Eagle Creek Part II - Tunnel Falls

March 13, 2014  •  Leave a Comment

Just after my wife Melissa and I got married we took a trip to Zion National Park in Utah and hiked an amazing trail called Angel's Landing.  The round trip was about five miles and included a few sections of steep cliffs and drop offs that made your life flash before your eyes.  Perfect for your first week of marriage!  Reaching the almost 6000 foot peak was a moment I'll never forget and my enjoyment of hiking today easily has it's roots in Zion.  

About two weeks ago we visited Punchbowl Falls which is 2 miles from the Eagle Creek trailhead.  We heard about some amazing sites if you continue further up the creek to Tunnel Falls.  Yesterday we finally got to return and make the 12 mile round trip!  After walking the beautiful and sometimes terrifying trail, Melissa and I agreed that this was the best all around hike we've ever been on, including Angel's Landing.  They're both world class trails, but the variety of what you see heading up to Tunnel Falls was unlike anything I've ever experienced.  One minute your walking on a smooth grade next to a glacier blue creek, the next your 1000 feet up clutching onto support chains as you make your way over narrow paths on the edge a cliff...  a cliff with sheer-drops that make you shake a little and question why you're doing this on purpose!

And once you make it six miles in, you literally get to walk into the properly named Tunnel Falls as the trail leads you through a small chasm behind the massive waterfall.  The pictures from our day are nice, but they don't even come close to capturing how breathtaking this entire area of The Gorge is, especially Tunnel Falls!  It's an easy 4 out of 4 stars... except my feet hurt :(

The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios. The Columbia River Gorge - Eagle Creek & Tunnel FallsFineart Oregon photography by Cameron Smith and noremaC Studios.

See more cool pictures of Oregonia here!

          


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