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Some visitors leave their cars parked illegally along the roads around Eagle Creek, which poses both a danger for pedestrians and a problem for emergency vehicles that may need to reach the trailhead. Print/PDF map. Campfires are not permitted though. Again, a great photo opportunity. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. For many of them are not accessible and you only see them from the trail that sometimes is far above the river. This trail offers some of the most spectacular scenery of any trail in the Gorge, including at least 5 waterfalls. It is not safe to pass at this time. Investigators believe that's not true. "And as she said that, he turned around and said, 'If you leave me, I'll kill you.'". And I told her, 'I am going to propose to you.' There were showers from time to time and the trail was damp. It affords spectacular views of the creek's slot canyon, where acool, ethereal fog offers a reprieve on a hot summerday. Acknowledgement of the PCTA's work on the Eagle Creek Trail since the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire (bobcat) Spawning salmon can be seen near the trailhead in late fall (cfm) Latitude: 45.636574. The trail was the site of the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, leaving burn scars throughout the hike. It wouldn't be long before the recently-divorced 30-year-old day trader took 20-year-old Rhonda Casto on their first date. All rights reserved (About Us). Waterproof hiking boots will save your feet from a very uncomfortable day. I love Rhonda. I -- I can find someone on my own.' There are six sections where cable handrails will give you a sense of security as you pass above vertical drops. By the time we were done people were parking a half mile away and walking in. But, she admits, the hostility went both ways. You'll be hiking through a temperate rainforest. "The last time I saw Rhonda was at Boston's Grill," Jen Sconce, a friend of Rhonda's back in 2007, told "48 Hours." I want to warn people that this beautiful hike is quite dangerous in certain weather conditions. I wanted to lose weight. "She couldn't have a better thing in her life than Landy.". Authorities declined to declare the death an accident, but Stephen Nichols was not charged with any crime. As ever, there are a million things to appreciate about the trail, including the autumn colors, walking the edges of high cliff faces and views of the endless waterfalls Punchbowl Falls chief among them. Across the creek, you'll may notice little Tenas Falls, where a tributary splits around a rock to make a twin plunge into Eagle Creek. Many people bring their dogs with them. Everything was perfect.". The Eagle Creek Trailhead is about a 45 minute drive east of downtown Portland on Interstate 84. To maintain an easy grade through this rugged canyon, the builders blasted ledges out of sheer cliffs, bridged . These are both worth visiting, and the trail grade continues to be gentle. Built in the 1910s to accompany the opening of the Columbia River Highway, the Eagle Creek Trail is one of Oregon's most spectacular paths, passing half a dozen major waterfalls. Arnold says there was no murder and that he can prove Rhonda's death was an accident. Soon you'll reach your second cliff face, also with a cable handrail. "You seemed unmoved by Rhonda's death.". "He goes, 'Rhonda's dead.' This spectacular cliffsidehike passes through a forested basalt cliff overlooking Eagle Creek. To be honest, initially I didn't know if she was serious or if she was actually afraid," she replied. This isn't the best trail for dogs or kids. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Length 4.8 miElevation gain 1,020 ftRoute type Out & back. "Knowing her family, I'm gonna say it's made up," he replied. This 60ft waterfall is a tributary which tumbles into a round pool below before cascading into Eagle Creek Below. Table Mountain Trail via Pacific Crest Trail, Aldrich Butte Trail Via Pacific Crest Trail, Gorge Trail 400: Bridge of the Gods Trailhead to Wyeth, PCT: WA Section H - Cascade Locks to Highway 12 (White Pass), Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, Greenleaf Falls Trail Via Pacific Crest Trail, Washington Backcountry Discovery Loop Route, Munra Point via Gorge Trail #400 [CLOSED], Ruckel Ridge and Ruckel Creek Loop Trail [CLOSED], Benson Plateau Trail to Wahtum Lake Loop [CLOSED]. Human caused fire. Fees: Northwest Forest Pass required, or pay a $5 fee at the trailhead per car. Ever. What changed?" Make sure you show up first thing in the morning or later in the day if you want to ensure a place to park. Eagle Creek Trailhead & Trail (#440) Area Status: Open This spectacular cliffside hike passes through a forested basalt cliff overlooking Eagle Creek. He got a job teaching English to Chinese businessmen. Think about her. "She says, 'He's either gonna give me a ring or he's gonna throw me off the cliff.'". Hope you get out to, Soakin up those bluebird days at @mthoodmeadows, The fall colors are beginning to pop at Multnomah, A tranquil fall evening at Lost Lake, captured by, On these cooler fall nights, cozying up in front o, Who else is getting excited for the fall colors to, Hiking the Eagle Creek Trail to the Punchbowl waterfall, Important notes about the Eagle Creek Trail, The incredible Wahclella Falls trail in Oregon, The waterfalls in Starvation Creek State Park, Oregon, The stunning Dry Creek Falls hike near Cascade Locks, Oregon, What to do in Smith Rock State Park, Oregon. Urness is the author of Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon and Hiking Southern Oregon. