Oneonta Trail to Triple Falls

This long, steep trail is one of the most challenging routes that leads to Larch Mountain, 7.7 miles away. Luckily, Triple Falls, just 1.7 miles into the trail, is one of the biggest draws of this hike, and a perfectly reasonable destination for most. And for those who want to go a little further on, there's a bridge at 3.06 miles with a shaded boulder field that would offer a 6.12 mile trip with about 1500 feet of elevation gain.

To reach Triple Falls, from the trailhead, switchback up the Horsetail Falls trail for 0.2 miles to a T intersection. Turn right, and follow Horsetail Falls west. For a mile, you'll traverse just above the Columbia River Historic Highway, passing Ponytail Falls and Middle Oneonta Falls before connecting with the Oneonta Trail.

At the intersection with the Oneonta trail, head uphill (left). Now you're on a moderately-steep and relatively exposed, rocky trail. Keep kids close and dogs leashed here; the trail has steep dropoffs through this section. Its about another mile to Triple Falls, which you will see well before you arrive to where the trail crosses the river.

Before you arrive at the crossing for Triple Falls, there's a nice viewpoint of the waterfall, but be careful with your footing in this area.

If you want to continue past Triple Falls, continue over the river and head upstream again. The trail here becomes a little brushier and stays closer to the river for a little more than a mile to a river crossing with a bridge and a nice shaded boulder field, great for snacks.

Continue past the bridge and in just about 0.2 miles arrive at a camping area and intersection with the Horsetail Creek trail. Past this intersection, its 2.2 fairly steep miles to a junction with the Franklin Ridge trail. From here, you can continue along the Franklin Ridge trail to loop up with the Larch Mountain Trail, or you can continue on the Oneonta Trail for 2.3 miles to the summit of Larch Mountain.