Home  •   Field Guide  •   Forums  •    Unread Posts  •   Maps  •   Find a Hike!
| Page | Discussion | View source | History | Print Friendly and PDF

Difference between revisions of "Tunnel Falls"

From Oregon Hikers Field Guide

m (Elevation)
m (Several minor changes)
Line 6: Line 6:
 
[[Image:TunnelFallsLookingDown.jpg|thumb|250px|Wide angle shot looking at the base of the falls ''(Jeff Black)'']]
 
[[Image:TunnelFallsLookingDown.jpg|thumb|250px|Wide angle shot looking at the base of the falls ''(Jeff Black)'']]
 
[[Image:TunnelFallsTunnel.jpg|thumb|250px|Inside the tunnel ''(Jeff Statt)'']]
 
[[Image:TunnelFallsTunnel.jpg|thumb|250px|Inside the tunnel ''(Jeff Statt)'']]
 +
[[Image:TunnelFallsTunnel.jpg|thumb|250px|A party of hikers getting sprayed by Tunnel Falls ''(Steve Hart)'']]
 +
[[Image:TunnelFallsTunnel2.jpg|thumb|250px|Looking out of the tunnel ''(Steve Hart)'']]
 
* Hikes to this location
 
* Hikes to this location
 
** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Eagle Creek Trailhead|hike=Eagle Creek to Tunnel Falls Hike|log=Eagle Creek to Tunnel Falls Hike/Log|previous=Grand Union Falls|next=Tunnel Falls}}
 
** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Eagle Creek Trailhead|hike=Eagle Creek to Tunnel Falls Hike|log=Eagle Creek to Tunnel Falls Hike/Log|previous=Grand Union Falls|next=Tunnel Falls}}
 
* Hikes including this location
 
* Hikes including this location
−
** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Eagle Creek Trailhead|hike=Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake Hike|log=Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake Hike/Log|previous=Grand Union Falls|next=Vertigo Mile}}
+
** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Eagle Creek Trailhead|hike=Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake Hike|log=Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake Hike/Log|previous=Grand Union Falls|next=Twister Falls}}
−
** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Wahclella Falls Trailhead|hike=Tanner-Eagle Traverse Hike|log=Tanner-Eagle Traverse Hike/Log|previous=Vertigo Mile|next=Grand Union Falls}}
+
** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Tooth Rock Trailhead|hike=Tanner-Eagle Traverse Hike|log=Tanner-Eagle Traverse Hike/Log|previous=Twister Falls|next=Grand Union Falls}}
 
{{maplinkinfo|latitude=45.584821|longitude=-121.852154}}
 
{{maplinkinfo|latitude=45.584821|longitude=-121.852154}}
 
{{Elevation|1200 feet}}
 
{{Elevation|1200 feet}}
−
* Height: 100+ feet
+
* Height: 160 feet
 
* Stream: East Fork Eagle Creek
 
* Stream: East Fork Eagle Creek
  
 
=== Description ===
 
=== Description ===
−
Tunnel Falls is the traditional turnaround spot for many on the Eagle Creek trail, and it is indeed a splendid climax. Over the last thousand years, the falls have carved a majestic basin here - plunging more than a 100 feet from towering basalt cliffs to the rushing creek-bed below.   While this scene is impressive enough, the most bewildering aspect of the falls in the passageway behind them. Trail builders from the early 1900s blasted a tunnel behind the falls and then across the sheer rock face on their far side -- making this area the slickest and perhaps, most precarious section of trail in the Gorge. Looking downstream from the falls, you can see were the two forks of Eagle Creek converge - meeting at [[Grand Union Falls]].   
+
Tunnel Falls is the traditional turnaround spot for many on the Eagle Creek Trail, and it is indeed a splendid climax. Over the last thousand years, the falls have carved a majestic basin here, plunging 160 feet from towering basalt cliffs to the rushing creek-bed below. While this scene is impressive enough, the most bewildering aspect of the falls in the passageway behind them. Trail builders from the early 1900s blasted a tunnel behind the falls and then across the sheer rock face on their far side, making this area the slickest and perhaps, most precarious section of trail in the [[Columbia River Gorge]]. Looking downstream from the falls, you can see were the two forks of Eagle Creek converge, meeting at [[Grand Union Falls]].   
  
−
Please avoid the temptation to descend to the creek via the large slide on the near side, as so many have done before. Putting aside the obvious danger, the area is eroding before it's time, accelerating mother nature's intentions for the area.
+
Please avoid the temptation to descend to the creek via the large slide on the near side, as so many have done before. Putting aside the obvious danger, the area is eroding before it's time, accelerating mother nature's intentions for the area.
  
