Eagle Creek to Punch Bowl Falls

Eagle Creek to Punch Bowl Falls is a 3.8-mile out-and-back from Eagle Creek Trailhead, with about 600 feet of total climbing. Follow Eagle Creek Trail #440 to the signed spur for Lower Punch Bowl Falls, then return the same way. Allow roughly two to three hours for the rocky footing and a waterfall stop. It is a compact Gorge hike, but its narrow ledges above a basalt canyon make it a poor choice for young children or anyone uneasy with exposed edges.

Trail 440 was blasted through sheer cliffs about a century ago. The first half mile climbs above Eagle Creek; from there the path winds through forest high over the creek’s slot canyon. Small waterfalls and seeps cross the tread, and the rocky surface can be slick. Some cliffside sections are narrow and have cables, while other drops have no rail. Look down into the canyon where the trees open, then keep your attention on the uneven trail.

Near the end, take the signed spur downhill to Lower Punch Bowl Falls, a 12-foot cascade beside a pool. This is the trail’s signed waterfall destination. The iconic 33-foot Punch Bowl Falls lies upstream; reaching its pool means scrambling along the creek edge or swimming upstream, outside the signed hike. Do not jump or dive. If you want to see the upper falls from a marked path, stay on Trail #440 at the spur and continue about a quarter mile to an overlook above them. That viewpoint is a worthwhile extension and the best place along the marked trail to photograph the falls.

Start at Eagle Creek Trailhead at the end of Eagle Creek Road. A valid recreation pass is required for parking. Restrooms are beside a separate parking area on the approach; if the road-end lot is full, the larger lot by the restrooms and fish hatchery adds about a mile round trip. Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet, though the narrow, exposed trail is a poor fit for many dogs. Food and potable water were not found at the trailhead or along the route, so bring what you need.