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While the trails are open, they are asking that hikers remain careful since the trees and ground are still weak and susceptible to the forces of nature. Photo courtesy Clackamas Community College Print
Popular Eagle Creek Trail has reopened for the first time since the fire of 2017
Popular Eagle Creek Trail has reopened for the first time since the fire of 2017
Posted April 2021
Staff Reporter
The Eagle Creek Trail, a trailhead delight in The Columbia River Gorge, had until recently been closed for more than three years after the 2017 fire that ravaged the Oregon side of The Gorge.
Eagle Creek is not the only trailhead that has opened. The Wahclella Trail, the Gorge 400 Trail (specifically, Eagle Creek to John B. Yeon State Park and Ainsworth State Park to Horsetail Falls), and the Larch Mountain Trail (between Multnomah Falls and the Wahkeena Trail) have opened as well. Some trails were closed temporarily due to COVID-19, however, others have been closed since the fire. Thousands of hours were spent to clear and rebuild trails, cut and move downed trees, replace bridges, rebuild structures, and mitigate invasive species in order to make the trails available for hiking.
“The reopening of the Eagle Creek Trail and other trails impacted by the Eagle Creek Fire has required working in community with each other and we would not have been able to get to this day without the dedication and service of our key partners and all the agency employees, ” said forest supervisor Lynn Burditt to Fox 12.
While the trails are open, they are asking that hikers remain careful since the trees and ground are still weak and susceptible to the forces of nature.
“Historically, we see a very high volume of search and rescue calls in that area," said Hood River County Sheriff Matt English to Fox 12. "A large portion of those incidents are avoidable as they have been attributed to lack of preparation or engagement in high-risk behaviors. While you may just plan on a quick hike, we implore recreationists to wear appropriate clothing and bring necessary supplies, preparing for worst case scenarios.”
According to the Forest Service, a closure order for the Eagle Creek Fire affected area remains in place and there are still some trails within the Eagle Creek fire perimeter that remain closed.
The fire was started on Sept. 2, 2017, by a 15-year-old boy igniting fireworks during a burn ban. Photo courtesy Wikipedia
At its peak, the 2017 fire raged nearly the entire length of The Gorge. Image courtesy Columbia Insight
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