Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake Hike Guide

No caption provided.

At the start there’s a sign with mileages to the popular destinations.

The cables sections can be scary for some hikers. In several sections the trail has been blasted out of the basalt cliffside. The path can be rocky and often wet, but is generally always 4 feet wide. Use the cable handholds, walk with care, and take your t

There is the occasional downed tree or washout. Generally the culprits in the first few miles are quickly cleared. In areas heavily affected by the 2017 fire, there are more downed trees. Miles 7-12, which go through a large burn area and don’t get a ton o

The route climbs gently along the creek past Punchbowl and Tunnel Falls, then gains most of its elevation in the final push up to Wahtum Lake.

Here are some tent sites along the Eagle Creek Trail at 7.5 Mile Campsite, which is my favorite spot to camp, along with Wahtum Lake.

There’s a parking lot right at the trailhead that has space for about 20 cars, and this fills up quickly. Any time that I’ve shown up at sunrise, I’ve been able to park in this lot without a problem.

In the first half of the hike, the Eagle Creek Trail follows the creek, crossing over and back once. If you continue up to Wahtum Lake, you’ll double back and climb up the side of the canyon to the lake.

The beginning of the hike is a gentle climb up along the creek, with many flat and rolling sections. The real climbing doesn’t start until you pass Twister Falls later on in the hike, on the way to Wahtum Lake. And even though the hike is uphill, the gradi

Here are some tent sites along the Eagle Creek Trail at 7.5 Mile Campsite, which is my favorite spot to camp, along with Wahtum Lake.

Prepare to get wet. Even if it’s not raining out, the basalt cliffs along the trail can have cascading runoff from streams above. I generally bring a light rain shell.

There’s a parking lot right at the trailhead that has space for about 20 cars, and this fills up quickly. Any time that I’ve shown up at sunrise, I’ve been able to park in this lot without a problem.

No caption provided.

No caption provided.

No caption provided.