Difference between revisions of "Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake Hike"
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
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=== Maps === | === Maps === | ||
| + | {{hikemaps|latitude=45.58339|longitude=-121.8499}} | ||
| + | * Green Trails Maps: ''Bonneville Dam, OR #429'' | ||
| + | * Green Trails Maps: ''Columbia River Gorge - West #428S'' | ||
| + | * Geo-Graphics: ''Trails of the Columbia Gorge'' | ||
| + | * U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service/Bureau of Land Management: ''Columbia River Gorge'' | ||
| + | * National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: ''Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Regulations, fees, etc === | ||
| + | * Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) required; fee kiosk at the trailhead | ||
| + | * Restrooms, picnic tables, information kiosk, nearby campground at trailhead | ||
| + | * Dogs on leash | ||
| + | * Limited parking; if lot is full, go back to the [[Eagle Creek Day Use Trailhead]] | ||
| + | * Overnight camping permitted above the [[High Bridge]]; campfires not allowed! | ||
{{TripReports|Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake}} | {{TripReports|Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake}} | ||
Revision as of 17:25, 28 August 2021
- Start point: Eagle Creek Trailhead
- End point: Wahtum Lake
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: In and out or loop
- Distance: 25.3 miles (in and out)
- Elevation gain: 5310 feet
- High point: 3,725 feet
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Seasons: Summer, fall
- Backpackable: Yes
- Family Friendly: No
- Crowded: Yes, especially the first 7 miles
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Contents |
Hike Description
This is a popular multi-day backpack trip, often done as a two-day, one-night excursion on summer weekends, thus inducing high competition for limited camp space. You will be hiking up scenic and crowded the Eagle Creek Trail, ascending steeply to Wahtum Lake. As of 2021, your only option for a return loop is to use the Pacific Crest Trail and then the Gorge Trail (almost 17 miles one way), with a former choice (the Ruckel Creek Trail) closed since the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. The PCT loop option will probably involve an overnight camp on the Benson Plateau. More rugged loop options used to include the Eagle-Benson Trail or the Ruckel Ridge Trail, but these have no longer been viable since the 2017 conflagration. The current recommendation is to return the way you came on Eagle Creek and enjoy the spectacular waterfalls and gorge scenery from a different angle. A leisurely approach may involve a night at Seven and a Half Mile Camp and two nights at Wahtum Lake, allowing a full day to day hike in the area. Return all the way down the Eagle Creek Trail on your last day.
Start out at the Eagle Creek Trailhead. Park at the lower parking area next to the fish hatchery and camp host for better security. The first 8 miles follows scenic Eagle Creek (see Eagle Creek to Tunnel Falls Hike, Eagle Creek to High Bridge Hike, and Eagle Creek to Punch Bowl Falls Hike).
For the first night camp at Seven and a Half Mile Camp. There is easily room for half a dozen parties, but they may all be occupied on summer weekends. You should be able to find a spot regardless.
The second day hike the steep trail up to Wahtum Lake, elevation gain 2300'. This is the hardest day. The second night camp at Wahtum Lake. You can drive to Wahtum Lake so it's busy, but there are campsites all around the lake so you should be able to find something.
This hike assumes you go back via the Pacific Crest Trail/Ruckel Creek, but you could just as easily go back the way you came. The third day head back on the PCT. Make sure and do the short side trip to Chinidere Mountain, where you'll get your best views of the hike. The third night camp at Camp Smokey, at the junction with the Eagle Benson Trail #434. There's a campsite on the PCT, and another on the Eagle Benson Trail. Reportedly there is water a short distance down the Eagle Benson Trail.
The fourth day you could go down the Eagle Benson Trail, and then back on the Eagle Creek Trail to the trailhead. The Eagle Benson Trail is steep and less well maintained than other trails in the area.
This hike assumes you continue on the PCT. The trail soon reaches the Benson Plateau, a large, flat, forested area. You want to turn left onto the Ruckel Creek Trail #405. There is a confusing network of trails. Maybe someone can put in a better description of how to find this route.
The Ruckel Creek Trail goes steeply down to next to the freeway and ends at the Gorge Trail #400. Turn left (West) on the Gorge Trail and go back, next to the campground, and out on the road to the campground. Follow the road 0.1 miles back to the lower parking area.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Green Trails Maps: Bonneville Dam, OR #429
- Green Trails Maps: Columbia River Gorge - West #428S
- Geo-Graphics: Trails of the Columbia Gorge
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service/Bureau of Land Management: Columbia River Gorge
- National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Regulations, fees, etc
- Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) required; fee kiosk at the trailhead
- Restrooms, picnic tables, information kiosk, nearby campground at trailhead
- Dogs on leash
- Limited parking; if lot is full, go back to the Eagle Creek Day Use Trailhead
- Overnight camping permitted above the High Bridge; campfires not allowed!
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Hiking the Columbia River Gorge by Russ Schneider; revised by Jim Yuskavich
- One Night Wilderness: Portland by Douglas Lorain
- Oregon’s Wilderness Areas by George Wuerthner
- 35 Hiking Trails: Columbia River Gorge by Don & Roberta Lowe
- 42 Scenic Hikes: Columbia River Gorge by Don & Roberta Lowe
- 70 Hiking Trails: Northern Oregon Cascades by Don & Roberta Lowe
- 100 Oregon Hiking Trails by Don & Roberta Lowe
- Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge: Camping & Hiking by Tom Steinstra & Sean Patrick Hill