Eagle Creek Trail Guide

4.2 miles - Moderate Effort
Or: 6.4 to High Bridge, 12 to Tunnel Falls, 26.3 to Wahtum Lake
2 Hours - 2 Days (Total)
525 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 3,725 feet
Leashed Dogs Allowed

You can't go wrong with a hike on the Eagle Creek Trail, considered the signature trail of the Columbia River Gorge. Right from the start, the Eagle Creek Trail offers dramatic views of waterfalls, a raging mountain stream, dense PNW forest, and towering basalt cliffs. Most hikers enjoy the short 4.2-mile roundtrip hike to Punchbowl Falls, but I highly recommend going farther if you have the fitness. You can even make it an overnight backpacking trip, ideally hiking to the end of the Eagle Creek Trail at Wahtum Lake, high in the mountains. Whatever option you choose, you can't go wrong here.

In this Guide:

Video and Turn-by-Turn Directions to Hike Eagle Creek Trail
How to Hike to Punchbowl Falls, Tunnel Falls, and Wahtum Lake
Parking Permits for Eagle Creek Trail
Insider Tips and Recommendations for the Hike

Quick Links: Parks Pass - Mt. Hood National Forest - NOAA Weather Report - Top Gear Picks (Sep 2023)

When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

Destination	Roundtrip Distance	Climbing	Features
Punchbowl Falls	4.2 miles	525 ft	Waterfalls - Cliffs
High Bridge	6.4 miles	800 ft	Dramatic River Gorge
Tunnel Falls	12 miles	1600 ft	Tunnel Behind Falls
Wahtum Lake	26.6 miles	3700 ft	Alpine Lake - Uphill Trail

Where is the Eagle Creek Trail?

The Eagle Creek Trailhead is about a 45 minute drive east of downtown Portland on Interstate 84. Once you exit the highway, drive the short ways up Eagle Creek Loop, past the salmon hatchery, to find the trailhead parking. Use this trailhead address:
Eagle Creek Trailhead, NE Eagle Creek Loop, Cascade Locks, OR 97014

Beating the Crowds

Before you even think about going to the Eagle Creek Trail, know that you'll have to contend with crowds. Even back in 1919, when the trail was built, it had about 150,000 visitors a year. Today, it's many more, mainly limited by the lack of parking (more on that in a sec). The best time to visit without a crowd is to arrive at sunrise. In the late afternoon, parking tends to open up as well. And obviously, weekdays are better than weekends, although the lots do fill up on weekdays too. So if you show up at 9 am on a Saturday, don't expect to do the hike.

Parking for the Eagle Creek Trail

Eagle Creek Trail 12 — There's a parking lot right at the trailhead that has space for about 20 cars, and this fills up quickly. Any time that I've shown up at sunrise, I've been able to park in this lot without a problem.

Farther down from the trailhead, there is a parking area along the road, with space for about 10 cars. The last option for parking is at Eagle Creek Day Use Area, by the salmon hatchery, right at the turn off for Eagle Creek Loop road. That lot has about 30 parking spaces. This lot also has bathrooms (in fact, the bathroom is named "Big John").

Park along the side of the road at your own risk, illegally parked cars are towed.

You need a parking pass here. You can self-pay at the trail board, use a Northwest Forest Pass, or simply display a (worth every penny) National Parks pass.

Another option is to stay at the historic Eagle Creek Campground, which is by the hatchery. If you stay at the campground you can park your car there while you hike.

Lastly, don't leave any valuables in your car. As is the case with many trailheads, there are occasional break-ins. The Forest Service recommends parking in the larger parking lot by the hatchery if you are camping overnight. I just leave my glove box open and show potential thieves that I don't have anything good to take.

And if you visit in the fall, keep your eyes open for coho and chinook salmon spawning in Eagle Creek.

Gear For the Hike

Eagle Creek Trail 4 — Prepare to get wet. Even if it's not raining out, the basalt cliffs along the trail can have cascading runoff from streams above. I generally bring a light rain shell.

As you would expect in the Pacific Northwest, it can get very wet here. There are stream crossings, water runoffs, and mud. It's a safe bet to wear shoes that you're comfortable getting wet in. The trail surfaces, which are sometimes raw rock blasted out of the cliff, can be slippery. I recommend good trail runners.
If you use trekking poles, I'd recommend just using one. On the various cables sections you will be able to hold the cable with one hand, and a trekking pole with another. The trail is very gentle in terms of slope; I leave my poles in the car here.
In the winter, the trail can be snowy and icy, in which case I don't recommend doing it (and the Forest Service may also close it if that's the case). There are sheer cliff walls that you do not want to slip off of (more later). And the upper part of the Eagle Creek Trail, past 7.5 mile camp toward Wahtum Lake, is generally snow-covered and often impassable during the winter.
GPS can be inaccurate when you are hiking along the cliff faces. Luckily the trail is easy to follow without any tricky navigation.
There are a lot of side creeks feeding into Eagle Creek. It's usually easy to access water to refill your bottles. Just make sure you use a water filter before you drink anything from here.

