Larch Mountain via Oneonta Trail Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
| This page is marked as a Closed Hike. Some or all of this hike has been closed by a governing body and hikers may be liable for fines or even arrest. At least part of this route may be dangerous and hard to follow, or it may cross areas with sensitive plant life or wildlife habitat. Trailkeepers of Oregon does not endorse or recommend hiking this route. When restrictions are lifted, this notice will be removed. |
- Start point: Oneonta Trailhead
- End point: Larch Mountain Trailhead
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: Out and Back
- Distance: 17.2 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 4400 feet
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Seasons: May-Oct
- Family Friendly: Too Long
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: Crowded to Triple Falls
Contents |
Hike Description
NOTICE: This trail is closed until further notice because of damage from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. Please check the list of Columbia Gorge trail closures before you plan for a hike.
This hike is a grueling climb to the top of Larch Mountain and it's not even the shortest route. It passes several interesting waterfalls and a beautiful section of creek. Later, it climbs like the dickens through forests and open rock slopes. You'll visit low level old growth and higher level old growth hemlock forests. At the top, you'll have a wonderful view of 5 snowclad mountains.
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 to the side of Oneonta Canyon, high above hidden Oneonta Gorge below. Soon, there's a junction with Horsetail Falls Trail #438. Then there's a quiet, unimproved trail down the hill to Oneonta Falls. Triple Falls comes next, followed by a bridge over Oneonta Creek. The trail 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.
After this last trail junction, the trail begins climbing in earnest. In the next mile and a half, the trail gains about 2000 feet to a ridge crest. From here to Larch Mountain Road, there is a complex network of trails. All of the junctions are detailed in the trail log. At mile 8.3, the trail comes to Larch Mountain Road at the Upper Oneonta Trailhead. If you want to go to Larch Mountain Trailhead, turn right and walk up the hill 0.3 miles.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- None
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Oneonta
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Oneonta
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Day Hike! Columbia Gorge, by Seabury Blair, Jr.
- Afoot and Afield Portland/Vancouver, by Douglas Lorain
- 35 Hiking Trails, Columbia River Gorge, by Don & Roberta Lowe
- Columbia River Gorge, 42 Scenic Hikes, by Don & Roberta Lowe
- Hiking the Columbia River Gorge - 1st and 2nd Editions, by Russ Schneider
- 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon - 3rd Edition, by William L Sullivan
More Links
Contributors
- Stevefromdodge (creator)