−
Visitors to this area may choose to continue less than a half-mile ahead to the two-tiered, 200 foot [[Twister Falls]] (some guidebooks call it "Eagle Creek Falls"). It is well worth the minimal additional effort if time affords. It is difficult to see the full span of the cataract, but more impressive is the trail to it. Many have referred to this stretch as the "[[Vertigo Mile]]".   
+
Visitors to this area may choose to continue less than a half-mile ahead to the two-tiered, 200 foot [[Twister Falls]] (some guidebooks call it "Eagle Creek Falls"). It is well worth the minimal additional effort if time affords. It is difficult to see the full span of the cataract, but more impressive is the trail to it. Many have referred to this stretch as the "Vertigo Mile".   
  
 
{{TripReports|{{PAGENAME}}}}
 
{{TripReports|{{PAGENAME}}}}
Line 30: Line 32:
  
 
=== Guidebooks that cover this destination ===
 
=== Guidebooks that cover this destination ===
 +
* ''Hiking Oregon's Geology'', by Ellen Morris Bishop
 
* ''Day Hike! Columbia Gorge'', by Seabury Blair, Jr.
 
* ''Day Hike! Columbia Gorge'', by Seabury Blair, Jr.
 
* ''60 Hikes within 60 miles of Portland'', by Paul Gerald
 
* ''60 Hikes within 60 miles of Portland'', by Paul Gerald

Revision as of 18:14, 8 October 2007

Hikers traversing the trail past Tunnel Falls (Tom Kloster)
Wide angle shot looking at the base of the falls (Jeff Black)
Inside the tunnel (Jeff Statt)
A party of hikers getting sprayed by Tunnel Falls (Steve Hart)
Looking out of the tunnel (Steve Hart)

Contents

Description

Tunnel Falls is the traditional turnaround spot for many on the Eagle Creek Trail, and it is indeed a splendid climax. Over the last thousand years, the falls have carved a majestic basin here, plunging 160 feet from towering basalt cliffs to the rushing creek-bed below. While this scene is impressive enough, the most bewildering aspect of the falls in the passageway behind them. Trail builders from the early 1900s blasted a tunnel behind the falls and then across the sheer rock face on their far side, making this area the slickest and perhaps, most precarious section of trail in the Columbia River Gorge. Looking downstream from the falls, you can see were the two forks of Eagle Creek converge, meeting at Grand Union Falls.

Please avoid the temptation to descend to the creek via the large slide on the near side, as so many have done before. Putting aside the obvious danger, the area is eroding before it's time, accelerating mother nature's intentions for the area.

Visitors to this area may choose to continue less than a half-mile ahead to the two-tiered, 200 foot Twister Falls (some guidebooks call it "Eagle Creek Falls"). It is well worth the minimal additional effort if time affords. It is difficult to see the full span of the cataract, but more impressive is the trail to it. Many have referred to this stretch as the "Vertigo Mile".

Trip Reports

(Click here to add your own)

Related Discussions / Q&A

(Click here to ask a question or start a conversation)

Guidebooks that cover this destination

  • Hiking Oregon's Geology, by Ellen Morris Bishop
  • Day Hike! Columbia Gorge, by Seabury Blair, Jr.
  • 60 Hikes within 60 miles of Portland, by Paul Gerald
  • Afoot and Afield Portland/Vancouver, by Douglas Lorain
  • 35 Hiking Trails, Columbia River Gorge, by Don & Roberta Lowe
  • Columbia River Gorge, 42 Scenic Hikes, by Don & Roberta Lowe
  • Hiking the Columbia River Gorge - 1st and 2nd Editions, by Russ Schneider
  • 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon - 3rd Edition, by William L Sullivan

More Links

Contributors

Retrieved from "https://www.oregonhikers.org/w/index.php?title=Tunnel_Falls&oldid=22511"
Oregon Hikers Field Guide is built as a collaborative effort by its user community. While we make every effort to fact-check, information found here should be considered anecdotal. You should cross-check against other references before planning a hike. Trail routing and conditions are subject to change. Please contact us if you notice errors on this page.

Hiking is a potentially risky activity, and the entire risk for users of this field guide is assumed by the user, and in no event shall Trailkeepers of Oregon be liable for any injury or damages suffered as a result of relying on content in this field guide. All content posted on the field guide becomes the property of Trailkeepers of Oregon, and may not be used without permission.