My Latest Gear Picks

Garmin inReach Mini 2 ( Amazon | REI )
HOKA Speedgoat 5 ( Men | Women )
Zpacks Sub-Nero Ultra ( Zpacks | Review )
Alpine Carbon Cork Poles ( REI | Amazon )

As a hiking guide, I test lots of hiking gear. On my picks page, I'll show you all of the gear that I actually use. I don't accept paid promotions or talk about the stuff that doesn't make the cut. It's just the gear that works best, so you don't have to waste your money.

All My September 2023 Top Gear Picks

Eagle Creek Trail Camping

Eagle Creek Trail 11 — Here are some tent sites along the Eagle Creek Trail at 7.5 Mile Campsite, which is my favorite spot to camp, along with Wahtum Lake.

Before the 2017 fire here (more later), camping was more plentiful. Today there are a limited amount of primitive campsites along the trail, and they fill up quickly given the popularity of Eagle Creek. Your best bet for an overnight camping trip is to hike up to Wahtum Lake, which has multiple tent sites. Also note that no camping is permitted before the first campsite, Tenas Camp. And campfires are not permitted, even though you'll find fire rings at some sites.

Here are the campsites, in order from the trailhead:

Tenas Camp - 3.8 miles
This site is very overgrown, and the tent sites you can find are sloped and not great. I wouldn't recommend camping here.
Wy'East - 4.7 miles
Recently opened after the 2017 fire. Spots on either side of the trail.
Blue Grouse Camp - 5.3 miles
This site has been damaged by the fire, and is a bit overgrown. It has about 2-3 tent sites, as well as good water access.
7.5 Mile Camp - 7 miles (yea)
You'll first spot some tent sites between the creek and the trail with good water access (my favorites), and then as you continue up into the woods, there are some spots along the trail and a few side trails down toward the creek with tent sites. Overall there are about 10-12 tent sites here.
Unnamed / Indian Springs Creek - 11 miles
There are some great tent sites between the trail and the (informally named) Indian Springs Creek, on the upper slopes off the trail. There's good water access and you are far away from any crowds. I put the waypoint in the map and GPX file.
Wahtum Lake - 13.3 miles
There are a few dozen nice sites in the vicinity of the lake, with most of them set back from the lake. The PCT circles the lake and there are spots along the PCT as well.

Eagle Creek Maps

Explore Map on CalTopo View a Printable PDF Hike Map Download the Hike GPX File

Best Smartphone Apps to Navigate: AllTrails | GaiaGPS | OnX

Elevation Profile

The beginning of the hike is a gentle climb up along the creek, with many flat and rolling sections. The real climbing doesn't start until you pass Twister Falls later on in the hike, on the way to Wahtum Lake. And even though the hike is uphill, the gradients usually no more than 5%, making it pleasant to hike uphill.

Landmarks on the Hike

Landmark	Distance	Elevation
Trailhead	0	110
First Cables	0.7	260
Lower Punchbowl Trail	1.8	500
Punchbowl Viewpoint	2.1	500
High Bridge	3.3	570
4.5 Mile Bridge	4.1	700
Tunnel Falls	6	1040
Twister Falls	6.2	1120
Start of Climb / Eagle Tanner	7.5	1580
Indian Springs Junction	9.5	2320
Wahtum Lake	13.3	3725

3D Map

Trail Conditions

Eagle Creek Trail 7 — There are several signs along the way, mainly on the beginning (and most popular) sections of the trail.

Eagle Creek Trail 8 — There is the occasional downed tree or washout. Generally the culprits in the first few miles are quickly cleared. In areas heavily affected by the 2017 fire, there are more downed trees. Miles 7-12, which go through a large burn area and don't get a ton of traffic, can be particularly challenging.

Eagle Creek Trail 20 — The cables sections can be scary for some hikers. In several sections the trail has been blasted out of the basalt cliffside. The path can be rocky and often wet, but is generally always 4 feet wide. Use the cable handholds, walk with care, and take your time. While they can be intimidating, it's nothing as scary or challenging as the cables on Half Dome. That said, it's not a good experience for small children or dogs.

