![]() After you pass into a dripping grotto festooned with maidenhair fern, you'll rise above the Eagle Creek Formation and reach cliffs of Columbia River Basalts where the trail was blasted out of the rock. Also, you'll notice blackened conifers from the 2017 fire almost immediately, and most of the maples went up in flames but are vigorously sprouting back from their lignotubers. In fact, you'll soon pass a large fossil tree stump, now much diminished because of the depredations of decades of souvenir snatchers. The steep slopes above you are composed of conglomerates from the Eagle Creek Formation, sedimentary deposits laid down by the ancient Columbia River millions of years before the Columbia River Basalt Flows. Starting at the trailhead, pass a weir, and then follow the wide well-groomed trail above the creek for a stretch. Bear in mind that it is only above the High Bridge that overnight camping is permitted on the Eagle Creek Trail in addition, many of the original campsites have disappeared under heavy brush or downed trees, so availability is more limited than it used to be. The PCTA (Pacific Crest Trail Association) has done a magnificent job in restoring the trail, and the tread is in excellent shape. Hatfield Wilderness beyond Wy'East Camp, you'll encounter larger stands of intact canopy where the fire was less intense. In addition, two bridges, the Fern Creek Bridge and the High Bridge, had to be replaced because of fire damage. The 2017 Eagle Creek Fire burned hot in this section of the gorge, so you will be constantly reminded of that conflagration. ![]() The best months to see wildflowers are April, May, and June. There are six sections where cable handrails will give you a sense of security as you pass above vertical drops. The caveat is that the trail in many sections was blasted out of the basalt cliff faces by the 1915 crews that constructed it in conjunction with the work on the Historic Columbia River Highway. This is one of the easier 12-mile hikes you'll accomplish, heading up the Eagle Creek canyon on a very gently graded trail. You're also encouraged to add just one more mile round-trip to see the last two large waterfalls in the drainage, both on the West Fork Eagle Creek. You'll encounter eight major waterfalls along Eagle Creek and its tributaries, with lots of smaller and seasonal falls in-between. The hike to Tunnel Falls is one of the most storied day trips in the Pacific Northwest (see the long list of guidebooks below). This isn't the best trail for dogs or kids. On many sections, there is a steep cliff to one side of the trail. ![]() Be careful with dogs or small children on the Eagle Creek Trail. ![]()
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