Miles: 12 miles RT
Elevation Gain/Highest: 950ft/1050ft
Map: Green Trails Columbia River Gorge West
Favorite Eats After Hike: Crush Cider, Walking Man Brewery, Backwoods Brewery, Thunder Island Brewing, Cascade Locks Ale House, Farm Stand Natural Foods, Dick’s Primal Burger, Back To Eden Bakery, or just Pack A Cooler. You can learn more about these places in my Must Hike Must Eat Eating Out Guide.
Find out current conditions and as always, practice Leave No Trace. Pretty please.
My hike:
I have hiked into Tunnel Falls on the Eagle Creek Trail on the Columbia Gorge now twice, once in July of 2014 as I began section hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and again that November on a road trip to Oregon. This is an amazing hike with little elevation gain for the distance but not for the faint of heart as most of it is on a ledge above the Eagle Creek Gorge with little room for accidentally stepping off the mostly rocky, wet trail.
There are multiple bridges to cross and campsites along the way. It is popular and the trailhead sees a lot of crime, so don’t leave valuables in your car and go on a weekday. In the rain.
Directions: From Portland, drive east on I-84 and turn off at Exit #41. At the bottom of the ramp turn right and it is about 1/2 mile to the end of the road. You will go over a footbridge (that takes hikers up to Wauna Viewpoint) as the road narrows to one lane. Continue to a large parking lot. This area (both parking lots) are known for a high number of break ins. Leave your valuables at home. You will need a Northwest Forest Pass.
This trail reopened on 1/1/2021 after being closed for 3 years due to wildfire damage. For more information about this hike, you can read on Oregon Hikers here: Eagle Creek to Tunnel Falls. For other hikes in the area, visit my Southwest Washington Columbia River Gorge page.
Thank you so much for stopping by Must Hike Must Eat!
If you need some healthy eating inspiration start here:..
Need some eating out suggestions when friends want to stop after a hike? I have a Pacific Northwest Eating Guide here.
Find out what’s been happening outside the blog:
If you have a question you don’t want to post in the comments, you can ask them here: