The upper parking area is found beside the Cascade Salmon Hatchery just off the interstate and has room for about three dozen cars. It is the most dramatic section of the hike for its vertical rise above the gorge floor. The vast majority of trees that were killed in the fire are still standing with weakened root structures that means they do fall over pretty regularly, said Karen Davis, spokeswoman for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. This was one of Oregons gems, it was almost too sad to do the hike. View All Newspapers in Oregon About Trail Search the largest collection of Trail obituaries and condolences, hosted by Legacy.com in partnership with funeral homes and newspapers. Eagle Creek Trail Moderate 4.5 (800) Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Photos (5,435) Directions Print/PDF map Length 25.8 miElevation gain 4,829 ftRoute type Out & back Explore this 25.8-mile out-and-back trail near Cascade Locks, Oregon. John Whaley: She was quite an attractive gal estimated to be in her younger 20s. Meads headed out on a Gorge hike in May 2015, that soon became a struggle to survive. "Six o'clock rolled around--nothing. Everything was perfect.". At this hearing, she doesn't want to talk to Mike Arnold, either: Carrie Rasmussen: Sustained means sustained. One amazing waterfall after another while you hike a long a trail that, at many sections, has been hewn out of the side of the gorge's rocky walls. Print/PDF map. The trail is easy to follow with large stretches of snow and ice. Hikers will find four primary waterfalls along the first seven miles of the trail though during the rainy season dozens of seasonal waterfalls flow off the cliffs into Eagle Creek. And then I go to the shower, cry a little bit over my daughter. Indeed, even after Eagle Creek Trail officially reopened last year, it has been closed or blocked multiple times by landslides. Three months after Stephen Nichols' arrest in 2015, his attorney, Mike Arnold, took his own investigative team up the Eagle Creek Trail where, he believes, Rhonda Casto slipped and fell to. While we make every effort to fact-check, information found here should be considered anecdotal. And I think she was attracted not so much to his looks, but to his what he had. (7mi in) Simmons says that Rhonda and Stephen's relationship had been stormy for years before that fateful hike. The fourth cabled section of the trail takes you along a cliff 120 feet above the creek. He wanted to write a book. The trail was the site of the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, leaving burn. This page has been accessed 718,151 times. "Steve, you have been accused of a despicable crime, that you pushed your girlfriend -- the mother of your daughter -- off of a cliff. Later, the trail enters forest that has been more severely burned. Narrow trail with anchored cables into rock in some areas to hold onto for support away from cliff edge. The first 7 miles are the best but the lake at the end is nice. "She was super protective and just -- like a new mom, you know? Entiat River. Tunnel Falls via Eagle Creek Trail #440. Got there early and the parking lot was already almost full. Julia Simmons [looking at document]: Well, I see it here, so I must've done it. Again, a great photo opportunity. Around milepost 5, hikers must register and issue themselves a permit. Photos (3,454) Directions. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Trail conditions were fantastic. To maintain an easy grade through this rugged canyon, the builders blasted ledges out of sheer cliffs, bridged . "We know people fall every day in their homes. At 4.5 miles (name of the bridge) you'll pass over Eagle Creek again but this time you will only be about 5 feet off the water. End point: Punch Bowl Falls. Hikers have been rediscovering the beauty of Eagle Creek since it reopened on Jan. 1, more than three years after closing due to the Eagle Creek fire. "That being said, I'm not perfect. Table Mountain Trail via Pacific Crest Trail, Aldrich Butte Trail Via Pacific Crest Trail, Gorge Trail 400: Bridge of the Gods Trailhead to Wyeth, PCT: WA Section H - Cascade Locks to Highway 12 (White Pass), Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, Greenleaf Falls Trail Via Pacific Crest Trail, Washington Backcountry Discovery Loop Route, Munra Point via Gorge Trail #400 [CLOSED], Ruckel Ridge and Ruckel Creek Loop Trail [CLOSED], Benson Plateau Trail to Wahtum Lake Loop [CLOSED]. Built in the 1910s to accompany the opening of the Columbia River Highway, the Eagle Creek Trail is one of Oregon's most spectacular paths, passing half a dozen major waterfalls. Please. "Anywhere we went, we would make new friends because Rhonda was just outgoing and wanted to talk to everybody.". Before leaving home, you should also check TripCheck.com