Lower Punch Bowl Falls

This fall is located along the Eagle Creek trail in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic area. Driving east along Interstate 84, exit at the Eagle Creek exit, one mile past the Bonneville Dam exit (immediately after a short tunnel). The parking area is only accessible to eastbound traffic (if you are driving west, exit and turn around at Exit 40 (Bonneville Dam), then to return to your westbound direction, do the same at Cascade Locks). Turn right at the first stop and proceed to the trailhead in about 1/2 mile. Park and begin up the very creatively constructed trail. In places, the cliffs have been blasted out so that the trail could bypass several deep canyons. At about 1.7 miles, the Lower Punch Bowl Trail branches off to the right (a short distance beyond Sorenson Creek). Follow this moderately steep trail down for 1/5 mile to the rocky beach between Punch Bowl and Lower Punch Bowl Falls.Though this fall has no doubt been the subject of many photographs, it pales in comparison to its big brother just upstream. This fall is situated just below a very scenic stretch of Eagle Creek, which itself is often used as a study for professional photographers, probably more than the actual falls have. This is also a very popular destination for people of all ages. Teenagers come here to swim and jump off the falls, and parents bring their kids to splash around on the rocky beach upstream. If the weather is good, I can almost guarantee that you won't be alone.