Seven large waterfalls, many small falls, an historical trail, exploring a Wilderness area, wildflowers and sunshine.
The Eagle Creek trail is a true delight, especially the 12-mile out-and-back hike to Tunnel Falls.
The Eagle Creek Canyon cuts a south-to-north slot through the 4,000 foot cliffs of the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge.
In the early 1900s, building the 13 miles of trail took 13 years of labor before reaching Wahtum Lake.
Parts of the trail are blasted out of the walls of sheer cliffs, including a section behind Tunnel Falls.
The hanging wildflower gardens along the trail were in their prime with deep blue larkspur, rosy plectritis, white saxifrage, yellow daisies and pinkish Scouler’s heliotrope.
It is probably the most spectacular low-elevation trail I have ever hiked.
Heading into the cave behind Tunnel Falls
Salal
Tributary creek (4 second exposure)
Daisy
Hiker heading into the cave behind Tunnel Falls
Columbine
Trail heading south of Tunnel Falls
Metlako Falls
Heading into the wilderness
Rosy Plectritis
Trail cut out of the vertical cliffs
Schouler’s Heliotrope
Green, green and more green
Looks spectacular! Thanks for the recommendation. We’ll try to fit it in on our trip out to the Pacific Northwest this August.
In August a scenic hike is Paradise Park on Mt. Hood, a 12-mile loop from Timberline Lodge.
Here is a blog post of mine from a couple of years ago: http://johncarroutdoors.com/2012/09/15/round-the-mountain-with-the-mazamas/.
Love the hike and love the title of your post!
Thanks Debbie. Eagle Creek makes a spectacular hike almost anytime of the year. Although, it’s not much fun when ice covers the rocks on the trail.