Highlight • Bridge
Bridge at Fern Creek
Hiking
5.0
(7)
This Highlight is in a protected area
Please check local regulations for:
Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness
Tips
August 25, 2022
Hiking
March 12, 2022
Hiking
In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!
Sign up for free
Nearby routes
Best routes near Bridge at Fern Creek
4.8
(4)
87
hikers
14.5km
04:34
310m
310m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
18
hikers
18.8km
05:42
340m
340m
The Punch Bowl Falls – Bridge at Fern Creek loop from Cascade Locks is a difficult 11.7-mile (18.8 km) hike that climbs 1112 feet (339 metres) over approximately 5 hours and 41 minutes. This route takes you deep into the dramatic Eagle Creek canyon, where the trail itself is often blasted out of sheer cliffs, offering continuous views of towering basalt walls and numerous cascading waterfalls. You'll navigate narrow sections with cable handrails, eventually reaching the iconic Punch Bowl Falls, a 35-foot waterfall plunging into a unique, bowl-shaped basin, surrounded by a lush microenvironment of moss and ferns.
To tackle this challenging route, plan for a full day and ensure you have sturdy hiking shoes, as the native material surface can be slippery. Parking at the Eagle Creek trailhead requires a Northwest Forest Pass or a day-use fee. Be prepared for an informal log-and-rock scramble and creek crossing to reach the base of Punch Bowl Falls, a unique feature resulting from a 2018 landslide. This trail is best for experienced hikers comfortable with exposed sections and some scrambling.
What makes this trail particularly notable is its unique construction, originally blasted out of the cliffs in 1915, creating a pathway that truly hugs the canyon walls. Punch Bowl Falls itself is considered one of Oregon's "Seven Wonders" and is one of the most photographed waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge. While the 2017 Eagle Creek fire left some burned trunks, the area has seen significant regrowth, with ferns and moss now covering much of the forest floor, adding to the trail's serene beauty.
Details
Informations
Elevation 250 m
Weather
Powered by Foreca
Today
Friday 14 August
24°C
13°C
24 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h
Most visited during
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December