to make sure the roads to Eagle Creek are open, as the exit off the interstate occasionally closes due to landslides. The next 6 to the lake was nice but lower payoff. Meaning, Arnold contends, that Rhonda slipped feet first, because if she'd been pushed, she would have tumbled head over heels, sustaining injuries over her entire body. Restrooms broken at the trailhead but portapotties available. One of the cliff sections: these may be unsafe for small children (Jeff Statt) The Eagle Creek Trail to Punch Bowl Falls and Lower Punch Bowl Falls. "She just looked at me, and she said, 'Your daughter's gone,'" said Simmons. It affords spectacular views of the creek's slot canyon, where a cool, ethereal fog offers a reprieve on a hot summer day. I fully expected to spend the rest of my life with her. Even on a dry day, the Eagle Creek Trail is extremely wet, as water constantly runs downhill over cliffs onto the trail. "If Stephen Nichols murdered your daughter, why did he do it?" Expect to wear your masks throughout most of your hike. Urness is the author of Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon and Hiking Southern Oregon. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or 503-399-6801. You'll encounter eight major waterfalls along Eagle Creek and its tributaries, with lots of smaller and seasonal falls in-between. But Rhonda's mother says she knows what happened and why: Nichols' huge losses in the stock market. For a full day and adventure, hike 6 miles (12 round-trip) to Tunnel Falls, a trek that takes you into the Gorges best taste of a wilderness adventure. Make sure you allow as much room as possible when letting people pass. Many months, the fog hangs low in the canyon, blocking your view of the sheer basalt walls towering above you. St. Helens upon dying. Here you will cross a high bridge just past Loowit falls and just over 3 miles into the trip. She was skidding toward a 100-foot drop off. A tree fell over, taking a section of trail with it. "I never heard her say that. Email, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/crgnsa/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=29912&actid=50, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Aircraft/UAS/drone takeoffs and landings are prohibited, Effective Oct 20, 2022: Closure Update: Eagle Creek Fire, Drones prohibited in wilderness and select recreation sites, Klickitat Mile One Overnight Use & Large Boat Launch Prohibition, 11/7/22: Restroom closed for the winter; portable toilets available. Did this 6.6 mile out and back based off of one of the hikes, Hike #51, in NW OR and SW WA by Sullivan. The annual festival at @, Happy long weekend, everyone! "A mom can be like, you know, 'Oh well, I'm biased, because she's my daughter.' "It was always easy to be around her 'cause you kind of became that way as well.". Starting at the trailhead, pass a weir, and then follow the wide well-groomed trail above the creek for a stretch. He told the operator that Rhonda had been acting high, being silly and running on the slippery trail before she fell. As always this trail is absolutely amazing! "And I kept saying, 'I don't even know who you are, but you are the most amazing man I've ever met. It was along the Eagle Creek trail that Rhonda Casto, a 23-year-old. The route of the Eagle Creek Trail #501 (not a GPS track) (bobcat) Courtesy: National Geographic Topo. "And so that's when I decided to go to China.". "It's been really hard, just having no closure and not knowing what happened," friend Jessica Colburn said. The bridge was damaged in the Eagle Creek Fire, with its floorboards completely burned, so it was replaced in October 2019, with the new version being airlifted in by helicopter. I love Rhonda. "Stephen was very friendly in the beginning. Arnold wants to know what hard evidence led to Nichols' arrest. Please also be mindful of your pets and be sure to wear proper footwear. Heavy rains also mean an increased danger of landslides, which were common along Eagle Creek before the 2017 fire and are even more likely now. "I don't know if I stepped on a loose rock or if the path just crumbled beneath my foot, but just the next thing I knew, I was, I just fell and I was sliding down the side of the cliff," she told Van Sant. The Eagle Creek Trail is the most popular trail in the Columbia Gorge. Be cautious on the upcoming trail as it is well over 100 feet above the river below and can be narrow. Hot in burned areas, many many flies, had to camp at upper eagle instead of wahtum. Defense attorney Mike Arnold believes Jackson is the reason why Stephen Nichols is charged with murder, and he drives home the point with Gerry Tiffany: Gerry Tiffany: He'd give me information about Mr. Nichols. Here is the story: A 23-year-old Portland woman died Monday 3/16 after falling 100 feet down an