Eagle Creek has, in my opinion, the best canyoneering in the Columbia Gorge. The scenery is outstanding. The recommended route has three waterfalls to rappel, jumps, slides, white water chutes, two large beautiful punchbowls, and three really nice narrows to swim through. Trail access is excellent. The trail parallels the creek for most of its length. Since you can access the creek from several places, a variety of trips of varying length are feasible.

Eagle Creek trail is the second most popular trail in the Columbia Gorge. There are more waterfalls along this trail than any other. The trail stays mostly on the east side of the creek. In places it has been blasted out of the steep canyon slopes. A northwest forest pass is required to park your car at the trail head.

At 1.5 miles a short spur trail leads to a rather distant view of Metlako Falls. At 1.8 miles a side trail leads to the right and down hill to the creek just below the Punch Bowl. This is a very popular spot for wading and swimming, though relatively few people swim out into the deep cold water of the Punch Bowl. At 2.1 miles you reach an overlook for Punch Bowl Falls. At 3.3 miles the trail crosses to the west side of the creek on High Bridge. There is a beautiful narrows here. In about a quarter of a mile you can see Skoonichuk Falls. About a mile further the trail crosses back to the east side on a bridge. At 6 miles the trail goes behind Tunnel Falls. About a half a mile further you reach a large unnamed waterfall next to the creek

The recommended route is to hike the trail to Skoonichuk Falls and head down stream from there. This takes you through all of the narrows. Allow all day if you follow the creek all the way back. If you lack enough time, you can exit the creek at several places and hike the trail back.

There is an unofficial trail that leads to the top of Skoonichuk Falls and another that leads to the bottom so you have a choice as to whether you want to do it or not. The waterfall is about 50 feet high and drops in two steps. Some small trees on the left provide a convenient rappel anchor which keeps you out of the direct water flow. If you wish to rap directly down the water you might be able to anchor a rock in midstream.

Downstream of Skoonichuk Falls the creek enters the first narrows. Be prepared to swim up to 200 yards. The water gets shallower, and you can scramble over rocks as the creek makes a sharp left turn followed by a sharp right. Downclimb and jump a small cascade, and you will enter the High Bridge narrows. Swim beneath the bridge, and admire the shear walls of the canyon which are ten feet apart at their narrowest. The narrows end, and you will find yourself at a cascade which has been called High Bridge Falls. It drops about 15 feet at a gentle angle and can be negotiated without a rope if the flow is low. You can swim in to a small cave to the right of the falls. To the left a tributary of Eagle Creek spills into the canyon at Loowit Falls. There is a little bowl you can scramble up to if you would like to get to the bottom of Loowit Falls. This is a delightful little spot in which to linger if you have the time.

Continuing downstream there are more short narrows and swimming. The canyon widens out, and you can bushwack uphill to the trail if you wish. Eventually you arrive at a small unnamed waterfall. This can be jumped at various spots on either side with jumps ranging from 12 to 20 feet. A direct slide down the falls is a fun option. The canyon narrows and you are shortly at the edge of Punch Bowl Falls (35 feet high). Rappel from a small tree on the left which makes for about a 50 foot mostly free rappel. Reach the tree via mossy ledges on the left. Set the rope length. Some people jump the falls. This is done by wading out to a shallow shelf about ten feet back from the edge, sitting in the deeper water, and allowing the current to carry you over. There is a higher jumping spot (60 to 70 feet high) on the right. I met one man who has jumped it. I don’t recommend it. If you wish to exit the canyon before the falls, climb a short dirty rock pitch on the right which leads to a steep crude trail which goes up to the main trail.

The Punch Bowl is a major attraction in its own right and one of Oregon’s most popular photographic subjects. You can swim behind the falls when the flow is low. There is a very large alcove on the west side. After exiting the Punch Bowl, walk downstream to a small waterfall about twelve feet high. You can jump it on the right or from the middle. Higher jumps are available on the left. This is a popular spot, right next to the Punch Bowl trail. There is a large leaning fallen log that has one end in the middle of the creek.

Continue downstream. A small cascade is jumped on the left as you enter a short narrows before Metlako Falls. Care is needed swimming the narrows as you approach the falls. There is a shallow section just before the falls. Scramble up rocks to the left of the lip of the falls. There is a two bolt station on the rock wall to your left. Set the rope length for the rappel, which is between 80 and 100 feet and mostly free. If you wish to exit the canyon above the falls, climb 20 feet of mossy rock on the right side of the creek. Above this a very steep crude trail leads to the crest of the ridge mentioned below.

The bowl below Metlako Falls is, in my opinion, more beautiful than Punch Bowl Falls. It is higher, has mossy walls, and two waterfalls. It also has no visitors since there is no easy way to reach it. The second waterfall, Sorensen Falls, is not visible from the lookout or anywhere else along the trail. It provides an alternative route into the bowl and the lower canyon. To use it start hiking the side trail to the Punch Bowl. Where the trail makes a sharp left turn, turn right, and leave the trail. After walking through the woods you will soon spot a faint trail. Follow it down the crest of a sharp wooded ridge. This ridge separates the drainage of Eagle Creek from the much smaller Sorensen Creek. The trail drops off the ridge on the right and traverses down and across a steep exposed slope to Sorensen Creek. Some places on this “trail” are steep enough to necessitate holding on to tree roots and brush. Sorensen Falls can be descended in two rappels. There is a long log that is leaning vertically against the falls. The second rappel can be anchored by putting a sling around the top of the log. Once this log topples over, this rappel will become much harder.

After swimming out of the bowl you will enter another beautiful narrows. This may be the prettiest part of Eagle Creek. There are seeps and small falls dripping off the mossy vertical walls. After swimming through the narrows you will encounter a small cascade. Jump this or down climb on the left. Downstream the canyon widens, but the walls are still high and steep. Eventually you will be able to scramble back up to the trail, or if you prefer, follow the creek back to the parking area. Allow 8 to 9 hours round trip.

Two 60 meter ropes simplify rope retrieval in the two punchbowls. Also take 20 feet of webbing, wetsuit and helmet.

Further Prospects in Eagle Creek

The area upstream of Skoonichuk Falls contains no narrow sections, but it is not devoid of interest. Tunnel Falls is a very popular hiking objective. The trail has been blasted out of the side of the cliff and goes behind the falls in a tunnel, hence the name. The water fall is in the East Fork of Eagle Creek, a major tributary which has carved its own little gorge. The topo map shows another water fall upstream of Tunnel Falls. The pool at the bottom of Tunnel Falls can be accessed by descending scree slopes from the trail.

One half mile past Tunnel Falls there is a major water fall which is apparently unnamed. This drops in two steps with a short pinch between. It would make a really fine rappel if there were an anchor at the top. I would estimate the total length at around 200 feet. The pool at the bottom of this waterfall can be reached by descending talus slopes from the trail. Continuing downstream from the pool there is some swimming before you reach the confluence of the east fork. Shortly after this there is another unnamed waterfall about thirty or forty feet high. There is a steep rock face on the right side of the falls. You can down climb this on easy ledges and jug holds until you are directly over the water, and jump the last 15 feet. Downstream the canyon opens up, though there are still some streamside cliffs.

South of the Punch Bowl lookout there are two side drainages crossed by the trail. The second stream south of the lookout has carved a slot like canyon which may be worth exploring. The trail crosses it on a steel bridge.

Eagle Creek has other side streams, some of which have water falls of there own. There is plenty of exploring to be done in this area.

Map: Bonneville Dam, Tanner Butte Quads.

Click on thumbnails below to enlarge

The following photos have been provided by Ira Lewis