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or 503-399-6801. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. In that August 2015 bail hearing, Tiffany tells Arnold his suspicions were further confirmed by stories he heard from Rhonda's family. Even on a dry day, the Eagle Creek Trail is extremely wet, as water constantly runs downhill over cliffs onto the trail. "So I tried to call her, and I got no answer," Julia Simmons said. Not the trails fault that people dont know how to dig a hole or pack it out. The vast majority of trees that were killed in the fire are still standing with weakened root structures that means they do fall over pretty regularly, said Karen Davis, spokeswoman for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Later, the trail enters forest that has been more severely burned. Rounding a corner at a rocky viewpoint, you can see ahead to the High Bridge, which spans a spectacularly narrow sheer-sided gorge. Then you'll negotiate another cable-railed cliff face on hexagonal "paving stones", actually columns of basalt sheared off by the original trail builders. Ask the next question, please. Moderate 4.7 (1786) Mount Hood National Forest. A stumble here can lead to a deadly freefall. "He pushed her down on the stairs and left bruises on her back," said Simmons. Bail was set at $2 million. You remember receiving that? The Eagle Creek trailhead is near Cascade Locks, Oregon across from the Bonneville Dam. One of the cliff sections: these may be unsafe for small children (Jeff Statt) The Eagle Creek Trail to Punch Bowl Falls and Lower Punch Bowl Falls. Meaning, Arnold contends, that Rhonda slipped feet first, because if she'd been pushed, she would have tumbled head over heels, sustaining injuries over her entire body. Arnold claims Simmons would do just about anything for money, including a despicable crime: cashing her granddaughter's monthly death benefit check from the government despite never having custody of her. While beautiful, the trail is also one of the most treacherous in the Columbia River Gorge a problem compounded by landslides, narrow paths and the enormous crowds who flock to see it. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Arnold has tracked down a witness that investigators and prosecutors overlooked: John Whaley, the last person besides Stephen Nichols to see Rhonda Casto alive: Mike Arnold: So do you recall hiking up Eagle Creek Trail back on March 16th, 2009? And they were fighting really bad and" Simmons said. There are rock benches on the stream here where you can take a break, and small drops above on the creek where there are swimming holes. "I never really knew that they went hiking," she explained. At the junction with the Lower Punch Bowl Trail #440B, you can descend 300 feet down into the gorge to a spot just upstream of Lower Punch Bowl Falls; however, the view of Punch Bowl Falls from the end of this spur trail no longer exists due to a 2018 landslide that blocked the creek (see the Eagle Creek to Punch Bowl Falls Hike). Elevation gain: 2360 feet. There is lots of low-intensity fire, often known as good fire, where trees might have black scorch marks but the canopy is intact and the forest floor is covered up with ferns, moss or the golden color of bigleaf maple. Mike Arnold: What is your opinion about whether or not Miss Casto was pushed? "It's been really hard, just having no closure and not knowing what happened," friend Jessica Colburn said. Day passes can be purchased on site for $5 per vehicle. "If I sneeze, if I cough, if any little thing goes wrong, that I was gonna die.". Tunnel Falls via Eagle Creek Trail #440. Thankfully, in some sketchy areas a cable has been bolted to the cliff wall to hang on to while hiking. "That Rhonda had conveyed to them that if she didn't come back it was because Mr. Nichols pushed her," Tiffany testified. / CBS News, Produced by Susan Mallie and Leslie Neigher. Beautiful hike! The trail crosses a rocky wash above thickets of willow on the creek, and tiger lilies bloom at the trail verge in early summer. Then 82-foot Metlako Falls spouts on Eagle Creek itself, where it makes a tight turn east. Apparently, key evidence, including some death scene and autopsy photos, is missing. Mike Arnold: What was the last line of your email back to him the next day? A spur leads down to some