The Gorge has such a wealth of hiking/backpacking opportunities, that I often skip the more popular trails/destination thinking that they will be too crowded. One of the great advantages of having weekday availability, is being able to experience awesome places such as Lower Oneonta Falls while most everybody else is at work. This might be my new favorite swimming hole in Oregon.
The "hike" is a 1 mile there-and-back, but it is rated as difficult for two reasons. Here is the first:
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There is a large log jam at the beginning of the trail that you have to scramble over. I wouldn't recommend this for dogs or people who aren't so sure on their feet. I've heard the logs can be unstable at times, so definitely exercise caution here.
The second reason is this:
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The hike isn't really on a trail at all, but rather one must follow a shallow-ish stream all the way to the falls. The stream is in a gorge, so there is no way to avoid getting wet. The deepest part in mid summer will about chest deep on an average-sized adult. If it's a hot day it will feel great, and the payoff is worth it.
The hike ends .5 miles from the log jam at Lower Oneonta Falls, seen here. The water gets much deeper here, so you can swim right up to the falls if you like. It's amazingly beautiful and a great way to spend a weekday afternoon.
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