Punch Bowl Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 33 ft high | Oregon
3.8 mi round trip
600 ft
Moderate
Punch Bowl Falls Hike at a Glance
The Punch Bowl Falls hike via the Eagle Creek Trail is 3.8 mi round trip with 600 ft of elevation gain.
| Falls height | About 33 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 680 ft |
| Trail | Eagle Creek Trail |
| Distance | 3.8 mi round trip |
| Elevation gain | 600 ft |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
Your time: about 1 h 35 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 2 h at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 890 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 3.8 mi distance and 600 ft of gain for this hike are verified (gorgefriends.org), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Punch Bowl Falls
Punch Bowl Falls is a waterfall in Oregon, about 33 feet high, on land managed by Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (USDA Forest Service). Its height is from gorgefriends.org.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Eagle Creek Trail: 3.8 miles round trip with about 600 feet of elevation gain, from Eagle Creek Trailhead. Distance from gorgefriends.org. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Moderate.
Before You Go
- The fee is $5 per vehicle per day from Eagle Creek Trailhead. (fs.usda.gov)
- All dogs must be on leash. (fs.usda.gov)
- On parts of this trail there are sheer cliffs with no guard rails. (fs.usda.gov)
- Jumping or diving off of Punchbowl Falls is prohibited. (fs.usda.gov)
- Hold onto the cables that run along the trail where it hugs the cliffs. (gorgefriends.org)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (USDA Forest Service) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Punch Bowl Falls?
The Eagle Creek Trail to Punch Bowl Falls is 3.8 miles round trip with about 600 feet of elevation gain.
Where does the Punch Bowl Falls hike start?
It starts from Eagle Creek Trailhead.
How tall is Punch Bowl Falls?
Punch Bowl Falls is about 33 feet high.
Is there a fee to hike to Punch Bowl Falls?
The fee is $5 per vehicle per day from Eagle Creek Trailhead.
Are dogs allowed on the Punch Bowl Falls trail?
All dogs must be on leash.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Punch Bowl Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- gorgefriends.org
- Distance
- gorgefriends.org
- Falls height
- gorgefriends.org
- Falls location
- en.wikipedia.org
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Punch Bowl Falls.