Eagle Creek Trail 6 — I'll point out the major named waterfalls, but keep your eyes open for the dozens of unnamed falls along the route, especially in wet weather. As you hike it will seem like every twist and turn has more waterfalls to offer.

Hike Brief

The Eagle Creek Trail is where the devastating Eagle Creek Fire of 2017 started when a teenager threw a smoke bomb off the side of the cliff from the trail, about 1.5 miles into the hike. Photo Curtis Gregory Perry

The trail was closed for several years after the 2017 fire, and you can still see the damage from the fire as you hike the trail today, although the first 7 miles of the trail (where most of the attractions are) still have the same feel as they did before. Much has been documented about the fire, and I recommend watching an excellent short documentary that tells the story of 150 hikers stuck on the trail when the fire started. You can dive deeper into this fire and wildfires in general in an REI podcast series on the subject.
The park you'll hike through has been here for over 100 years. In fact, when the Columbia River Gorge Park was established in 1915, it was the first time the Forest Service had dedicated an area to purely recreational use. Shortly after its establishment, the Eagle Creek Campground was built, and then the Eagle Creek Trail was completed in 1919
Here's Tunnel Falls when it was first blasted through in 1917. At the time, the trail cost $1000/mile to build. In today's dollars, that's about $21,000 a mile, which seems pretty reasonable given the terrain. Photo Oregon Daily Journal, 18 Nov 1917
And don't forget Eagle Creek's namesake, the bald eagle. In the 1960s the bald eagle was threatened with extinction, and was one of the impetuses for creating the Endangered Species Act of 1973. In 2007 the bald eagle was no longer endangered, and today they visit the Columbia River Gorge in the winter to nest.
Given all the incredible scenery at ground level, it can be easy to forget to look up. But try to remember; maybe you'll see a bald eagle. Here's a nest along the beginning of the trail.

Eagle Creek Trail Hike Directions

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Eagle Creek Trail to Punchbowl Falls

Eagle Creek Trail 13 — Check out the trail board for any notices before you start.

Eagle Creek Trail 14 — And then start the trail, which is right next to the trail board.

Eagle Creek Trail 15 — At the start there's a sign with mileages to the popular destinations.

Eagle Creek Trail 1 — You'll be hiking above Eagle Creek, which is down to your right. Right from the start, the hike is beautiful.

Eagle Creek Trail 16 — Cross the bridge, one of several on the trail.

Eagle Creek Trail 17 — When it's wet out, you'll have little waterfalls like this to cross through.

Eagle Creek Trail 18 — At about 0.7 miles in, you encounter your first cables section. The trail was blasted out of the volcanic basalt rock cliffs, which are 20 million years old.

Eagle Creek Trail 21 — At about 1.3 miles in you'll have a nice viewpoint up the gorge formed by the creek, with Metlako Falls in the distance.

Eagle Creek Trail 22 — And then as you get closer, you'll be able to see the 82 foot Metlako Falls across the creek. It's named after the Native People's goddess of salmon; this is the limit of how far salmon can spawn up Eagle Creek.

Eagle Creek Trail 23 — Shortly after that you'll cross the concrete steps over Sorenson Creek. If you look up and to your left, you can see the 100 foot Sorenson Falls.

Eagle Creek Trail 24 — At about 1.8 miles you'll reach the wide junction with the Lower Punchbowl Falls Trail. It's only 0.25 miles down, so lets check it out.

Eagle Creek Trail 25 — There's a steep little downhill.

Eagle Creek Trail 27 — And then you reach the creek. In this picture, the creek is impassable. But when the water is lower, you can scramble up the creek and boulders to get views of Lower Punchbowl Falls.

Let's head back up to the last junction.

Eagle Creek Trail 29 — Continue a few minutes down the Eagle Creek Trail to another wide clearing. The trail continues left, and the Punchbowl Falls viewpoint is on the right.

Eagle Creek Trail 30 — And then you'll reach the iconic 35-foot Punchbowl Falls. It's called punchbowl because of the circular "punchbowl" shape that the water carved out of the rock. Don't be tempted to cross the fence here or jump in the water, the ground is loose and it's the busiest rescue spot on the entire trail.

Punchbowl Falls to Tunnel Falls

Eagle Creek Trail 31 — Continue past Punchbowl Falls and over the Tish Creek Bridge, which was lowered here by a helicopter.

Eagle Creek Trail 32 — The trail becomes much mellower as you leave the crowds at Punchbowl Falls behind.

Eagle Creek Trail 33 — And then you cross over the Fern Creek Bridge, also lowered here by a helicopter.

Eagle Creek Trail 34 — Pass through the moss-covered scree field.