campsites, and the view up the creek is of a lush green canyon with living trees! Not a good one if you are scared of heights!!! And I just immediately fell in love with her," said Nichols. The U.S. Forest Service has also posted a sign at the Eagle Creek Trailhead with a reminder that face coverings are mandatory when hikers cant stay at least six feet apart, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Then you'll get a view up the West Fork to the lowest tier of 148 foot tall Twister Falls (sometimes called "Crossover Falls" or "Eagle Creek Falls"). Be careful with dogs or small children on the Eagle Creek Trail. Eagle Creek Trail in Columbia River Gorge reopens 3 years after devastating wildfire The U.S. Forest Service reopened the trail on Dec. 28. And its still one of the best hikes in Oregon, especially among those that usually stay open through the winter, with the exception of a few low-elevation snowstorms and the aforementioned landslides. They brought with them two crash test dummies, the same size and weight as Rhonda, to prove their theory she was pushed. With extremely rocky ground, hikers need to watch their footing and make sure to stay focused on the trail. And knowing that you're never getting back to your child.". All rights reserved. "I kept calling and asking why anything -- nothing was happening," said Simmons. "You don't think about your friend's name being said and saying that she has died by falling off a cliff," Brandi Arneson said in tears. "You guys good buddies?" That route is CLOSED. As you hike out along the cliff from Tunnel Falls on the sixth cabled section of the trail, you can see down to where the East Fork Eagle Creek plunges through a defile to its confluence with the West Fork. You'll soon reach Wy'East Camp, where the former campsites along the trail have been decommissioned and staked out with "Site Restoration" signs. Why? "Stephen was very friendly in the beginning. With dozens of waterfalls, rocky cliffs coated in moss and a crystal-clear creek that runs through it all, the Eagle Creek Trail is one of the most majestic natural attractions in Oregon. The Eagle Creek Trail was always a bit dangerous with narrow paths carved into cliffs above a sheer drop-off into a rocky canyon and that has not changed. On Thursday, all parking areas around the trailhead filled up by 9 a.m., as people took advantage of a break in the rain. You have an attorney who's representing the state on this matter. Recreation Map Conifers at the bottom of the canyon survived the fire with a full canopy, but you'll pass through a scorched area where fireweed, thimbleberry, poison oak, and ocean spray flourish. Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 15 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. Oregon's 'Green Friday' brings free fishing and state parks entry, waterfalls, tree cutting, Trapped by the Eagle Creek Fire, Salem teenagers survive night in the wild, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. For a full day and adventure, hike 6 miles (12 round-trip) to Tunnel Falls, a trek that takes you into the Gorges best taste of a wilderness adventure. There is a tunnel behind the 175ft falls that was dug out (with great effort) around 1910. And I said, 'No, thank you,'" Nichols told Van Sant. Over the summer, local authorities began towing vehicles that were illegally parked around recreation areas. He accuses Simmons of painting Nichols as a murderer, so she could one day collect Rhonda's life insurance policy: Mike Arnold: And did you say, "I wanna lay claim to be the beneficiary of my daughter's life insurance claim?". AMENITIES: Portable toilets, parking lots. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service/Bureau of Land Management: National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) required; fee kiosk at the trailhead, Restrooms, picnic tables, information kiosk, nearby campground, Limited parking; if lot is full, go back to the. Van Sant asked. Challenging with spectacular rewards of amazing views! But we didn't even have a ring picked out yet," said Nichols. It was along the Eagle Creek trail that Rhonda Casto, a 23-year-old. The next 6 to the lake was nice but lower payoff. Perfect day. On Oregon I-84 Eastbound, take exit 41 toward Fish Hatchery/Eagle Creek/Rec. The trail connects to several other remote, multi-day loop backpacking opportunities intheMark O. Hatfield Wildernesson the Hood River Ranger District in theMt. The trail crosses scree slopes that bloom with stonecrop in late spring. Small waterfalls trickle along the sides of the cliff, and the trail passes many larger waterfalls, includingthe iconic Punch Bowl Falls, which is accessed from a side trail about 2 miles up the trail. If you still feel like you still have some energy, the last two major waterfalls, both on the West Fork Eagle Creek, can be seen in the next half mile. This is after you pass Tunnel falls and Twister Falls. Looking across the gorge, you can see different