Oneonta Trail to Triple Falls

Oneonta Trail to Triple Falls is a 3.5-mile out-and-back from Oneonta Trailhead to a clifftop view of the falls’ three parallel drops. Allow about 2½–3 hours for the climb, rough tread, and stops. This is a moderate hike with a steady uphill approach; the payoff is a close view across the gorge, not a walk to the waterfall’s base. The mapped line follows Oneonta Trail #424 and stores the outward corridor once.

Trail #424 starts by Historic Columbia River Highway, follows it briefly, then turns at Gorge Trail #400 and climbs by switchbacks. A short half-loop spur near the first half-mile opens views across the Columbia toward Archer Mountain. The path then traverses above Oneonta Creek on rocky ground, crossing slide gullies and climbing into open slopes burned in 2017. At the Trail #438 junction, an optional 0.2-mile round-trip spur reaches Middle and Lower Oneonta Falls; it is not included in the mapped distance. Continue on #424 past hard-to-see Upper Oneonta Falls to the clifftop viewpoint. Three streams drop into a tight basalt ravine, with a footbridge just above them. Keep to the path and leave the old scramble toward Upper Falls alone. For a useful photo, frame the bridge with all three drops.

Retrace the same trail. The upper slope has little shade, and loose gravel and larger stones make it easy to lose footing; the Triple Falls viewpoint has steep drop-offs. Oneonta Trail enters the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness, where a free, self-issued day-use permit is required from Memorial Day weekend through Oct. 31; use the permit station at the wilderness entry. Dogs are allowed on leash. Park in the small pullout at Oneonta Trailhead on Historic Columbia River Highway, then cross the road to the Trail 424 start. There are no restrooms at the trailhead.