A hiker on the Oneonta Trail fell down an embankment, called 911 herself and was rescued.

On Friday, July 12th, 2024, a little before 9:00 a.m., a 50-year-old solo hiker, called 911 and reported that she was hiking the Oneonta Trail when she fell down a steep embankment and could not get back to the trail. She was able to give dispatchers an accurate location of where she fell. By about 9:10 a.m., two Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies were on the trail, making their way to the fallen hiker based on the location she gave. They reached her at about 9:45 a.m. between Middle Oneonta Falls and Upper Oneonta Falls, and found her to be without significant injury.

Rescuers estimate that the woman fell approximately 80 feet down the embankment. The hiker didn’t realize that she had accidently left the marked trail and founder herself on a slope with fallen trees and loose ground when she lost her footing and tumbled down the embankment. 

Personnel from both Corbett Fire and Cascade Locks Fire and EMS responded and performed a rope rescue to get the hiker up the steep embankment. Once returned to the trail, she was able to hike herself out with rescuers. They reached the trailhead parking lot a little before noon. The hiker was evaluated by medics and found to be without significant injury, other than scrapes and bruises. She opted to not seek further medical evaluation and drove herself home.

Along with our two deputies, MCSO would like to acknowledge the work of Corbett Fire and Cascade Locks Fire and EMS.