embankment on the popular Eagle River trail, west of Cascade Locks, Hood River County authorities said. Remember, five long years had passed after Rhonda's death before Stephen Nichols was charged with her murder. The primary parking area is at the trailhead itself, with room for about two dozen vehicles. The grade was easy after the first mile. Will do again! "48 Hours" caught up with one hiker who has a terrifying tale to tell. And Arnold thinks he knows why Rasmussen, after all that time, decided to act: Mike Arnold: There's an email that was read earlier into the record from Steve Jackson to you, dated February 17th, 2014. See the other AllTrails of Eagle Creek to Wahtum and many people will report the same. "It turns out the reason that indictment came up is because of pressure from a book author!" The two first landed in San Francisco, where Stephen was stunned to be met by authorities and arrested. "He pushed her down on the stairs and left bruises on her back," said Simmons. Aside from having proper footwear, maintaining physical awareness is key. Eagle Creek to Punchbowl Falls. But what if, as Rhonda's family and friends believe, it wasn't an innocent fall? Eagle creek has many wonderful waterfalls. If you're looking for a campsite, Seven and a Half Mile Camp is a little farther up the trail. She's quite beautiful.'". Tall, ribbon-like Wy'East Falls plunges from a basalt rampart - a short scramble up the creek will get you a better view of these falls which shrink to a trickle by the end of summer. And its still one of the best hikes in Oregon, especially among those that usually stay open through the winter, with the exception of a few low-elevation snowstorms and the aforementioned landslides. Arnold has some questions about the scientific rigor of DeHaven's tests, including laughter in the background: Michael Arnold: Was that person laughing part of the scientific experiment? What Ive always appreciated is how it can perfectly set up the type of day that you want to have. Beautiful hike! All that moisture also makes mud, and theres a lot of it along the trail, made messier with the recent crowding. Cars were forced to turn around upon arrival, while some parked in precarious places beside the roads around the area a decision that risks towing, ticketing and endangering public safety. There are a couple of small sloping campsites below the trail. His condo, his money, his -- you know, his status," she replied. Plus cold weather gear First published on March 5, 2016 / 11:16 PM. There are rock benches on the stream here where you can take a break, and small drops above on the creek where there are swimming holes. "So how does a kid from Oregon end up in China?" The best months to see wildflowers are April, May, and June. "I kept calling and asking why anything -- nothing was happening," said Simmons. Unable to come up with the money, Nichols returns to jail. The trail down to Wahtum was very well maintained and easy. It is also a popular alternative route to the Pacific Crest Trail. Gorge trails, like Angels Rest, came online quickly and it appeared that Eagle Creek and others might be back up by spring 2020. Waterfalls were amazing, trail is well maintained. Elevation gain: 2360 feet. "That Rhonda had conveyed to them that if she didn't come back it was because Mr. Nichols pushed her," Tiffany testified. Luckily, several hikers happened by. "That has nothing to do with me, but I think a grand jury looked at the evidence and said there's enough here to go to trial. Use this trailhead address: Eagle Creek Trailhead, NE Eagle Creek Loop, Cascade Locks, OR 97014. High point: 505 feet. And it was precisely in that very spot that Rhonda Casto went off Eagle Creek trail, falling over 150 feet to her death. "You guys good buddies?" Very icy and there were some sketchy parts but nothing too overwhelming. After the devastating 50,000 acre 2017 fire that swept the gorge, Eagle Creek Trail . The trail is rocky in many areas and requires one to be paying attention so, make sure you stop once in a while to lift up your head to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and not miss some of the waterfalls. At the next scree slope, you should hear the alarm calls of the resident pikas, who survived the fire huddled in cool crevices below the surface. Arnold and his team of investigators try to reconstruct what happened to Rhonda, but it's not easy more than six years after her death. I want to warn people that this beautiful hike is quite dangerous in certain weather conditions. "She wasn't afraid to say things that she felt or wanted to say or do," Arneson recalled. Van Sant asked Arnold. Share sensitive information only In 2017, more than 150 hikers had to be rescued from the Eagle Creek Fire by emergency personnel who assisted them up the remaining 12 miles and 