Hikers return to Eagle Creek Trail, as one of Oregon’s best hikes reopens after fire
Updated Jan 09, 2021;
Posted Jan 09, 2021
Hikers return to the Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia River Gorge, more than three years after the trail closed due to the Eagle Creek fire.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
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A break in the rain afforded an opportunity to get outside this week, and for many in the Portland area that meant a long-awaited return to Eagle Creek.
The Eagle Creek Trail, long considered one of the best hiking trails in Oregon, reopened on New Year’s Day more than three years after closing due to the devastating Eagle Creek fire. In the week since, crowds have flocked to the hiking trail for a glimpse at the majestic waterfalls and moss-covered cliffs that made the area famous in the first place.
What you need to know before hiking the reopened Eagle Creek Trail
Updated Jan 12, 2021;
Posted Jan 09, 2021
Hikers pass through a rock tunnel behind Tunnel Falls on the Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia River Gorge, as the trail reopens more than three years after the Eagle Creek fire.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
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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.
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. 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.
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Three Years After the Devastating Gorge Fire, Eagle Creek Trail Is Back Open. Here’s What It Looks Like Now. While about 70% of people wore masks, this still was the most crowded hike I’ve been on since the beginning of the pandemic. Updated January 5
On Jan. 1, the Eagle Creek Trail―the epicenter of the devastating 2017 wildfire that burned 49,000 acres of the Columbia River Gorge welcomed back hikers for the first time in three years.
Jan 2, 2021
Several popular trails in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area have opened, some for the first time since the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire.
Several trails have been closed since the Eagle Creek Fire that burned 48,000 acres in early September, 2017 while others were closed for public safety due to COVID-19. Trails re-opening Friday include the Eagle Creek Trail, the Wahclella Trail, the Gorge 400 Trail (specifically, Eagle Creek to John B. Yeon State Park and Ainsworth State Park to Horsetail Falls), the Larch Mountain Trail between Multnomah Falls and the Wahkeena Trail.
For more than three years, the Forest Service and Oregon State Parks have worked side-by-side with the Gorge Trails Recovery Team which includes Pacific Crest Trail Association, Trailkeepers of Oregon, Washington Trails Association, and Friends of the Columbia Gorge. Employees and volunteers worked thousands of hours to clear and rebuild trails, cut and move downed trees, replace bridges, rebuild st