Oneonta Gorge

Oneonta Gorge is a narrow canyon with steep basalt walls rising up to 100 feet and forming a natural corridor. Multiple small waterfalls cascade through this passage, creating a series of flowing drops along the path.

The gorge was carved during the Missoula Floods at the end of the last ice age, when massive flows of water rushed through the Columbia River region. These ancient geologic events shaped the canyon into its present form.

Native American tribes of the Columbia River region considered the gorge a sacred place for gathering medicinal plants and performing traditional ceremonies.

The path through the gorge requires wading through waist-deep water and climbing over a large log barrier. Water shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are necessary for this wet and sometimes slippery route.

The canyon walls support four fern species that grow only in this particular microclimate. This specialized plant life makes the gorge an unexpected botanical destination.