layers of basalt entablature separated by narrower bands of colonnade. Is that what you're trying to do? "I wasn't sure how to react. Length: 4.4 miles round-trip to Punchbowl Falls; 6.6 miles to High Bridge; 12 miles to Tunnel Falls. The hike to Tunnel Falls is one of the most storied day trips in the Pacific Northwest (see the long list of guidebooks below). "No. Heavy winter storms have saturated the Columbia Gorge this winter, which could make hiking a miserable experience for those caught unprepared. Michael Arnold: Who's that laughing that "she lost her guts"? The September 2017 fire that swept through the Columbia River Gorge temporarily closed 10 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail and a popular PCT alternate route, the Eagle Creek Trail. Mike Arnold: You weren't asked a question, ma'am. Make sure you allow as much room as possible when letting people pass. This area was affected by a massive forest fire in 2015, but many of the trees are still green and even though trees have charred trunks, they are not dead. Indeed, even after Eagle Creek Trail officially reopened last year, it has been closed or blocked multiple times by landslides. Oregon Medical Examiner Christopher Young performed Rhonda's autopsy and testified at Nichols' bail hearing that all of Rhonda's serious injuries occurred below her waist. Trail was in good shape. Stephen Nichols' defense attorney, Mike Arnold, knows about the dangers of the Columbia River Gorge firsthand. Just down the trail nearing 4 miles you'll pass a campsite area called Tenas Camp. I just said, 'What happened?' "I don't know," he replied. "He couldn't write a book until the case was solved," said Tiffany. Along much of this hike you will follow a narrow path along basalt cliffs towering above a narrow canyon below holding Eagle Creek. Tiffany has denied, under oath, that he ever intentionally destroyed anything: Mike Arnold: Do you know what happened to the hard drive that those files were on? 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Tall, ribbon-like Wy'East Falls plunges from a basalt rampart - a short scramble up the creek will get you a better view of these falls which shrink to a trickle by the end of summer. Please. The caveat is that the trail in many sections was blasted out of the basalt cliff faces by the 1915 crews that constructed it in conjunction with the work on the Historic Columbia River Highway. Respond to that," said Van Sant. If youre hiking on a sunny afternoon bring extra water since the previous shaded trail is gone. A second parking area has room for about a dozen cars along Northeast Eagle Creek Loop, the road that leads from Interstate 84 to the trailhead, though parking is prohibited along most of the road. This is a nice out and back hike with great scenery of waterfalls, ferns, and rocky outcroppings. Given the narrow trail and the crowds, theres simply no way to hike Eagle Creek without coming within six feet of another person. Most hikers either turn around at Twister Falls about seven miles in, at High Bridge after 3.6 miles, or at Punch Bowl Falls only two miles from the trailhead. "The fire opened up the views so that after a rainstorm, you can see dozens of waterfalls that were previously obscured by living trees," Davis said. - Must haves for this season: A tree fell over, taking a section of trail with it. "Rhonda's family claims that you were not grieving," Van Sant noted to Nichols. After you walk between two large Douglas-firs, you will see up the narrow gorge to the lower horsetail of 100-foot Sorenson Falls splashing off the east rim. If you are there in the spring with snowmelt or on a rainy day keep an eye out for smaller falls emptying into Eagle Creek below. "This occurred in 2009, and yet there's no arrest in this case until 2015. "My daughter was absolutely thriving," Nichols said. From this area, you can get a view back to a pinnacle formation on the west side of the Eagle Creek Gorge; this needle had been concealed by tall conifers before the Eagle Creek Fire. Deputy Matt English with the Hood River County Sheriff's Office, says their 911 center received a call at 6:09 p.m. from a man who had accompanied the woman on the hike. "She'd call me, or she'd be over at my house.". Those looking for extra mileage can continue down the trail, though a 14-mile round trip hike should be enough adventure for most. Wow what a gorgeous hike! No shade on most of the trail since all the trees are burned. The trail enters a lovely amphitheater, dripping with moss and maidenhair fern, where Tunnel Falls plunges 175 feet to a shallow pool. "I always believed, you know, he pushed her," said Gerry Tiffany. While we make every effort to fact-check, information found here should be considered anecdotal. Start point: Harvey Road Trailhead. He wanted to write a book. Deputy DeHaven admits in six different attempts, they could not get the dummy to land at the spot they believed was Rhonda's final resting place. "I went over to Julia's