Gorge Trail 400 – Ponytail to Oneonta Creek

CREW LEADER: Pete R.

HIKE DISTANCE: Up to 3 miles

ELEVATION GAIN: Up to 1000′

HIKE DIFFICULTY: Moderate

WORK DIFFICULTY: Moderate

WORK DESCRIPTION: Brushing

Due to heightened safety policies and procedures that we are adhering to during the COVID-19 pandemic, trail party events are currently only open to volunteers who have accumulated 25 or more trail parties with TKO (volunteer days with WTA, PCTA or other trail orgs will be considered as well) and/or are in an Assistant Crew Leader/ Crew Leader position within TKO. Thank you for understanding.

If you are interested in supporting our work in the meantime, the best thing you can do to help out is make a donation at trailkeepersoforegon.org/donate. Oregon’s trails thank you!

The section of Trail 400 between Ponytail Falls and the bridge over Oneonta Creek has not been touched since the fire and will require very extensive brushing and other touch up. It is in an area still affected by post fire closure, and hardhats will be required at all times

Hiking information: This party will access the area by parking west of Oneonta Gorge and hiking east on Trail 400 to start work at the bridge and working east to Ponytail falls. Hiking will be moderate up to 3 miles round trip. Work will be moderate.

What to expect: You should expect to hike through terrain that has not been maintained since the fire.

What to bring:

Lunch

Plenty of water

Snacks

Gloves if you have them (loaner gloves available)

What to wear:

Boots (Please wear something sturdy that will protect your toes from sharp tools. No tennis shoes allowed!)

Work gloves (loaner gloves available)

Long sleeved shirts and pants.

Rain gear as appropriate for the weather

TKO will supply hard hats and safety glasses

Directions: Take I-84 either direction to exit 35, Ainsworth State Park. Stay right on the exit, then turn Left onto The Historic Columbia River Highway. Drive 1.2 miles to the parking lot on the right.

There are no bathroom facilities at the parking area. Bathrooms are available at Rooster Rock State Park at Exit 25.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: TKO recognizes that the trails we work on travel through the traditional lands of many Indigenous tribes. In every corner of what we now call Oregon, these people were forced to cede their land, their home, to the US government from 1853 – 1871. We are privileged to be here today & express gratitude to the descendants of these tribes for being the original stewards of this land.

EQUITY & INCLUSION: TKO seeks to make Oregon’s trails a place where people can go to connect with nature & one another. Not everyone feels safe & welcome in the outdoors due to racism, bias & hate. We commit to being part of the solution to change that. Conduct, speech, or expressions that target individuals or groups will not be tolerated by TKO, regardless of whether they are based on age, citizenship, disability, ethnicity, gender identity/expression, geographic origin, language, marital status, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.

PERSONAL SAFETY: Your physical & emotional safety is our number one priority. If a person’s actions or comments make you feel uncomfortable/unsafe – interrupt directly, tell a crew leader &/or complete a post-event survey.