Day Hike - Eagle Creek to Tunnel Falls

The famous Eagle Creek Trail reopened in 2021 after the tragic fire. The trail is very exposed in places. I prefer to do the end to end day hike with the shuttle if Whatum Lake if I can find a person to camp with me the night before. If not we can do the 12 mile out and back to Tunnel Falls. The trail is relatively gentle for the first 7 miles and then gets steeper. Hikers with a fear of heights should avoid this trail as there is a section referred to as the “Vertigo mile” and it is quite exposed. This hike is also very popular on the weekends. 

We will hike at a 2mph pace, potentially slowing to 1.5 mph if we are waiting for other hikers to pass or in the steep section. We will take plenty of breaks and hike to the pace of the slowest member of the group.  Mountaineers expects everyone to be an active participant in route finding. I am hoping to have at least one person drive to Whatum Lake and camp with me on Friday night. I am going to start with a small five person group and then open it up to 8 if I find more than one person willing to camp and shuttle. We should arrive at Whatum Lake by 4pm and get back to the trailhead at 5:30pm at the latest. 

Because this trail has quite a bit of exposure I recommend bringing hiking poles for balance. 

Leader permission is required so that I can be sure everyone is prepared for the length, exposure, and elevation of this hike. Please only sign up if you have been vaccinated. I will be asking for proof of vaccine and we will be wearing masks with the car shuttle and if the trail gets crowded. 

Meet at the lower Eagle Creek Recreation Area Day Use Area since the Upper Trailhead fills up early. Take Exit 41 off I-84 East for the Fish Hatchery and Eagle Creek Recreation Area. Turn Right after exiting. Drive .1 miles and turn left into the large parking area below a restroom building and above the fish hatchery. 

Because this trail is so popular, particularly on weekends we will meet up at 8:30am. Please note that the Eagle Creek Trailhead is about 2.5 hours from Olympia. 

Option to meet at Rowena Crest Viewpoint on Saturday 3/12 at noon to see some wildflowers/ potentially hike and drive to Whatum Lake Campground. I must have at least one other hiker volunteer to camp so that we can shuttle hikers from Whatum Lake back to the Eagle Creek trailhead. Please note that this is a long 1.5 hour shuttle from Whatum Lake to Eagle Creek.

If no one volunteers for Saturday night camping we can do the out and back hike to Tunnel Falls