Eagle Creek Trail 35 — Then you'll navigate the third cables section.

Eagle Creek Trail 36 — Below in the gorge you can see massive boulders that tumbled into the creek.

Eagle Creek Trail 37 — And then you'll get views of 90 foot Loowit Falls.

Eagle Creek Trail 38 — And then another cable section, this time about 120 feet above the creek below.

Eagle Creek Trail 39 — And then at 3.3 miles you'll reach High Bridge and cross over Eagle Creek.

Eagle Creek Trail 40 — If you look down, Eagle Creek is 120 feet below as it flows through this gorge. This is the narrowest and fastest section of Eagle Creek.

Eagle Creek Trail 42 — Now you're hiking on the right side of Eagle Creek. You'll pass the roaring 50 foot Skoonichuk Falls.

Eagle Creek Trail 43 — And then you'll reach the much lower 4.5 mile bridge and cross back over to the trail, which you can see blasted out of the cliffs across the creek.

Eagle Creek Trail 44 — From the bridge you can see Tenas Falls upstream.

Eagle Creek Trail 45 — Now you're hiking through some of the area badly damaged by the fire.

Eagle Creek Trail 46 — But shortly cross back into an area of healthy trees.

Eagle Creek Trail 47 — You'll pass Wy'East (the Native name for Mt Hood) Camp. Note that the site is now open.

Eagle Creek Trail 48 — And then you'll enter the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness. The area is named after the former governor and US senator from Oregon.

Eagle Creek Trail 49 — To your left is the 140-foot Wy'East Falls.

Eagle Creek Trail 50 — There are some more stream crossings.

Eagle Creek Trail 51 — And then back to the familiar cliffside paths.

Eagle Creek Trail 52 — You'll round a dramatic cliffside rock formation.

Eagle Creek Trail 53 — And then see Grand Union Falls below, named for the union of the East and West Forks of Eagle Creek, which join together a short ways before the falls.

Eagle Creek Trail 54 — The trail gets rocky.

Eagle Creek Trail 55 — And then turns left, where you'll see the 175-foot Tunnel Falls ahead.

Eagle Creek Trail 56 — As you approach, you'll pass through the famous tunnel behind the falls.

If you've hiked to Tunnel Falls, I highly recommend doing the short section up to Twister Falls before you turn around, it's worth it.

Tunnel Falls to Wahtum Lake

Eagle Creek Trail 57 — Just past Tunnel Falls, you'll see the 150 tall Twister Falls, the last major waterfall on Eagle Creek.

Eagle Creek Trail 58 — Hike along one last dramatic cable section.

Eagle Creek Trail 59 — And then you'll be right above Twister Falls. The two streams from each side have also led to this being called Crossover or Bowtie Falls.

Eagle Creek Trail 60 — Looking down the 150 foot drop from here is impressive.

Eagle Creek Trail 61 — To head further, continue along the creekside path.

Eagle Creek Trail 62 — Continue upstream and pass 7 Mile Falls.

Eagle Creek Trail 63 — Then you'll see some of the tent sites for 7.5 Mile Camp below.

Eagle Creek Trail 64 — And the trail gets more primitive, climbing up and away from the banks of Eagle Creek. It's about 2300 feet of climbing from here to Wahtum Lake.

Eagle Creek Trail 65 — Make the hard left to double-back uphill at the junction of the Eagle Tanner Trail.

Eagle Creek Trail 66 — Now you have a long climb through an area hit hard by the 2017 fire.

Eagle Creek Trail 67 — As you get higher up you'll start to catch glimpses of the higher slopes.

Eagle Creek Trail 68 — At about 9.5 miles in you'll pass the junction of the Indian Springs Trail to your right. Go straight.

Eagle Creek Trail 69 — This next section is often the victim of blowdowns as it continues through the burn area. The pointy peak is Chinidere Mountain (pronounced “SHIN-uh-deer").

Eagle Creek Trail 70 — Soon you'll leave the burn area behind and enter a healthy forest of firs.

Eagle Creek Trail 71 — If you are camping, there are some nice spots below the trail (I've marked them in the GPX file).

Eagle Creek Trail 72 — Continue over some stream and talus crossings.

Eagle Creek Trail 73 — The trail continues to climb, this time through some older-growth forest.

Eagle Creek Trail 74 — And then you'll reach the junction at Wahtum Lake. There are tent sites immediately to the left, or you can explore around the lake.

Eagle Creek Trail 75 — If you make that last left, you'll be able to see the lake right away.

Eagle Creek Trail 76 — And that's the Eagle Creek Trail! From here, just head back the way you came.

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!).

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