Current conditions: Some snow drifts present but none on trail at least none to high bridge (3.3 miles from TH) Muddy. The best times to visit this trail are April through October. DO NOT try and use the trail by WyEast as a way to loop it back. "He started to verbally abuse Rhonda by calling her stupid and a bunch of other names," she said. Arnold told the court of best-selling true-crime writer Steve Jackson. 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. "Up until that point she's the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Some poison oak but you can avoid it.. The Eagle Creek Trail is one of the best known Oregon state trails,. If you are nervous with heights think twice about this trip. I was crying nonstop. Start by hiking up the Eagle Creek Trail 13.3 miles to Wahtum Lake. I just said, 'What happened?' Before the bridge, a trail leads down to the cobbled shore and a swimming hole, a nice place to cool off on a hot day. All parking areas require cars to display either a Northwest Forest Pass or another federal lands pass. Get in the right lane before entering the tunnel. Looking up or around you as you walk can sometimes result in a loss of balance, and on the Eagle Creek Trail that can be deadly. Van Sant asked Nichols. There is a tunnel behind the 175ft falls that was dug out (with great effort) around 1910. What really happened to Rhonda Casto? Gloves Spikes Waterproof boots Northwest Forest Pass Required May 15-Oct 1 The beauty here can mask a dangerous truth -- that these paths can be perilous. Eagle Creek was overcrowded before the fire, and the pent-up demand after a three-year closure will likely result in big crowds for the foreseeable future. This trail is truly one of the most beautiful and well maintained in the northwest. Mike Arnold says, so what? Very popular. What Ive always appreciated is how it can perfectly set up the type of day that you want to have. "So I tried to call her, and I got no answer," Julia Simmons said. Entiat River. "I went over to Julia's room and I'm like, 'Your daughter is just incredibly beautiful.' Beautiful hike this morning; passed some others but trail not overly crowded. Elevation gain: 2360 feet. "Anywhere we went, we would make new friends because Rhonda was just outgoing and wanted to talk to everybody.". It would be the last hike of her life. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. The trail is easy to follow with large stretches of snow and ice. Looking across the gorge, you can see different layers of basalt entablature separated by narrower bands of colonnade. CASCADE LOCKS, Ore. - A hiker died Tuesday night after falling into Punchbowl Falls on the Eagle Creek Trail, just south of the Washington-Oregon border in the Columbia River Gorge.. Nichols and his daughter, now 5, moved to Wuxi, about 75 miles from Shanghai. "Give me a sense what it meant for you and for Rhonda," Van Sant asked Nichols. There's another view of Punch Bowl Falls just beyond that viewpoint as you continue along the Eagle Creek Trail, and then you'll cross the Tish Creek Bridge, this version installed in 2017 and miraculously a survivor of the fire later that year. Please check the Mt Hood National Forest and Columbia River Gorge National Forest Closures for the latest information. LockA locked padlock Hiking the Eagle Creek Trail - Backpacker There are already a few small slides on the trail, some of which require tricky crossings. This trail follows a cliff for portions and can be very dangerous when slippery. But now, on the stand, Mike Arnold puts her credibility under the microscope: Julia Simmons: Are you just trying to badger me? What changed?" Got there early and the parking lot was already almost full. Rhonda was in a great mood and jokingly she'd put a towel around her shoulders and was calling herself Supergirl. 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. The trail passes behind the 172-foot plunge through a tunnel carved into the rock, emerging beside the spray on the other side. It's beautiful but treacherous. Cables are still bolted into rock walls at some points, but thats about all the help youll get. From attacking Nichols' character -- "Stephen Nichols is a sociopath and a murderer" -- to accusing him of killing for cash, to allegations involving Rhonda's younger sister, ironically, it is Simmons -- the woman who had wanted Stephen Nichols to meet her daughter all those years ago -- who has led the charge against Nichols for years. 