Slideshow: Oneonta Gorge

Light fills Oneonta Gorge, just east of Multnomah Falls on the Historic Columbia River Highway.

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Oneonta Creek at the gorge opening.

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The hefty logjam at the beginning of Oneonta Gorge creates a daunting entry.

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Even on a hot, dry day, maneuvering the slick surfaces of the logjam requires some finesse.

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The shifting sun casts ever-changing shades of green through the Oneonta Gorge.

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Oneonta Creek is glass clear and ice cold.

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Due to Oneonta Gorge's microclimate, plant species are found here that more commonly appear at much higher elevations.

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Moss blankets the walls of the Oneonta Gorge.

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Log and rock fall constantly shift the landscape at the gorge floor.

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Crisscrossed logs hang precariously above the gorge.

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The only drawback to Oneonta Gorge, if any, is that its beauty attracts visitors.

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Mossless stretches of wall reveal the complex basalt patterns that formed Oneonta Gorge.

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Creek depths vary as much as toe-shallow to chin-deep.

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A pristine waterfall rewards hikers who reach the gorge's end.

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