What trails are still closed in the Columbia River Gorge?

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A recently closed segment of the Wahkeena Trail winds through a forest badly burned by the Eagle Creek fire, found above Multnomah Falls.

More than a year and a half after the Eagle Creek fire tore through the Columbia River Gorge, more than two dozen hiking trails remain closed to the public as the landscape continues to recover.

But with partial closures, seasonal closures and new closures, it’s not always clear where you can and can’t hike in the gorge.

The current closures include popular trails like the Eagle Creek Trail itself as well as Larch Mountain, the Gorge Trail and John B. Yeon State Park, which includes Elowah Falls and Upper McCord Creek Falls. However, more than 50 trails in the area remain open (see the list provided by the U.S. Forest Service for those).

Wahclella Falls, Angel's Rest and the Wahkeena trail have reopened.

Below is the full list of closures and partial closures listed alphabetically, as well as a map provided by the forest service. Most of the closed trails lack a specific timeline to reopen, as crews still try to work around rock and land slides. This post will be updated as trails reopen to the public.

LAST UPDATED AUGUST 26, 2019

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

The Lower Punch Bowl Falls Trail, photographed before the Eagle Creek fire. 

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CLOSED TRAILS

Bell Creek Trail: The remote trail runs through old-growth forest from the Onenota Trail to Horsetail Creek Trail, both of which are also closed.

Benson Way Trail: A short trail on Benson Plateau, the trail connects the Ruckel Creek Trail with the Pacific Crest Trail, starting at the Cascade Hatchery parking lot.

Buck Point Trail: Starting in the Eagle Creek Campground, the trail runs to the top of Buck Point over the Columbia River.

Eagle Benson Trail: A long, difficult hike, the Eagle Benson Trail is located between the Eagle Creek and Pacific Crest trails.

Eagle Creek Trail: The Eagle Creek Fire started on the Eagle Creek Trail, which naturally received heavy damage from the blaze. The upper parking lot and picnic area are still open.

Eagle Tanner Trail: The Eagle Tanner Trail connects the Eagle Creek Trail with the Tanner Butte Trail, both of which are also closed.

Franklin Ridge Trail: Usually used to create a long loop hike within the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness, the Franklin Ridge Trail connects the popular Larch Mountain and Oneonta Trails.

George W. Joseph State Natural Area: Found just beyond Latourell Falls (which is open), the closed state park site usually gives access to the dense forest around Upper Latourell Falls.  

Horsetail Creek Trail: The Horsetail Creek Trail runs alongside Horsetail Creek and crosses meadows, starting at the Oneonta Trail which is also closed.

Indian Springs Trail: The Indian Springs Trail connects the Eagle Creek and Pacific Crest trails near Wahtum Lake in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness.

John B. Yeon State Park: A paved section of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail is open, but the rest of the state park remains closed. That includes access to Elowah Falls and Upper McCord Creek Falls.

Lower Punch Bowl Trail: The short spur trail branches off to Lower Punch Bowl Falls from the Eagle Creek Trail which is also closed.

Moffett Creek Trail: The lightly-used wilderness trail runs between the Tanner Creek and Horsetail Creek trail, both of which are also closed.

Nesmith Point Trail: Nesmith Point is the highest point along the cliffs at the edge of the Columbia Gorge, a steep hike that starts at John B. Yeon State Park which is also closed.

Oneonta Trail: Offering a steep hike up Larch Mountain, the Oneonta Trail usually gives access to Triple Falls as well as camping spots used for overnight excursions.

Shady Glen Trail: The very short trail leads from the Eagle Creek Day Use Area to a stand of old growth forest.

Shepperd's Dell State Natural Area: Home to Shepperd's Dell Falls, the entire 520-acre state park site remains closed to the public.

Starvation Ridge Cut-off Trail: The Starvation Ridge Trail is open, but a cut-off trail is closed that usually connects it to the paved Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. The closure means hikers will need to tack on an extra mile by re-routing to the Mount Defiance Trail.  

Tanner Butte Trail: Found between the Eagle Creek and Wahclella trails, both of which are also closed, the Tanner Butte Trail runs through the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness to Tanner Butte in the Mount Hood National Forest.

Tanner Creek Trail: A remote trail in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness, the Tanner Creek Trail starts at the end of Tanner Creek Road and ends at the Moffett Creek Trail, which is also closed.

Tanner Cut-off Trail: The two-mile trail connects the Tanner Butte and Tanner Creek trails, both of which are also closed.

Tanner Springs Trail: The short side trail leads off the Tanner Butte Trail to a source of drinking water at Tanner Springs.

Wauna Viewpoint Trail: The Wauna Viewpoint Trail leads two miles from the Eagle Creek Day Use Area to a great viewpoint overlooking the gorge, connecting with the Gorge Trail which is also closed.

Wyeth Trail: A long trail that leads through old-growth forest in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness, the Wyeth Trail is closed except for a small segment that leads to the open portion of the Gorge Trail.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Hikers stop to look at Wahkeena Falls on the Wahkeena Trail, which is partially open to the waterfall and just beyond. 

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PARTIALLY OPEN TRAILS

Gorge Trail #400: The Gorge Trail runs 35 miles from Angel's Rest to Wyeth State Park, and almost all of it (miles 0 to 25) remains closed. The final 12.5 miles from Eagle Creek to Cascade Lock and Wyeth are open.

Horsetail Falls Trail: The short trail is partially open, giving hikers access to Horsetail Falls and Ponytail Falls. The trail is closed after Ponytail Falls, where it eventually meets the Oneonta Trail which is also closed.

Ruckel Creek Trail: The steep six-mile trail leads up to Benson Plateau and connects with the Pacific Crest Trail. A 1.5-mile segment on Benson Plateau is open in the Mount Hood National Forest.

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Courtesy of U.S. Forest Service

TRAIL CLOSURE MAP

NOTE: This map does not include the recent closures of the Larch Mountain and Wahkeena Trails.

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com |@HaleJamesB

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