Eagle Creek Trail, Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area, OR

One can't come to the Northwest without a visit to the Columbia Gorge..Multnomah Falls, wine tasting in Hood River..any type of adventure or leisure activity can be found in this quintessential PNW landscape. This weekend was an OSU Backpacking class outing to the Eagle Creek Trail of the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area. As my first Gorge trail (and the most popular, from what I read), I was thoroughly amazed at the abundant Cascadian waterfalls and eerie mountain fog. Hiking from Eagle Creek trailhead to 7 1/2 mile Camp, we crossed quaint upslope creeks, deep river canyons, rushing waterfalls and steep trail-side cliffs.

Eagle Creek Trail is a classic trail for the Cascades. Following the length of Eagle Creek, the trail passes through typical western coniferous forest along the river's riparian zone. Many small side-creeks enter Eagle along the trail, making for some fun bridge crossings and scenic photo opportunities. What really makes this trail unique is its engineering. Many portions of the trail were literally blasted out of basaltic cliffs along the stream, making for some seriously precarious sections which turn borderline deadly on a wet weekend such as this past one. About six miles in, the large and aggressive Tunnel Falls cascades over the trail..literally, as a tunnel has been chipped out of the rock behind the falls.

Though a total of 13.2 miles one way, the trail can be broken up into smaller day-hikable portions to specific features along the trail. From the trailhead, a 2.1 mile hike to Punchbowl Falls is a nice picnic spot with views of waterfalls into what looks like an actual punchbowl. 1.2 miles farther down the trail brings you to High Bridge, an elevated bridge over the canyon portion of eagle creek. About 1.5 miles past High Bridge the trails enters the Columbia Wilderness in which permits are required to camp and certain hiking and camping restrictions apply. Becoming familiar with these restrictions before entering this, or any, wilderness area is always a good practice to follow, and is easy to do ahead of time.

Eagle Creek trail can be accessed off of exit #41 on I-84 in the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area. For more on Eagle Creek trail, the following link provides more in depth information. My final words of wisdom? Just remember, if you visit Oregon, you have to have an adventure in the Columbia Gorge!