Eagle Creek - Bonnville, OR
Posted by: 
dkestrel
N 45° 38.419 W 121° 55.734
10T E 583473 N 5054643
Discover a canyon full of waterfalls in the Columbia Gorge.
Waymark Code: WMJWA5
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 01/06/2014
Views: 17
To experience Eagle Creek a hike is required. The Eagle Creek Trail is one of Oregon's most spectacular paths, passing half a dozen major waterfalls. The trail is also an engineering marvel. To maintain an easy grade through this rugged canyon, the builders blasted ledges out of sheer cliffs, bridged a colossal gorge and even chipped a tunnel through solid rock behind 120-foot Tunnel Falls.
A moderate 4.2-mile hike to Punchbowl Falls (with 400 feet of elevation gain), or a difficult, 12-mile hike to Tunnel Falls (with 1,200 feet of elevation gain).
Eagle Creek is a tributary of the Clackamas River in the western slopes of the Cascade Range in northwest Oregon. Eagle Creek flows to the west and joins the Clackamas River north of the town of Estacada, Oregon. Outstandingly remarkable values for the river segment are fisheries and wildlife.
The creek begins in a cirque-shaped headwater area flowing then through a steeply sloped "V" shaped valley that is heavily forested with older aged Douglas-fir and hemlock. The creek contains some riffles, with numerous downed logs and pools. The presence of large, old trees and the lack of human alterations along the segment add to the visual quality of the river.
The area is in a pristine condition with high habitat diversity and high water quality, making for excellent fish habitat. Stream productivity is also high. There are very few places within the region where this combination of qualities exist.
The forest along the creek consists primarily of an undisturbed, older aged, Douglas-fir and hemlock multi-storied stand that provides prime quality habitat for the northern spotted owl, which are known to nest in the area. There is also high-quality riparian habitat along the creek edge that meets many needs of big and small game species in the area. The lower end of the corridor provides key winter range for big game species.
WILD: yes
Number of WILD miles: 8.3
SCENIC: yes
Number of SCENIC miles: 8.3
RECREATIONAL: yes
Number of RECREATIONAL miles: 1
River Link: [Web Link]
Support documentation: Not listed
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