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. Make sure you allow as much room as possible when letting people pass. There is a hole in the trail approximately 1 mile from the trailhead, just past the first cable section. Hope you get out to, Soakin up those bluebird days at @mthoodmeadows, The fall colors are beginning to pop at Multnomah, A tranquil fall evening at Lost Lake, captured by, On these cooler fall nights, cozying up in front o, Who else is getting excited for the fall colors to, Hiking the Eagle Creek Trail to the Punchbowl waterfall, Important notes about the Eagle Creek Trail, The incredible Wahclella Falls trail in Oregon, The waterfalls in Starvation Creek State Park, Oregon, The stunning Dry Creek Falls hike near Cascade Locks, Oregon, What to do in Smith Rock State Park, Oregon. "And then she asked me again and I said, 'No, thank you. Deputy DeHaven: I believe that it's most likely or most probable that she was pushed. And she goes, 'OK, well, you're missing out. But as the majority of trails have reopened . Suddenly, disaster struck. But as the night wore on and Stephen had more drinks, he became a little bit aggressive and rude.". Trail was great. But we didn't even have a ring picked out yet," said Nichols. As the hour grew late, she got increasingly concerned. Not the trails fault that people dont know how to dig a hole or pack it out. After you walk between two large Douglas-firs, you will see up the narrow gorge to the lower horsetail of 100-foot Sorenson Falls splashing off the east rim. This 60ft waterfall is a tributary which tumbles into a round pool below before cascading into Eagle Creek Below. And I'm like, 'Yeah, that's -'". You'll reach the location of Tenas Camp, the first area of permitted camping on the Eagle Creek Trail (but campfires are not allowed). "Rhonda's family claims that you were not grieving," Van Sant noted to Nichols. eagle creek trail oregon deaths | Oregonlng Detectives from Hood River County, where Eagle Creek Trail is located, began investigating Rhonda's death. Certainly finished soaking wet, but that's to be expected on a rainy day in January. Despite its moderate grade, the Eagle Creek Trail can be dangerous due to the steep cliff sides without railings and water crossings. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Ten months later, Nichols and his daughter decided to take a trip back to Oregon. "And I kept saying, 'I don't even know who you are, but you are the most amazing man I've ever met. Even though its been five years since the fire, there is still a lot of danger or at least things to look out for especially after big storms., More:Oregon's 'Green Friday' brings free fishing and state parks entry, waterfalls, tree cutting. Also there are plenty of campsites at Indian springs. "She said he'd been kinda buggin' her to go hiking for like two or three weeks--like a month," Simmons said. Mike Arnold: And did you have a suspect in those criminal acts? March 5, 2016 / 11:16 PM 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. In that August 2015 bail hearing, Tiffany tells Arnold his suspicions were further confirmed by stories he heard from Rhonda's family. Just down the trail nearing 4 miles you'll pass a campsite area called Tenas Camp. Mystery at Eagle Creek: What really happened on Oregon model's fatal Why? They brought with them two crash test dummies, the same size and weight as Rhonda, to prove their theory she was pushed. "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?" The upper parking area is found beside the Cascade Salmon Hatchery just off the interstate and has room for about three dozen cars. "I kept calling and asking why anything -- nothing was happening," said Simmons. A second parking area has room for about a dozen cars along Northeast Eagle Creek Loop, the road that leads from Interstate 84 to the trailhead, though parking is prohibited along most of the road. Nichols says he hiked down to Rhonda's lifeless body and tried to resuscitate her. Trail was in good shape. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. She broke into a run and, according to Nichols, she slipped on the wet path and fell more than 150 feet to her death. On Oregon I-84 Eastbound, take exit 41 toward Fish Hatchery/Eagle Creek/Rec. Those looking for extra mileage can continue down the trail, though a 14-mile round trip hike should be enough adventure for most. Norfolk Southern train derails in Springfield, Ohio, At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, Grizzlies star Ja Morant to miss at least 2 games after alleged gun incident, How Paul Murdaugh testified "from the grave" to help convict his father, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Promising drug could provide alternative to statins, new study finds, Iran to allow more inspections at nuclear sites, U.N. says, NTSB to investigate in-flight turbulence that left 1 passenger dead, Eagle Creek Trail high above Oregon's Columbia River Gorge, Friends: Rhonda Casto was beautiful "inside and out", Rhonda Casto and Stephen Nichols with their daughter, Friends make emotional return to Eagle Creek Trail. There are moments on the Eagle Creek Trail when you completely forget that it was the birthplace of one . It follows Eagle Creek through the forest and along paths carved into basalt . 