Eagle Creek Trail #440

Eagle Creek Trail #440 (also referenced as the PCT – Eagle Creek Alternate) is a popular Columbia River Gorge hike that follows Eagle Creek from the Eagle Creek area toward Wahtum Lake, linking into the Pacific Crest Trail near Wahtum Lake.

Expect a basalt-cliff setting: the tread runs through a dense forest and along paths carved into basalt cliffs above Eagle Creek, with repeated waterfall encounters as you gain elevation.

Route character is defined by narrow hillside sections with steep drop-offs; there are cables where the trail hugs the cliffs. No hand rails are present on parts of the route, so keep expectations conservative if you’re uneasy around exposure.

Trail milestones along the main line include Punch Bowl Falls about 2 miles up the route, then High Bridge about 3 miles up. From High Bridge the route continues into Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness before heading toward the Tunnel Falls area and beyond.

Punch Bowl Falls is accessed as a side trip about 2 miles up the trail from the main line, and Tunnel Falls is roughly 7 miles up for hikers pushing farther (including the option to pass through a tunnel behind the falls).

For the long run toward Wahtum Lake, the trail continues past Tunnel Falls and onward to a junction near the Pacific Crest Trail (#2000) by Wahtum Lake; wilderness boundary use rules apply as you progress into Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness.

Plan on summer weekend crowds: this is one of the most used trails in the Columbia Gorge, and the route is managed as a day-use and long-distance hiking corridor with specific pass/permit requirements.

Access is fee-based at the trailhead (and day-use is $5 per vehicle per day, or a valid recreation pass). When you enter Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness, you’ll need a free self-issued wilderness permit at the boundary; dogs must be on leash and vehicles/bikes are prohibited.

More information: Visitor information, Visitor information, Eagle Creek to Punch Bowl Falls - Friends of the Columbia Gorge