Childish Antics at Lower Punchbowl Falls

When I first moved to Oregon years ago, I had heard about Lower Punchbowl Falls from the locals and how it used to be a secret and its increased popularity had ruined it. However, in 2017 it was actually ruined when a 15-year-old with a firecracker started the Eagle Creek Fire. The surrounding area including the trails was closed for a few years until they could be restored.

The restoration efforts needed after the fire

I don't know what the locals have to say about the trail anymore. I'm sure there are many who still have the belief that despite the restoration it will never be what it once was and it's not worth visiting. Honestly, the hiker community here is sometimes weird in their beliefs. It's like the more popular a trail is, the "coolness factor" goes down because suddenly it's too trendy to hike it. I've always held the belief these trails became popular for a reason and just because they are suddenly not secrets is not a reason to skip them. It would be like saying " The Eiffel Tower is too touristy so don't go if you are in Paris even though it will give you the best view of the city." Silly right?

I almost look at these popular hikes as a personal challenge. If I wake up early enough, or on the right morning, I can make this seemingly popular trail feel deserted. So it was with that thinking Joe and I set our alarms for 5am. We woke up to a light drizzle before the sun came up. Perfect! Our odds of hiking alone increased with the assumption many would wait until the rain stopped and the sun came up to even venture out.

We actually did something we've never done before, we hit McDonald's at 5:45am to grab some breakfast and coffee en route to the trailhead. When we arrived at the parking lot it was almost empty, with no competition for a parking spot and not a single person on the trail. The climb is really not a climb at all and despite the warnings about the trail being exposed and scary, we found the venture easy to navigate and not too daunting. The damage from the fire was apparent, but for us, that has never ruined a hike and we still enjoyed the gentle sounds of Eagle Creek below.

The exposed sections of the trail leading to the falls

Despite the fire damage, there is still beauty here

Once the PCT breaks off to Lower Punchbowl Trail, the route has a steep but short descent and that's when the fun really begins. 

Getting to the falls is full of jungle gym antics across logs and over rocks all while trying to maintain good balance to keep shoes dry and not fall into the deep pools of water. We hugged rocks, walked across some fairly unstable floating logs, tripped our way through some scree and butt slid down rocks jutting from the pool while trying not to go for a swim. It was completely worth it though. 

Crossing Eagle Creek

Video: Getting up close and personal with some rocks 

Video: Don't rock the boat! Wobbling our way across some floating logs

Through tunnels of loose rocks

Slowly getting closer to the falls

The first view of the falls is through a downed log and when we arrived we were the only ones there and it stayed that way the whole time. The early bird wins again. We posed for some photos and we joked around how during our last trip to Abiqua we ran into some "insta models" who performed an outfit change into a dress before posing provocatively with the falls in the background for over an hour. So I struck some poses for Joe as a joke when it was my photo op. What do you think? Am I insta famous yet?

First good view of Lower Punchbowl Falls

Am I an insta model yet?

We also did what we do best, we acted like a couple kids in the woods (sans fireworks). Joe skipped rocks and tossed things into the pool, I found a makeshift bat and learned that my hand-eye coordination is not as crap as I thought and make a fairly good batter, and we generally just had a good time. Joe also played geologist with his hammer and scavenged for some cool rocks.

Video: Batter Up!

Video: Skipping rocks

We didn’t run into a single soul until our way back across Eagle Creek. We continued south on the PCT for half a mile hoping to catch a glimpse of Upper Punchbowl Falls but didn’t see much so we headed back to the car. All before 9am. 

A view of the falls after continuing south on the PCT

We hit some people on the way down and were passed by some PCT thru-hikers and trail runners, but the trail didn't lose its sparkle. Proving once again that just because other locals might write off a trail, does not mean you should.

Video: Reason One why you should just do what you want regardless of what's "cool"

Distance Logged 5.5 mi

Ascent 704 ft

Descent 754 ft

Short trip to Abiqua

Got in some Indiana Jones action for today's adventure - Abiqua Falls.

Only an hour from home this tiny waterfall has become more well known despite the bumpy road, the lack of any markers, and the steep traverse where ropes are used to ease the trip. The land is private, but visitors are still allowed. Naturally, that makes everything a bit unofficial and feels like a choose your own adventure game. Do you want to go the hard way down or the harder way down?

From the "trailhead" the route to the falls is short, less than a mile, but the road to it is so rough most folks don’t actually make it to the trailhead before bottoming out their vehicle. Needless to say, it’s very common to park further away and make up the distance on foot. 

While we didn’t bottom out the car, we did park a little ways away anyway since the hike was so short. After a couple wrong turns through some poison oak, we made it to the notorious incline with ropes where we descended to Abiqua Creek. Only a short walk away is the falls. 

One set of ropes to the creek

Abiqua Creek

We were blessed to have them to ourselves for a while and I tossed sticks for Nami and waded in myself while debating a swim.

Getting as close as you can to the falls without slipping on the sharp rocks

Nami and I enjoying the water

I had a good laugh when I torpedoed a large log into the water and watched Nami attempt, and somewhat successfully, retrieve it to the shore only to ponder the intricacies of then being able to carry it around proudly. It's hard to be proud dragging around an object bigger than your entire body and making it look graceful. 

Video: Nami fetching logs

Eventually, I caved and dove (ok, rather slowly inched my way) into the water. What a delightful swimming hole! I was unsuccessful at getting Joe to join me so I spent the next half hour or so swimming circles, getting closer to the falls but not under them, and treading water. I watched other visitors from shore but nobody decided to join so I had the water all to myself. 

My little head bobbing above the water while Nami acts as a lifeguard

It’s these moments where I have no photos other than the ones in my head, but lying on my back with the sound of the falls in my ears staring up into the perfectly blue sky, canopy of trees, all surrounded by jagged rocks was breathtaking.

But eventually, when my toes and fingers started to wrinkle and tingle, it was back to reality. Back to the impressively bumpy road and back home where the to-do list never feels like it gets any smaller. Probably a direct result of heading to a waterfall instead of doing laundry and packing. C'est la vie.

Distance Logged: 2.6 mi

Ascent: 659 ft

Descent: 639 ft