💦 Waterfall Plunge Pool
🟡 Moderate Northwest Forest Pass ($5/day) required at trailhead ⚠️ Safety Note
🌊 About Punchbowl Falls (Eagle Creek Trail)
One of the most iconic swimming holes in the Pacific Northwest — a 36-foot waterfall dropping into a deep, bowl-shaped pool along the scenic Eagle Creek Trail, though CLIFF DIVING IS EXPLICITLY ILLEGAL here per regional guides.
📋 Visit Details
Entry Fee
Northwest Forest Pass ($5/day) required at trailhead
Water Temperature
💧 Cold, glacier/spring-influenced
Best Season
📅 Summer; arrive before 9am to beat crowds
Water Type
36-ft waterfall into a deep, bowl-shaped pool
Managed By
US Forest Service (Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area)
County
Hood River County, Oregon
Access Difficulty
🟡 Moderate
🗺️ Getting There
Address / Access Point:
Eagle Creek Trailhead, I-84 Exit 41, near Cascade Locks, OR
Access Notes:
~2-mile moderate hike with some extremely narrow, exposed cliffside sections — trail was closed 2017-2018 after the Eagle Creek Fire and has had ongoing partial-closure orders in surrounding side-trails since
✅ Before You Go — Checklist
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Check current water conditions — especially after recent rain
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Save GPS coordinates offline before leaving — cell service may be limited
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Bring cash or card for entry: Northwest Forest Pass ($5/day) required at trailhead
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Pack reef-safe sunscreen, dry bag, water shoes and plenty of drinking water
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Tell someone where you are going before heading to a remote location
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Pack out everything you bring in — leave no trace