Bell Creek

The Bell Creek area is full of old cedars like this one.

Location of the Oneonta Creek crossing

• Start point: Oneonta Trailhead
• End point: Oneonta-Bell Creek Trail Junction
• Trail Log: Trail Log
• Hike Type: Dogbone (Out to a loop and back)
• Distance: 14.5 miles round trip
• Elevation gain:
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Seasons: May-Oct
• Family Friendly: No
• Backpackable: Yes
• Crowded: Crowded to Triple Falls

Hike Description

This hike visits some of the best stands of old growth in the Gorge. You'll visit low level old growth and higher level old growth hemlock forests. There's a couple of waterfalls, creekside climbs and a tricky ford of Oneonta Creek.

Oneonta Trail #424 starts climbing gently to a junction with Gorge Trail #400. The trail climbs to a shelf above the Columbia River where a side trail leads to viewpoints. Continuing on, the trail clings the the side of Oneonta Canyon, high above hidden Oneonta Gorge below. Soon, there's a junction with Horsetail Falls Trail #438. Triple Falls comes next, followed by a bridge over Oneonta Creek. The trails then follows the east side of the creek to another bridge over Oneonta Creek. There's another trail junction, this time with Horsetail Creek Trail #425.

For this hike, turn left on Horsetail Creek trail and come quickly to the Oneonta Creek Ford. The ford is handled best in times of low water. It's better to make the loop in this direction, so you can choose a different path without being stranded. After crossing the creek, you'll switchback up like crazy for at least 20 switchbacks. After 2.3 miles, you'll turn right on Bell Creek Trail #459. Bell Creek Trail continues the climb. Soon you'll enter what is arguably the best stand of old-growth in the entire Columbia Gorge area. After almost 3 miles of up and down you'll come to a junction with Oneonta Trail #424.

Turn right here and start down the mountain. You'll climb a bit and pass a couple more trail junctions. Keep to Trail #424 and soon you'll drop hard off the east side of Franklin Ridge back into Oneonta Canyon. Continue down Oneonta Trail to your car.

Maps

• Maps: Hike Finder

Fees and regulations

• None

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Guidebooks that cover this hike

• None known

More Links

Contributors

• Stevefromdodge (creator)