Trail Ambassador Intro Hike – Eagle Creek

Hike Leaders: Loren P.

Hike Distance: 4.2 miles total

Elevation Gain: ~525 ft

Hike Intensity: Low – Moderate

Site Overview:

The Eagle Creek Trail is one of the most popular trails in the Columbia River Gorge, offering many sights along its 13.1 miles. The trailhead is adjacent to the Eagle Creek Day Use Area, a historic site with great options for a picnic.

Hiking information:

We will be completing the Eagle Creek to Punch Bowl Falls hike, which spans 4.2 miles total and gains about 525 feet from the trailhead at the parking lot to Punch Bowl Falls and back. While this is generally considered a low to moderate intensity hike, there are sheer cliffs with no railings, and as such is not recommened for small children or people afraid of heights. Dogs are allowed but must be on leash. Click here for more information on the trail, including a map.

What to expect:

We will be meeting at the trailhead in the morning to do introductions, chat Trail Ambassadors, and set up the table station before heading out on the hike to learn about the area we are serving. This site is managed by the U.S. Forest Service and we ask that you follow all posted signage and regulations.

You should expect to participate in this hike for its entirety. For safety reasons, please do not arrive late or expect to be able to leave early.

What to bring:

• Plenty of water
• Lunch + snacks
• Any medications or emergency supplies you may need
• Sunscreen + insect repellent
• A pack to bring all of this with you on trail
• Need gear? TKO has clothes, boots, camping gear, and more available for loan. Reach out to volunteers@trailkeepersoforegon.org to let us know how we can help!

What to wear:

• Comfortable shoes for hiking
• Rain gear, insulating layers, sun protection, etc. as appropriate for the weather

Instructions:

Detailed event information, including exact meeting location and driving directions, will be shared to registered participants in the days prior to the event.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: TKO recognizes that the trails we work on travel through the traditional lands of many Indigenous tribes and communities. In every corner of what we now call Oregon, these people were forced to cede their land, their home, to the US government. We are privileged to be here today and we express gratitude to these tribes and their descendants for being the original and continuing stewards of these spaces.

ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS: TKO seeks to make our events inclusive of people of all backgrounds and abilities. If you would like to discuss potential accommodations to allow for your participation in this event, please click here to complete a short Google survey. TKO staff will then contact you to discuss options. Please note: available accommodations will vary by event and typically need to be requested a minimum of two weeks in advance. If you have any questions, please contact TKO Stewardship Manager Lindsay McIntosh-Tolle at lindsay.mcintosh@trailkeepersoforegon.org.

EQUITY & INCLUSION: TKO seeks to make Oregon’s trails a place where people can go to connect with nature & one another. Not everyone feels safe or welcome in the outdoors due to issues like racism, bias, and hate. We commit to being part of the solution to this problem and to enact change. Conduct, speech, or expressions that target any individual or group will not be tolerated by TKO, regardless of whether they are based on age, citizenship, disability, ethnicity, gender identity/expression, geographic origin, language, marital status, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status.

PERSONAL SAFETY: Your physical and emotional safety is our number one priority. If a person’s actions or comments make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, you may: interrupt directly, tell a crew leader, and/or inform TKO staff via the post-event survey.

While TKO no longer requires masking/vaccination for its events, we do support those who feel masking is necessary for their own safety. We ask participants to respect the health of folks who wear masks by distancing or wearing a mask while in close proximity.