)
Latitude: 45.58689
Longitude: -122.08261
Maps: Portland Hikers Maps Google Earth
Elevation: 120 feet

1 Description
2 Trip Reports
3 Related Discussions / Q&A
4 Guidebooks that cover this destination
5 More Links
6 Contributors

Description

This is a trail junction on the Oneonta Trail with a lot of hidden nearby interest. The Oneonta Trail which has been heading west to this ppoint, switches back and head upward toward the east headed eventually to Triple Falls and Larch Mountain. The Gorge Trail #400 continues in a westward direction virtually level.

Just above this junction is an old stone wall, now partially collapsed and covered with moss. A bit of investigation shows that the wall once extended much further to the east, across a small stream bed to the hill on the other side. The purpose of this wall is unknown (at least to me). It might be part of the original wagon road that led through the Gorge, sometimes called the Sandy-The Dalles Wagon Road. On the other hand, it might be a retaining wall, built to protect the Columbia River Highway which lies directly below.

If you investigate the wall, during a wet spring, you'll hear the unmistakable sound of a waterfall above you. Hiking up a bit to the treeline reveals a rather tall, thin waterfall, which seems to only be active during the really wet part of the year.