Overview

• Location: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Hood River County (Eagle Creek canyon)

• Waterfall Type: Horsetail

• Height: ~88 feet (27 m)

• Trail Distance: ~6 miles round-trip via Eagle Creek Trail from the Eagle Creek Trailhead (I-84 Exit 41)

• Difficulty: Medium

• Best Time to Visit: Spring through fall; check current fire recovery status

History & Background

Loowit Falls is an 88-foot horsetail waterfall visible from the Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia River Gorge, cascading from a tributary stream into a nearly circular pool before spilling into Eagle Creek below. The name Loowit comes from Indigenous oral traditions of the Columbia Plateau — Loowit was a figure in Chinookan and Klickitat legend, sometimes described as an old woman transformed into a volcano; the name is also associated with Mount St. Helens in some traditions. Loowit Falls is encountered approximately 3 miles from the Eagle Creek Trailhead, visible across the canyon from a viewpoint on the trail’s blasted-out cliff face. The 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, ignited by a teenager throwing fireworks, burned over 50,000 acres of the gorge and significantly altered the Eagle Creek corridor — the surrounding forest is in active recovery, with charred snags mixed with vigorous new growth. The trail has been progressively reopened in sections since the fire.

Geology

Loowit Falls drops 88 feet from a tributary stream over the Columbia River Basalt that forms the canyon walls of the Eagle Creek gorge, plunging into a nearly round plunge pool carved into the basalt below before cascading into Eagle Creek. The Eagle Creek canyon is itself geologically distinctive — its walls are composed not only of Columbia River Basalt but also the older Eagle Creek Formation, a thick band of conglomerates and breccia deposited by the ancient Columbia River before the great lava flows. The trail in this section is literally blasted out of these cliff faces, with cable handrails bolted to the rock where the trail traverses exposed sections above the canyon.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Cascade Locks, OR (~3 miles west); Portland, OR (~40 miles west)

• Trail Information:

  • From the Eagle Creek Trailhead (I-84 Exit 41, right at road’s end), hike the Eagle Creek Trail approximately 3 miles; Loowit Falls is visible across the canyon from a viewpoint section of the trail blasted into cliff face; cable handrails secure the trail on exposed sections

  • Check current Eagle Creek Trail status before visiting — sections have been closed or under restoration since the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire; Northwest Forest Pass or $5 day-use fee required at the trailhead

• Parking:

  • Eagle Creek Trailhead parking lot at the end of Eagle Creek Loop Road; Northwest Forest Pass required; lot fills quickly on summer weekends — arrive early or park at the overflow lot near the fish hatchery (adds ~1 mile round-trip)

• Accessibility:

  • Not wheelchair accessible; the trail traverses exposed cliff faces with cable handrails; some sections require careful footing

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Best flows; the canyon is lush with fern and moss recovery vegetation; all Eagle Creek falls running powerfully; waterfalls typically accessible April onward

• Summer: Lower flows; trail is popular; fire recovery vegetation creates interesting contrast; carry water as the canyon can be warm

• Fall: Excellent conditions; maple and vine maple recovery growth turns vivid gold; fewer crowds; flows moderate

• Winter: Trail generally accessible; check conditions; ice possible on cliff sections

Nearby Attractions

• Punch Bowl Falls (~2 miles from trailhead)

• Metlako Falls (~1.5 miles)

• High Bridge Falls

• Tunnel Falls (~6 miles)

• Cascade Locks

References

• Links:

  • Friends of the Columbia Gorge – Eagle Creek to Tunnel Falls

  • Columbia River Gorge NSA – USFS

  • Wikipedia – Eagle Creek Waterfalls

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest