Eagle Creek Trailhead
From Portland Hikers Field Guide
- Latitude: 45.63653
- Longitude: -121.91947
- Maps: Portland Hikers Maps Google Earth
- Elevation: 60 feet
- Driving time from Portland: 45 minutes
Contents |
Hikes starting here
- Buck Point Hike (TH | <-- --> | LOG)
- Eagle Creek to Punchbowl Falls Hike (TH | <-- --> | LOG)
- Eagle Creek to High Bridge Hike (TH | <-- --> | LOG)
- Eagle Creek to Tunnel Falls Hike (TH | <-- --> | LOG)
- Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake Hike (TH | <-- --> | LOG)
- Eagle-Benson Loop Hike (TH | <-- --> | LOG)
- Ruckel Ridge Loop Hike (TH | <-- --> | LOG)
- Tanner-Eagle Traverse Hike (TH | <-- --> | LOG)
- Wahtum Lake via Ruckel Creek Hike (TH | <-- --> | LOG)
- Wauna Viewpoint from Eagle Creek Hike (TH | <-- --> | LOG)
Driving Directions
Coming from Portland, travel eastbound on I-84, and turn off at Exit #41. At the bottom of the ramp turn right. Go about 1/2 mile to the end of the road. You will go passed a footbridge (that takes hikers up to Wauna Viewpoint) as the road narrows to one lane. Continue a short ways to a large parking lot, parking only in designated spaces.
(Coming from the east, be aware, there is no westbound exit at Eagle Creek. You must continue on I-84 and get off at the Bonneville Dam exit, get back on the interstate and backtrack to exit #41.)
There are really a couple a major trailheads here. The Eagle Creek Trail starts at the end of the road. All of the Eagle Creek hikes start there. The Wauna Viewpoint Hike starts by crossing the suspension bridge. All of the other hikes start at the bridge, as well, but begin by walking away from the bridge up the campground road.
Fees / Regulations
Northwest Forest Pass required. There is a drop box for purchasing the day pass at the trailhead.
Description
The Eagle Creek trailhead is a busy place most weekends. Here sits the jump-off point for a half-dozen trails. In addition to Eagle Creek hikers, it accommodates PCT thru-hikers, locals who enjoy the day-use picnic area, site-seers enjoying the nearby fish hatcheries, and campers at nearby Eagle Creek Campground.
Unfortunately, with the crowds, the Eagle Creek trailhead has seen a great number of break-ins to cars. Thieves are known to frequent this area and work quickly. They tend to go for the obvious (valuables left in cars) but also for identity information left in glove compartments. It is an attractive area for clouters because of it's proximity to the interstate on-ramp.
In addition, hikers have even reported losing backpacks left at the trailhead momentarily while fetching their vehicle.
Many hikers have taken to bringing all their valuables with them, leaving the doors to their car unlocked and the glove compartments open.
There are signs posted that recommend you park at the lower parking area that you first pass by when you drive in from the freeway, next to the fish hatchery (where there are people 24/7, a window looks out onto the parking area) and during the summer there is a camp host. Parking here will add about a 1/2 mile to your hike).
The following destinations are accessible from this trailhead: Benson Plateau, Benson Way-Benson Spur Trail Junction, Blue Grouse Camp, Buck Point, Camp Smokey, Catwalk, Eagle Creek-Chinidere Cutoff Trail Junction, Eagle Creek-Eagle Benson Trail Junction, Eagle Creek-Eagle Tanner Trail Junction, Eagle Creek-Indian Springs Trail Junction, Eagle Creek-Lower Punchbowl Junction, Eagle Creek Suspension Bridge, Eagle Creek Trailhead, Fern Creek Bridge, Four and a Half Mile Bridge, Gorge-Buck Point Trail Junction, Gorge-Wauna Viewpoint Trail Junction, Grand Union Falls, HCRHT-Gorge Trail Junction at Ruckel Creek, High Bridge, Hunter's Camp, Inspiration Point, Loowit Falls (Eagle Creek), Lower Punchbowl Falls, Metlako Falls, Pacific Crest-Benson Way South Trail Junction, Pacific Crest-Chinidere Cutoff-Chinidere Mountain Trail Junction, Pacific Crest-Eagle Creek Trail Junction, Pacific Crest-Herman Creek Trail Junction, Pacific Crest-Ruckel Creek Trail Junction, Punchbowl Falls, Ruckel Creek-Benson Ruckel Trail Junction, Ruckel Creek-Benson Spur Trail Junction, Ruckel Creek-Ruckel Ridge Trail Junction, Ruckel Creek-Rudolph Spur Trail Junction, Ruckel Creek Bridge, Ruckel Creek Ford, Ruckel Creek Native American Site, Seven and a Half Mile Camp (Eagle Creek), Seven Mile Falls, Sorenson Creek Crossing, Tenas Camp, Tish Creek Bridge, Tunnel Falls, Twister Falls, Wahtum Lake, Wauna Viewpoint, and Wy'East Camp