room and I'm like, 'Your daughter is just incredibly beautiful.' "And as their relationship evolved, honestly, did she love Stephen more for what was inside him, or what was in his wallet?" Arnold wants to know what hard evidence led to Nichols' arrest. Waterfalls were amazing, trail is well maintained. Later this month the judge will consider reducing Nichols' $2 million bail. Kayakers take the plunge through some rapids far below. CASCADE LOCKS, Ore. - A hiker died Tuesday night after falling into Punchbowl Falls on the Eagle Creek Trail, just south of the Washington-Oregon border in the Columbia River Gorge.. Hikers have been rediscovering the beauty of Eagle Creek since it reopened on Jan. 1, more than three years after closing due to the Eagle Creek fire. Lot empty at 7 on a Friday. "Have you done anything wrong?" Penstemon, arnica, monkeyflower, and saxifrage cling to the rocky fastness. This is still the same scenic trail it has always been - all the same waterfalls! "Then I turn around and I look at her and my tongue pretty much hit the floor," he told Van Sant. The Eagle Creek Trail is a GREAT hike. "And who's the beneficiary of that?" They quickly made an improvised lifeline, made literally from the clothes off their backs. "She said he'd been kinda buggin' her to go hiking for like two or three weeks--like a month," Simmons said. said Colburn. Besides life insurance money, the prosecution will argue yet another potential motive for murder -- a love triangle -- claiming that Stephen Nichols was in love with Rhonda's younger sister, Melanie. Check out this 4.8-mile out-and-back trail near Cascade Locks, Oregon. "I somehow grabbed onto a root," she said. The Statesman Journal covered the story of the escape from the Eagle Creek Fire which you can read at StatesmanJournal.com. If you're looking for a campsite, Seven and a Half Mile Camp is a little farther up the trail. Hike Type: Out and Back. We intended to hike to the campsite at mile 4 on the All Trails map, only to find this area no longer exists, so we hiked to 5.5 and found a couple of spots. "T-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, things like that," Meads explained. Why would Stephen want Rhonda dead? I loved it. So that was our goal. That's argumentative and leading. There is parking available all the way from the trailhead back to Eagle Creek Fish Hatchery. A slip and fall on a dangerous trail.". She was my rock, my sidekick, my everything," Simmons told Van Sant. It was more of a 30 mile hike vs what is in the description. "That being said, I'm not perfect. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. After having the baby, Rhonda told Nichols she wanted to return to modeling but needed to lose some weight. While there isnt much elevation gain, weve rated this trail moderately difficult for some tricky crossings over streams and around landslides, and for the generally treacherous terrain. Entiat River. Starting at the trailhead, pass a weir, and then follow the wide well-groomed trail above the creek for a stretch. Soon, you'll come to the Punch Bowl Falls overlook, where you can view Punch Bowl Falls spouting into its circular amphitheater and magnificent deep pool below. And I about jumped out of my seat," said Brandi Arneson. At this hearing, she doesn't want to talk to Mike Arnold, either: Carrie Rasmussen: Sustained means sustained. Hikers were out on a soggy Monday, excited to explore. But as the majority of trails have reopened . "I -- what was in his wallet, 'cause I know that she didn't like his personality after she had been with him a few years and saw how he -- he tortured her mentally," said Simmons. I don't think I've ever threatened anybody with physical harm," said Nichols. Your physical evidence could disappear within hours or days," Arnold explained. Some brave trail runners present! Julia Simmons: I'm not doing anything right now. The Eagle Creek Trail is the most popular trail in the Columbia Gorge. "He started to verbally abuse Rhonda by calling her stupid and a bunch of other names," she said. Some berries along the way. Many hikers choose to backpack as far as Tunnel Falls, about seven miles up the trail, where they can pass behind falling waters. The upper parking area is found beside the Cascade Salmon Hatchery just off the interstate and has room for about three dozen cars. Imagine adding exhaustion and weather to that situation. The grade was easy after the first mile. Restrooms broken at the trailhead but portapotties available. But what if, as Rhonda's family and friends believe, it wasn't an innocent fall? Narrow trail with anchored cables into rock in some areas to hold onto for support away from cliff edge. Carrie Rasmussen [reading]: "With all this being said perhaps it is time to see what a panel of citizens will decide. Wear some good shoes, hiking boots are best if you are walking more than 1 mile. Colburn introduced Rhonda to another friend, Brandi Arneson. Certainly finished soaking wet, but that's