eagle creek

You know what I love about seeing other runners on the trail?

They are always smiling. The grit it out, get it done face is absent among the mountains and the creeks. Runners are friendly, wanting to chat and share trail conditions, routes and favorite spots.

And when we get to run trails like these, it's impossible to not be grinning like a child.

The Eagle Creek trail is a technical, scenic, popular trail in the Gorge. If you could only do one trail here, this might be my pick. While not the best choice for a solid training run, it's delightful for the sheer density of trail awesomeness.

Lower Punch Bowl Falls

Loowit Falls

High Bridge.

The view from High Bridge.

We were treated to tricks of light all day long.

You might have to be part goat to run these trails really fast. Or at least an Ironman. We met a guy on the trail who was running this trail so fast, we could hardly wrap our mind around it.

We also met a guy with the park service who was telling us the best time to come up the trail is during the winter. Yeah, he said, you might have freezing rain the size of golf balls so that these rocky trails are covered in ice, but that's just in the morning, he assured us. It melts off by the afternoon. Gulp.

Tunnel Falls

The tunnel behind Tunnel Falls. It is actually blasted from the rock.

Twister Falls.

Right near our turn-around point.

 It really was a spectacular fall day. Every turn of the trail elicited squeals of delight.

Punch Bowl Falls. Argh - I need a filter for these sunny days.

 

Hike information: http://www.nwhiker.com/CGNSAHike37.html