Eagle Creek Trail

The Eagle Creek Trail was built in 1915 as one of the first recreation trails of its kind, deliberately blasted and chiseled into the basalt cliffs so that hikers could follow the creek up its steep canyon. In places it runs along narrow ledges high above the water, with cables fixed to the rock for security, an engineering feat that made a wild canyon walkable without taming it.

That daring route is part of the trail's fame. It threads through a world of moss, ferns, and dripping stone, with the creek always below and waterfalls appearing around the bends. It rewards care and good footing, and gives back some of the finest canyon scenery anywhere in the Gorge.

The trail's signature sight is Punch Bowl Falls, where Eagle Creek funnels through a slot in the rock and drops into a broad, round pool the color of jade, cupped by cliffs and forest. Seen from the cobbled bank downstream, it is a picture-perfect Gorge scene and a favorite of photographers. A short way along, Metlako Falls plunges into the canyon from a cliffside viewpoint.

For those who continue, the falls keep coming, culminating miles up the canyon at Tunnel Falls, where the trail passes through a tunnel carved right into the cliff behind the waterfall. Whether you turn around at Punch Bowl or push on to the tunnel, Eagle Creek delivers one of the great waterfall walks in the country.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

It is one of the most beautiful trails in the Gorge, but it demands respect and sure footing. Sections are cut into sheer cliffs with long, exposed drops to the creek below, and in places only a cable bolted to the rock serves as a handhold, so it is not a good choice for young children or anyone uneasy with heights. Move carefully, especially where the rock is wet and slick, and hold on where cables are provided.

A whole chain of waterfalls. The trail passes Metlako Falls plunging into the canyon, then the famous Punch Bowl Falls, where the creek pours through a rock notch into a wide, jade-green pool, one of Oregon's most photographed scenes. Farther up, remarkable Tunnel Falls has the path burrowing through the cliff behind the falling water. The mossy, fern-lined canyon is stunning throughout.

Reaching the Punch Bowl Falls area is roughly a couple of miles from the trailhead, a moderate walk that many people make their turnaround point. Continuing to Tunnel Falls is a much longer day, several miles farther up the canyon. You can tailor the distance to your energy, but even the shorter version to Punch Bowl takes in some of the trail's cliff-edge sections, so watch your footing.

The area burned in the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire and has been recovering and reopening in stages, with some sections restored and others affected by hazards like falling trees or rock. Because conditions here can change, it is genuinely important to check the current trail and closure status before you go rather than assume, and to heed any posted warnings once you arrive.

Spring and early summer bring the fullest, most thunderous waterfalls, while summer and fall offer drier, firmer footing on the cliff sections. It is a popular trail, so the lot fills early on nice-weather days; an early start helps. Wear shoes with real grip, bring water, and take special care on the wet, exposed ledges, keeping a firm hold near the drop-offs.