Eagle Creek 9/23/11

Eagle Creek was the first Forest Service Campground - opened in 1915

To get to Eagle Creek go East on I-84 to exit 41
there are two parking areas, one near the exit and one closer to the trailhead. Both require Forest Service parking passes.  To avoid paying the fee,
you can take exit 40 (Toothrock) and park at the State Park parking lot, and walk about 1/2 mile along the bike path to the Eagle Creek exit.  That is what I did, and finding a pen hanging on a string at the Eagle Creek trailhead, I added a comment.

 Walking along the bike path is not pleasant due to noise from I-84, but I found out why the path was made.  Part of it uses the old Columbia River Highway, and preserves it.  Here you can see how narrow it was in some places, and how this bridge wouldn't work for today's vehicles.

Poison oak adds some early fall color to the trailside

The bathroom near the first parking area is a WPA era building - clearly built to last forever.  The plumbing is no longer original.

Here you can see how low the water is now (late September)

At the upper parking lot (next to the trailhead) is a dam and water intake for the fish hatchery which you passed on your way in.

Quickly the trail ascends above the creek with handholds for the faint of heart

It is a long way down - you will want to stay on the trail and keep your dog on leash here

Eagle Creek forms a narrow canyon, much of it is in the shade for most of the day.   On a hot day, Eagle Creek is always a cool place to visit.

Metlako Falls  on the West side of the creek, is visible from the trail.
Further along the trail are Punchbowl Falls (an excellent stop for lunch)
Loowit Falls, Tunnel Falls,  and eventually, Whatum Lake at 13.3 miles in.

On the way back, I saw this dead Chinook salmon in the creek next to the road.  I was surprised to see this and a few other big fish in the low water.  For the salmon, it's always "spawn until you die"!