This column was originally published in Vol. 33, Issue 8 (April 2023)
April is here, which means that it is time to break out the hiking boots and start exploring all the natural wonders provided by our bountiful Pacific Northwest spring. The Columbia River Gorge, about an hour’s drive from campus, unlocks an overflow of incredible hikes – ranging from half-mile roadside waterfalls to multi-mile switchback-ridden trails that lead to sweeping views of the Columbia River.
The Eagle Creek Trail is a popular spot in the Gorge that is lined with a number of unique and exhilarating landmarks. The entire trail is about 26 miles roundtrip, ending at Wahtum lake. The first major stop on this trail is Lower Punchbowl Falls, which is only about 2 miles one-way and 4 miles roundtrip. The trek to the falls is a short day hike in its own right, dotted with light showers provided by newly formed snow-fed streams running over the trail’s moss-covered cliffside.
The most compelling aspect of the path to Lower Punchbowl Falls is that it is packed full of thrill despite being a fairly short and easy hike. I expected this trek to take about 2 and a half hours, but it ended up taking me around 4 hours due to how many stops I made along the way.
One of these stops is a narrow and unprotected cliffside path. A cable handrail along the rockface is the only safeguard from the dropoff – there are no railings to bar hikers from the ridge. Thus, hikers should be extra cautious of missteps during this portion of the hike. Looking over the edge caused me to experience some serious height-induced vertigo; however, this segment does provide an incredible view of Eagle Creek and the cliffside opposite the trail.
Eventually, a fork in the road prompts hikers to either continue on to the rest of the Eagle Creek Trail or head down to Lower Punchbowl Falls. Descending to the falls, I realized that I was quickly undoing all of the elevation I had gradually acquired to reach this point. Although getting down to the falls was easy, it was a steep return and probably the most difficult part of the hike. Luckily, this portion is short and opens up to the canyon where Lower Punchbowl Falls resides.
After arriving at the falls, it was clear that a full view of the torrent was not possible without crossing the massive fallen trees that formed a makeshift bridge across the creek. Although this seemed somewhat precarious at first – I was not necessarily interested in crawling on slippery logs 15 feet above the jetting flow – the clustered manner of the fallen trees provided enough area to feel secure crossing.
The view of the falls while suspended in the middle of the creek shows just how crystal blue the water is. A cool stream of wind is pushed through the canyon by the rapids, enough for me to redress after shedding my layers on the way. Despite how inviting the water looks from afar, it is also painfully freezing. Keep in mind – diving and swimming in Punchbowl Falls is extremely dangerous and prohibited by the Forest Service.
If you don’t want to traverse the makeshift log bridge, the beach alongside the falls is the perfect place to set up camp for a bit and have lunch before heading back the way you came.
Despite the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, the beauty of this area perseveres. The trail to Punchbowl Falls is a perfect warm-up for the season and the rest of Eagle Creek has a number of gems along the way.
Getting there: The Eagle Creek trailhead is about an hour’s drive from campus. From I-84, take Exit 41 until you reach NE Eagle Creek Loop. Turn right and continue on until the road ends and the trailhead is visible. A Northwest Forest Pass is required to park at the trailhead. The beginning of the trail is paved and follows right next to Eagle Creek. However, eventually, the paved trail ends and your hike begins.