to be expected on a rainy day in January. The trail was the site of the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, leaving burn. Before leaving home, you should also check TripCheck.com to make sure the roads to Eagle Creek are open, as the exit off the interstate occasionally closes due to landslides. "For about three months after Rhonda died I completely shut down," he said. Eagle creek has many wonderful waterfalls. "She wasn't afraid to say things that she felt or wanted to say or do," Arneson recalled. And I don't know if you guys wanna use this, but she bit him on the shoulder. there are some very high cliffs and if you are afraid of heights or afraid of falling just be a little cautious. Four and a Half Mile Bridge is quite a contrast to its downtrail cousin, the High Bridge, sitting a mere four feet above the water! Past Tenas Camp, the forest was heavily burned in the 2017 fire. Arnold says no tests were done to see if Rhonda made any contact with the outcroppings on the way down the cliffside -- contact that could have affected where her body finally came to rest. This is an amazing gorge hike with several beautiful waterfalls, including one that users can walk behind. "You felt a connection right away," Van Sant commented. Every year, there is a story about someone falling from this spot and injuring themselves. Pretty dusty this late in the season, water is low. After all these years, friends Jessica Colburn and Brandi Arneson finally find the courage to visit, for the first time, the spot where Rhonda fell from that trail. Mike Arnold says, so what? "No, I did not. His daughter was sent to live with Rhonda's family. Natural hazards: Downed trees and landslides may be possible on the trail. It was. Van Sant asked Arnold. Meanwhile back in Oregon, Rhonda's mother, convinced her daughter had been pushed off the trail, kept pressuring investigators for answers. Nichols and his daughter, now 5, moved to Wuxi, about 75 miles from Shanghai. Arnold read a portion of Jackson's email aloud in court: "I'm sending this to you today as a courtesy to let you know that I am resuming my intentions to research and write about this. As you pass behind it just think about how much effort it must have taken back then to do this work far into this canyon! Please enter valid email address to continue. Because while the trail has largely healed from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, the flames of five years ago will keep this an unstable and dynamic place of falling trees and landslides for years to come. I would definitely do the first seven miles again through the falls. As Rhonda and Nichols made their way up Eagle Creek Trail, they had some challenges. Check out this 11.9-mile out-and-back trail near Cascade Locks, Oregon. This will be your best sighting of Metlako Falls as the former overlook, on a now abandoned spur trail off the trail ahead, disappeared in a landslide in December 2016. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors. "That has nothing to do with me, but I think a grand jury looked at the evidence and said there's enough here to go to trial. Hood National Forest. It was along the Eagle Creek trail that Rhonda Casto, a 23-year-old mother of a nine-month-old girl, set out with her boyfriend, Stephen Nichols, back on March 16, 2009. The trail passes the boundary sign for the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness and enters a shady defile to cross Wy'East Creek. The route of the Eagle Creek Trail to Wahtum Lake (not a GPS track) (bobcat) Courtesy: Caltopo/USFS Start point: Eagle Creek Trailhead End point: Wahtum Lake Trail Log: Trail Log Hike Type: In and out or loop Distance: 26.1 miles (in and out) Elevation gain: 3610 feet High point: 3,725 feet Difficulty: Difficult Seasons: Summer into fall From Portland, OR: Travel east on Interstate 84 to exit #41 which is just past the interstate tunnel. Watch social media channels from the U.S. Forest Service Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Arnold, having obtained the video through discovery, hopes to use their own demonstration to turn the tables on the prosecution. Download a Trail Description and Map (pdf). And then I go to the shower, cry a little bit over my daughter. Parking: Please park in designated spaces only. Below the trail, on a bench above Eagle Creek, you'll see the campsites at Blue Grouse Camp. An official website of the "She asked him to leave the bar, she said, 'Maybe I'll just leave you,'" Sconce said. Beautiful! Looking for the best hiking trails in Eagle Creek? Plus cold weather gear It is quite popular with easy vehicle access at the trailhead, so plan to see a lot of other hikers and is part of the Pacific Crest Trail. But as the night wore on and Stephen had more drinks, he became a little bit aggressive and rude.". I have never done anything to harm her," Nichols replied. Remember, five long years had passed after Rhonda's death before Stephen Nichols was charged with her murder.