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. Eagle Creek Trailhead & Trail (#440) Area Status: Open This spectacular cliffside hike passes through a forested basalt cliff overlooking Eagle Creek. Challenging with spectacular rewards of amazing views! Most people who live in Oregon know the story of how the Eagle Creek Fire ignited a teenager tossed a firework off the trail on a boiling hot day in early September 2017. Hot in burned areas, many many flies, had to camp at upper eagle instead of wahtum. Fairly low people count, especially after Punch Bowl Falls. "I wasn't sure how to react. connected to the .gov website. "all the details that we'd so far heard, none of those makes sense with just simply sliding and falling down," said Arneson. If you're looking for a campsite, Seven and a Half Mile Camp is a little farther up the trail. Simmons became suspicious when she learned that Nichols had taken out a million-dollar life insurance policy on Rhonda just months before her death. He never doubted she was murdered: Mike Arnold: And when did it become a homicide investigation, as opposed to an accidental fall? Eagle Creek to Punchbowl Falls. By the time we were done people were parking a half mile away and walking in. But by the time Stephen Nichols and Rhonda Casto headed back down the narrow path, the weather had turned. Then you'll pass under a cliff face to reach the junction with the Eagle Benson Trail #434. 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. You may recognize this viewpoint from photos and postcards. "I'm positive that he killed her," Simmons said. Asked what he was sensing from Rhonda, Nichols told Van Sant, "I felt she was into me, too. 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. But what if, as Rhonda's family and friends believe, it wasn't an innocent fall? Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. High point: 505 feet. But COVID changed all that. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h . "And as she said that, he turned around and said, 'If you leave me, I'll kill you.'". I loved it. The next set of campsites, at . Everything's gotta be just so," said Simmons. Tunnel Falls is amazing view with the ice and snow just be prepared to cross a creek with no dry crossing. Imagine adding exhaustion and weather to that situation. And Arnold says accidents like Rhonda's are more frequent than people realize. "Steve, you have been accused of a despicable crime, that you pushed your girlfriend -- the mother of your daughter -- off of a cliff. The steep slopes above you are composed of conglomerates from the Eagle Creek Formation, sedimentary deposits laid down by the ancient Columbia River millions of years before the Columbia River Basalt Flows. "You don't think about your friend's name being said and saying that she has died by falling off a cliff," Brandi Arneson said in tears. Mike Arnold has another surprise. Do not park in front of fish hatchery or along roadways or in areas marked "No Parking." There is a self-service pay station at the picnic area and the trailhead. Every year, there is a story about someone falling from this spot and injuring themselves. The rainy season means the smaller creeks that feed Eagle Creek are higher as well, and some crossings can be treacherous, requiring hikers to walk along fallen logs and slippery stones to continue along the trail. He lost, like, a quarter of a million dollars," said Julia Simmons. Please stay inside the guardrails. The trail enters a lovely amphitheater, dripping with moss and maidenhair fern, where Tunnel Falls plunges 175 feet to a shallow pool. The first 7 miles are the best but the lake at the end is nice. "If Stephen Nichols murdered your daughter, why did he do it?" There is parking available all the way from the trailhead back to Eagle Creek Fish Hatchery. It was about 40 degrees and the weather was spotty. Sandy, OR 97055 Parkdale, Oregon 97041 503-668-1700 541-352-6002 The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Eagle Creek to Punchbowl Falls | Map, Guide - Oregon | AllTrails "Attraction right away?" Beautiful! She was my rock, my sidekick, my everything," Simmons told Van Sant. "Accidents happen, and you wanna leave your family better off if you pass unexpectedly. It's another quarter mile of shady, intact canopy to Sevenmile Falls, which plunges 52 feet into a deep pool. The grade was easy after the first mile. Got there about 9am and were able to park in the closest lot to the trail; the flush bathrooms there are working. Eagle Creek Trail high above Oregon's Columbia River Gorge. Loowit Falls is named after an old Indian woman of the same name who supposedly took care of an everlasting fire on the Bridge of the Gods over the Columbia before transforming into Mt. Jackson says his email to the prosecutor is something any journalist might do. "Do you think that's a true statement?" Respond to that," said Van Sant. But there's a problem -- something that could throw the entire case into doubt. The 2017 Eagle Creek Fire burned hot in this section of the gorge, so you will be constantly reminded of that conflagration. But not everyone knows the story of the 150 hikers who were trapped by the fire including nine Salem teenagers and forced to spend a night in the forest before hiking out the long way. That route is CLOSED. Van Sant asked Arnold. Crowds also pose problems on the trail itself. