My first hike on this trail was 2 weeks before the big fire in 2017.  After years of closure and amazing work by the trail crews to restore access, it was time to go back.  Leaving Olympia at 5:30, we arrived at the trailhead just before 8am to just 2 other cars in the parking lot.  

We knew it would be a hot day, made even hotter inside the gorge that the trail ascends so were prepared with sunscreen, extra water and electrolytes, sun shirts, hats, as well as water filters.  We were glad we had all of these.  The trail is generally in good shape and the work of trail crews is evident.  This is such a rocky trail that good footwear is important.  

Wildflowers are in full show and we were excited to see a small rubber boa warming itself on the trail.  We also saw garter snakes, a lizard, black moths, silver blue butterflies, lots of birds including a small woodpecker.  Bugs were not a particular issue, although there were a few large flies.

it was truly gratifying to see how beautifully the area is recovering from the devastation caused by the fire.  

We have hiked this trail 20 or more times, but mostly before we wrote trip reports. Our last trip was 1-6-2015 when we only hiked to Lower Punchbowl Falls Viewpoint and then walked the short spur trail to the lower viewpoint.There is no longer a view of the falls at the end of the spur trail because of a 2018 a massive cliff collapse. I have added a link which describes this and the 2016 landslide which destroyed the official viewpoint of Metlako Falls. The 2017 Eagle Creek fire burned trees around the waterfall which can now be seen from the trail at 1.5 miles. Graig Romano in his book, "Day Hiking Columbia River Gorge", states that the Eagle Creek Trail is "one of the most spectacular trails in America" and this is so true. Beauty is seen throughout the trail to Twister Falls at 6.25 miles. At 84 and 85 we will not longer be able to go this far again, but we are thankful we can still enjoy short meanders along this beautiful trail. Today we meandered a little beyond the viewpoint of Punchbowl Falls for a total of 5 miles RT and 584ft gain. We were on the the trail a little over 5 hours enjoying the many seasonal waterfalls and many beautiful flowers on the rock walls and hills along the trail. Many saxifrage covered the rock walls at the beginning of the trail. Chocolate lilies, gold stars, trilium, small-flowered blue-eyed Mary, yellow violets, yellow monkey flowers, Larkspur, coltsfoot, spring beauty, rosy plectritus, Hooker's fairybells and Indian plum were some of the flowers seen. Many of the Larkspur and chocolate lilles were still in bud stage so will  be pretty for quite awhile longer. 

Finally checked this one off the list! It's the perfect shoulder season hike. I love that you can go as far as you'd like and still get beautiful views. A recent trip report said they saw something like 60 waterfalls, and I thought "there's no way that's true!" But my husband and I counted 53!! We went a little past Twister Falls, which totaled 13 miles RT.

Waterproof boots and rain gear are absolute musts, there are a number of unavoidable baby falls pouring onto the trail. The trail isn't as nerve-wracking as it may look in photos in most places, but there are several sections where I could see being here on a weekend would be difficult, waiting to pass people or having someone come the opposite direction. On a rainy Thursday, we encountered about 15 other people. 

Lots of pretty wildflowers are blooming in the moss! Not your typical Gorge wildflowers, but beautiful nonetheless. There are a few trees down across the trail that you can squeeze under or crawl over. Overall a great hike for when you have a full day in the Portland area!

Bottom Line:

A stunner! Simply gorgeous, and a great time to visit with the lush spring growth, flowers, and countless seasonal waterfalls adding to the (already prolific) main falls marked on the map. This was the scene of the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, and there are plenty of burnt trees, but also many large trees that survived relatively unscathed, and a lush understory teaming with grasses and flowers. It remains incredibly beautiful, and in parts can easily transport someone to a tropical locale.

Stats:

• Distance: 6-1/2 miles
• Duration: 2-1/4 hours
• Vertical: 700 ft
• Weather: Partly sunny, sprinkles, 60s, no wind
• Parking: Plenty of parking either right at the trailhead, or just as you turn off the Hwy 84 where the National Forest facility is located (a walk from here adds only 1/4 mile to the hike); National Forest Pass required
• Trail: The RT trail to Punchbowl Falls is ~6.5 miles including a trip down the hill to lower Punchbowl Falls; there is another set of large falls at the ~7 mile mark that we will have to save for a warmer ~14 mile RT day. The trail is cut into steep cliffs in sections, with a safety cable bolted into the pocket gardens, flowers, and micro-waterfalls that line the steep walls (see pics). There is at least one section where the cliff is pretty drippy, so you may get a bit wet, but not enough to warrant a jacket on a relatively warm day. Just below Punchbowl Falls is a deep gorge with waterfalls flowing off virtually every wall surface, some large and some of the seasonal variety. Breathtaking! As noted in the pic below, there is a risk of tree and debris fall on much of the trail. Lots of flowers, but you could see the flowers on the more shaded canyon walls were only started, so it will only get better!
• Takeaway: This is a great time to go - flowers are out, and there are many extra seasonal falls; the trail is on the busy side during the weekend, which might make one nervous if scared of heights given the narrow cliff cutouts, but everyone was kind and patient. Backpackers were already descending from overnight trips. This is similar to Silver Falls "Trail of the Ten Falls" is some respects, although with a larger scale and much more dramatic IMHO.

This is a very, very popular trail for two reasons: It's near a population center and it's very scenic. Really scenic. Follows Eagle Creek southward, up and away from the Columbia River. You will need either an America the Beautiful pass or a Northwest Forest Pass to park. The Forest Pass is available at the TH for five bucks. The very start of the trail (first 5 or 6 hundred yards) was very muddy on Saturday. Dogs are permitted and far and away most people kept them on leash. There are a few areas near the lower part that pose a hazard for little kids or inattentive hikers. A steel cable is provided as a "handrail" in these areas. "High consequence" area as the drop-offs are very steep, toward the river. The trail is well maintained. Gets a ton of use. At two miles, Punch Bowl falls is stunning. Good place to open the pack and grab a snack. High bridge is another 1.2 miles. It's stunning in it's own way. The creek tumbles through a very narrow slot and your vantage point is high above it.

The gain is moderate or even considered fairly gentle. At least as far as I went. 3.2 miles.