Experience Liquid Oregon
Calling all paddlers, windsurfers, body boarders and toe dippers! Summer is here and the sun is out, which makes it time to get splashed. Head to the Pacific Ocean and hang ten at one of Oregon’s popular surf spots. Or make your way to the Columbia River Gorge to try your hand at windsurfing or kite boarding.
If you’re not feeling overly adventurous, Oregon is chock-full of fun and safe places to swim and wade in the outdoors, including lakes and calm stretches of river – there’s even a watery hiking trail called Oneonta Gorge that has you walking through narrow canyons in ankle-deep water. Check ‘em out!
- Distance:
- Starting Point:
- Minimum Driving Time:
NA
- Best Time to Drive:
During warm summer days!
A Great Trip For:
- Children
- Couples
- Families
- Outdoor Enthusiasts
- Scenery
- Teens/Young Adults
3.
Oneonta Gorge
A Hike to (and through) Water
Located in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oneonta is a narrow canyon with towering mossy rock cliffs overhead and a flooded trail below, so walking through the canyon feels a lot like trudging through a shallow creek. And though the water is mostly ankle-deep, it can get deeper in parts (sometimes waist-high) depending on the time of year, so be prepared to get wet. It’ll be worth it once you reach the hidden pool and waterfall at the end of the 1.5-mile canyon trail.
This spot is a favorite among locals and can get pretty crowded on particularly hot days, so keep an eye on small children. Wear sturdy shoes (a pair you won’t mind getting soaked). Water is usually lowest—and the temperature is highest—in August.
Getting there: Travel I-84 east from Portland to the Bridal Veil exit, about 30 minutes. Head east on the Old Columbia River Scenic Highway for five miles. On the far side of the stone bridge spanning Oneonta Creek is the parking area and trailhead. For more information call the West Columbia
Gorge Chamber of Commerce at 503.669.7473 or visit www.westcolumbiagorgechamber.com.