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian. "He pushed her down on the stairs and left bruises on her back," said Simmons. It was. Pacific Crest Trail Association volunteers were able to reopen the PCT quickly, but the Eagle Creek Trail, which follows a steep and beautiful canyon, just reopened . He wanted to write a book. And I told her, 'I am going to propose to you.' That's something that can't be outlawyered, it can't be confused with rumor and innuendo," he continued. But Simmons says that doesn't really sound like her daughter. Dozens of search and rescues are done every year. "And who's the beneficiary of that?" This trail offers some of the most spectacular scenery of any trail in the Gorge, including at least 5 waterfalls. "She wasn't afraid to say things that she felt or wanted to say or do," Arneson recalled. The annual festival at @, Happy long weekend, everyone! Pretty falls. Trail of Tears - CBS News Browse the most recent Eagle Creek, Oregon obituaries and condolences. Not suitable for young children. 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. / CBS News, Produced by Susan Mallie and Leslie Neigher. As Stephen Nichols waited in jail, police gathered evidence for the murder trial on their theory that it was no accident. Van Sant asked Nichols. He sent you the email which caused you to react by setting it for grand jury? Arnold is talking about the condition and location of Rhonda's body. Different after the burn but still loved it. In August 2015, Stephen Nichols was in court for a bail hearing. 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. Longitude: -121.91970. Otherwise, stay on the Eagle Creek Trail, and cross a massive crib wall constructed by the PCTA at a spot where the trail slid away. Arnold has tracked down a witness that investigators and prosecutors overlooked: John Whaley, the last person besides Stephen Nichols to see Rhonda Casto alive: Mike Arnold: So do you recall hiking up Eagle Creek Trail back on March 16th, 2009? "Then I turn around and I look at her and my tongue pretty much hit the floor," he told Van Sant. Acknowledgement of the PCTA's work on the Eagle Creek Trail since the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire (bobcat) Spawning salmon can be seen near the trailhead in late fall (cfm) Latitude: 45.636574. More:Trapped by the Eagle Creek Fire, Salem teenagers survive night in the wild. However, as you enter the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness beyond Wy'East Camp, you'll encounter larger stands of intact canopy where the fire was less intense. Parking fills up quickly during hot days as many people visit to go swimming in the lower-punchbowl falls area. And I said, 'No, thank you,'" Nichols told Van Sant. Later, the trail enters forest that has been more severely burned. It wouldn't be long before the recently-divorced 30-year-old day trader took 20-year-old Rhonda Casto on their first date. Then you'll negotiate another cable-railed cliff face on hexagonal "paving stones", actually columns of basalt sheared off by the original trail builders. Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 15 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. Jessica Colburn first met Rhonda when they were in high school. Meanwhile back in Oregon, Rhonda's mother, convinced her daughter had been pushed off the trail, kept pressuring investigators for answers. About two miles down the trail you will reach beautiful 33ft Punchbowl falls which tumbles into a large pool amphitheatre below. "There's one universal truth out there, and that's physics. The trail passes the boundary sign for the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness and enters a shady defile to cross Wy'East Creek. A stumble here can lead to a deadly freefall. "I first met Stephen Nichols through the Internet. Van Sant asked. 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. Mike Arnold: How much money were you getting a month from ___'s Social Security benefits? We hiked out expecting to stay there, but we had to hike back because the site wasn't viable. "If I sneeze, if I cough, if any little thing goes wrong, that I was gonna die.". Eagle Creek Trail, in the Columbia River Gorge near Cascade Locks, features waterfalls, autumn colors and high bridges. Photos (5,154) Directions. After you cross a scree slope, the valley becomes more V-shaped with the slopes across scorched by a raging crown fire. Watch your step as you're hiking, the rocks on the trail are slippery and losing your footing or stumbling is not a good idea on a narrow trail with a long drop to the creek bed. The fourth cabled section of the trail takes you along a cliff 120 feet above the creek. Below the trail, on a bench above Eagle Creek, you'll see the campsites at Blue Grouse Camp. Punch Bowl Falls is next about two miles in, with a large viewing area just off the trail, which makes a good place to rest or turn around. 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. Use this trailhead address: Eagle Creek Trailhead, NE Eagle Creek Loop, Cascade Locks, OR 97014.