The ballad of beloved Oneonta Gorge

Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issues

In this episode, Zach talks about the beloved and troubled slot canyon known as Oneonta Gorge. Named by a famous photographer of the 19th Century, this was once gem in the Columbia Gorge that featured an off-trail trip below high walls to a dramatic waterfall. But Oneonta became one of the first places “blown up” by early social media, particularly Instagram. The crowds brought lots of problems until the Eagle Creek Fire closed it in 2017 — and has kept it closed all the way to present day. This podcast looks at that backstory, including how the Gorge got its name, and reports the latest on when and whether it will ever reopen. It features interviews with Tom Kloster, a longtime writer and explorer, who writes the WyEast Blog, and former Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area recreation offer Stan Hinatsu.