Overview

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

• Waterfall Type: Plunge

• Height: ~160 feet (49 m) — the iconic walk-behind waterfall of Eagle Creek

• Trail Distance: ~12 miles round-trip from Eagle Creek Trailhead (I-84 Exit 41)

• Difficulty: Medium

• Best Time to Visit: Spring through fall; check current Eagle Creek trail status

History & Background

Tunnel Falls is the crown jewel of the Eagle Creek Trail — a 160-foot plunge on the East Fork Eagle Creek where the trail passes behind the falling water through a narrow tunnel blasted through the cliff face in 1915. The tunnel was carved by the same crews who constructed the Eagle Creek Trail itself, as part of the effort to create a hiking corridor through the canyon alongside the Historic Columbia River Highway. Standing in the tunnel while water crashes past just feet away is one of the most exhilarating waterfall experiences in the Pacific Northwest. The trail to Tunnel Falls is 6 miles each way, passing eight named waterfalls including Metlako Falls, Punch Bowl Falls, Loowit Falls, and Skoonichuk Falls. The 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, ignited by a teenager throwing fireworks, burned over 50,000 acres of the gorge and dramatically altered the Eagle Creek canyon — the trail has been progressively reopened during recovery. Despite the fire, the waterfalls themselves are unchanged, and the recovery landscape adds its own dramatic character to the journey.

Geology

Tunnel Falls plunges 160 feet on the East Fork Eagle Creek over the Columbia River Basalt at approximately 800 feet elevation. The East Fork is a substantial tributary that meets Eagle Creek just above the falls, and Tunnel Falls is the only major waterfall on the East Fork itself. The tunnel — 60 feet above the streambed — was carved through the basalt cliff face, with the trail continuing around the falls and allowing hikers to see both the cliff face and the falls from multiple angles. The Eagle Creek canyon walls expose both the Columbia River Basalt and the older Eagle Creek Formation conglomerates in spectacular cross-section.

Directions & Access

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

• Trail Information:

  • From Eagle Creek Trailhead (I-84 Exit 41), hike 6 miles on the Eagle Creek Trail through the canyon, passing Metlako Falls, Punch Bowl Falls, High Bridge, Loowit Falls, Skoonichuk Falls, and Twister Falls before reaching Tunnel Falls; the trail passes directly behind the falls through the 1915 tunnel

  • Check current Eagle Creek Trail status before visiting — the trail has been progressively reopened since the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire; Northwest Forest Pass required; the full 12-mile round-trip is a long day — start early and carry food and water

• Parking:

  • Eagle Creek Trailhead parking lot; Northwest Forest Pass required; lot fills on summer weekends — arrive very early

• Accessibility:

  • Not wheelchair accessible; 6-mile trail passing exposed cliff faces with cable handrails before reaching the tunnel

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Full flows; the trail through the recovering gorge forest is vivid; all eight waterfalls running powerfully

• Summer: Lower flows; very popular; arrive extremely early to secure parking; bring water

• Fall: Excellent conditions; fire recovery foliage vivid gold; fewer crowds after Labor Day

• Winter: Trail generally accessible but check conditions; ice possible on cliff sections; falls most dramatic in winter

Nearby Attractions

• Twister Falls (~0.5 miles before Tunnel Falls)

• Skoonichuk Falls (~4.5 miles)

• Punch Bowl Falls (~2 miles)

• Loowit Falls (~3 miles)

• Cascade Locks

References

• Links:

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

  • Columbia River Gorge NSA – USFS

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest