Eagle Creek

Hike Name: Eagle Creek Location: north OR Length: 13 Submitted by: Gayle Anthony Ordway Date Submitted: 0/0/00 Rating:	more Oregon trail reviews Oregon national parks Oregon state parks
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Description
Starting at the Columbia Gorge Eagle Creek Trail follows the canyon up to Watum Lake. The most interesting section of the trail is the first 7 miles where many places are carved out of the basalt cliffs giving an impressive view of the creek far below.

Points of interest:
2.1 miles Punch Bowl Falls, there is a half mile spur trail down to the falls.
2.3 miles overlook of Punch Bowl Falls, one of my favorite places on the trail.
3.3 High Bridge which spans the creek crossing a deep narrow gorge, there is a spur trail on the west side of the bridge which winds back down to the creek.
6 miles Tunnel Falls, as the name implies the trail goes through a tunnel carved out behind the falls. A great spot on a hot afternoon because it is naturally "air conditioned."
7 miles CrissCross Falls, the last major falls along the trail, which is spectacular during the spring when the run off is high. The shape of the rocks at the top of the falls causes two separate chutes of water which cross one over the other.

At approximately the 8 mile point the trail cuts away from the creek to follow the East fork to Watum Lake.

Eagle Creek is one of the most popular trails in Oregon and is heavily used on most weekends during the summer by Dayhikers and backpackers.

Campsites start after high bridge, but my personal favorite is 7 1/2 mile camp.

Elavation change is steady climbing to a little over 800 feet at 7 1/2 mile Camp and 3,900 feet at Wahtum Lake.

The trail can be incorporated into several different loops. My favorite is to go up Ruckle Creek Trail which starts about .5 miles east of the Eagle Creek Trail, up to the Benson Plateau which has several secluded campsites. Then following the Pacific Crest Trail from the Benson Plateau to Watum Lake, down Eagle Creek to 7 1/2 mile camp. Then down the rest of Eagle creek to round out a nice 3 day 2 night trip of a little over 30 miles.

Directions to Hike
From Portland go east on I-84 to exit 41 which is just on the East side of the tunnel by Bonneville Dam.

At parking pass is now required to park at the trail head.

Contact Information
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
902 Wasco Ave Suite 200
Hood River, Or, 97031
(541)386-2333 or
(503)666-0440 from Portland.

There is a trail Host Camping by the first parking lot most of the summer.

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