3,000 foot elevation gainto the Wahtum Lake Trailhead. Tenas camp doesn't really exist anymore. After having the baby, Rhonda told Nichols she wanted to return to modeling but needed to lose some weight. Then 8 o'clock rolled around and nothing.". This area was affected by a massive forest fire in 2015, but many of the trees are still green and even though trees have charred trunks, they are not dead. Either way, it's a wonderful thing to return to Eagle Creek Trail. Beyond, the next 3 miles to Tunnel Falls do have some landslides that make for tricky hiking, and at least one semi-difficult creek crossing, but it does remain open and doable. Want to report conditions for this trail? "That was part of her modeling portfolio. "I had been there before," Nichols replied. Jessica Colburn first met Rhonda when they were in high school. Mike Arnold: So it was a cause and effect? You're also encouraged to add just one more mile round-trip to see the last two large waterfalls in the drainage, both on the West Fork Eagle Creek. What changed?" "I think there's a lotta times that she thought I was going to propose. But by the time Stephen Nichols and Rhonda Casto headed back down the narrow path, the weather had turned. But Rhonda also had a sense of humor, so I, I really--I don't know," said Nichols. Mike Arnold: And he wanted a conviction of Mr. Nichols? But wy,east, blue grouse, and 7 .5 mi campsites are fine. Van Sant asked. He was completely broken up. "The science you believe is on your side in this case?" Tenas campsite does not exist anymore as a heads up. LockA locked padlock This is an amazing gorge hike with several beautiful waterfalls, including one that users can walk behind. "I somehow grabbed onto a root," she said. There are no guardrails to speak of. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock I could tell that she valued intelligence and I've always thought that that's one of my strongest assets.". Please stay inside the guardrails. Mike Arnold has another surprise. He accuses Simmons of painting Nichols as a murderer, so she could one day collect Rhonda's life insurance policy: Mike Arnold: And did you say, "I wanna lay claim to be the beneficiary of my daughter's life insurance claim?". And knowing that you're never getting back to your child.". "You seemed unmoved by Rhonda's death.". The hike was beautiful though. Spend some time here and take some photos. Different after the burn but still loved it. Those looking for extra mileage can continue down the trail, though a 14-mile round trip hike should be enough adventure for most. Fees: Northwest Forest Pass required, or pay a $5 fee at the trailhead per car. Because while the trail has largely healed from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, the flames of five years ago will keep this an unstable and dynamic place of falling trees and landslides for years to come. The incline was nice and gradual. Two years into their stormy relationship, the couple allegedly had a shouting match one night in a bar that a witness says quickly escalated into a shocking threat. Hiked in to Tunnel Falls and back on 1/15. Start point: Eagle Creek Trailhead. "If you're a young couple with a kid you should have life insurance," Arnold said. There were showers from time to time and the trail was damp. "One time she got really mad at him. - Must haves for this season: A bridge marks the beginning of the Eagle Creek Trail, just past the parking area at the trailhead. Eagle Creek Trail, Oregon (Photo: Chris Ebarb Photography/Moment Open via Getty Images) Reach the first campsite, Tenas Camp, at mile 3.7, after passing 50-foot Skoonichuck Falls. I just said, 'What happened?' Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps. 2016 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. You'll get a view to Grand Union Falls down on Eagle Creek; these falls are just below the confluence of the East and West Forks of Eagle Creek. End Point: Eagle Creek Ford. You'll reach the location of Tenas Camp, the first area of permitted camping on the Eagle Creek Trail (but campfires are not allowed). They brought with them two crash test dummies, the same size and weight as Rhonda, to prove their theory she was pushed. That objection is overruled. Trail has some narrow sandy spots to be careful on past mile 9, otherwise solid. You remember receiving that? Apparently, key evidence, including some death scene and autopsy photos, is missing. I loved it. "'Cause now the most important thing was her daughter.". She remembers her best friend as simply irreplaceable. The trail is well groomed, just rocky and narrow in spots. It was a chaplain sent by the local fire department. Detectives from Hood River County, where Eagle Creek Trail is located, began investigating Rhonda's death. There are moments on the Eagle Creek Trail when you completely forget that it was the birthplace of one of Oregons largest and most high-profile wildfires of the past decade. I will always love Rhonda. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. I think it was Mike Arnold: It was because of the pressure put on you by Steve Jackson. Each year several unleashed dogs fall off of or chase other dogs off of the steep cliffs. "A little over two months and she was fluent in Mandarin She had dance lessons. Loowit Falls is framed by two small drops on Eagle Creek itself. Given the narrow trail and the crowds, theres simply no way to hike Eagle Creek without coming within six feet of another person. Got there about 9am and were able to park in the closest lot to the trail; the flush bathrooms there are working. Awesome waterfalls. Fairly low people count, especially after Punch Bowl Falls. In places the trail is narrow, and you need to take care when passing others. Eagle Creek Trail high above Oregon's Columbia River Gorge. Combine that with human error, as I witnessed, and its pretty dicey. Rasmussen told "48 Hours" she will not discuss this case until it goes to trial. Authorities declined to declare the death an accident, but Stephen Nichols was not charged with any crime. That's argumentative and leading. Within days, Rhonda's loved ones held a memorial where her mother says Nichols was acting strangely. Hood River, OR 97031 This trail offers some of the most spectacular scenery of any trail in the Gorge, including at least 5 waterfalls. Why would Stephen want Rhonda dead? "Physical evidence disappears, particularly in a rainy state like Oregon. Mike Arnold: And what's the potential crime for which you believe he's a suspect? Despite its moderate grade, the Eagle Creek Trail can be dangerous due to the steep cliff sides without railings and water crossings. "And if it was not an accident, then what was she thinking when she went down -- that the person that she thought loved her could have done this to her?" "And it was probably 45 feet long.". My name is Rhonda.' I hope that someday, justice will be served.". The defense then takes aim at that dummy test, which Arnold thinks is as dumb as its name: Mike Arnold: Three grown men who have some athleticism through their job duties were not able to make that dummy reach what you think is the final resting place of Rhonda Casto. The trail enters a lovely amphitheater, dripping with moss and maidenhair fern, where Tunnel Falls plunges 175 feet to a shallow pool. Just looking at Rhonda, being transformed," he said. As the hour grew late, she got increasingly concerned. Come prepared with a waterproof jacket and good rain clothes, or else be prepared to get wet. "You know, Peter, the funny thing about science is you don't have to believe in it for it to be true," he replied. Popular trail. His daughter was sent to live with Rhonda's family. Jackson says his email to the prosecutor is something any journalist might do. It was a cold day rain off and on. "I didn't have a team of investigators there. His father, also named Stephen Nichols, remembers it as a happy time. This will be your best sighting of Metlako Falls as the former overlook, on a now abandoned spur trail off the trail ahead, disappeared in a landslide in December 2016. Their romance quickly blossomed, and before long, Rhonda joined her mother in the condo; not as a roommate, but as Nichols' girlfriend. 7AM start and 6:30PM end. Just down the trail nearing 4 miles you'll pass a campsite area called Tenas Camp. The best times to visit this trail are April through October. Author Steve Jackson will go just about anywhere for a good story, including the Hood River County Courthouse, where he's researching a book, along with his investigator, on Rhonda Casto's death. Do it on a dry day above 40 degrees! "He couldn't write a book until the case was solved," said Tiffany. "He wasn't helpful and he did basically say something like, you know, 'Why don't you move on before another accident happens,'" he told the court. The trail crosses a rocky wash above thickets of willow on the creek, and tiger lilies bloom at the trail verge in early summer. Around mile 5, you enter Wilderness where a free permit is required (available at the wilderness boundary). Just last week, Judge John Olsen denied the defense's motion to dismiss. Tunnel Falls is amazing view with the ice and snow just be prepared to cross a creek with no dry crossing. It is not safe to pass at this time. "The last time I saw Rhonda was at Boston's Grill," Jen Sconce, a friend of Rhonda's back in 2007, told "48 Hours." Deputy DeHaven admits in six different attempts, they could not get the dummy to land at the spot they believed was Rhonda's final resting place. It took four years, but in 2013, Nichols was ready for a new chapter in his life.