"Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better." -Albert Einstein
Sometimes it's healthy to escape into nature for a little while. Take a couple friends, lots of water, some snacks, and set off into the forest. Explore, surround yourself in the beauty, the fresh air, and the refreshing freedom that comes with getting out of cell service for a couple hours.
That's exactly what I did a couple of weeks ago when I went on a hike to Tunnel Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. It was a 12 mile hike round trip on the Eagle Creek Trail. I had this distance anxiously in mind as we started walking. Thankfully however, I soon found that the trail itself was fairly mellow, not too steep and very easy to follow.
This is Loowit Falls, one of at least 10 waterfalls we spotted along the way. Just one example of the unique and spectacular sights seen from the trail.
Halfway, at about the 3 mile mark is High Bridge. It is an appropriate name, as it sits 120 feet above Eagle Creek.
The scenery along the entire trail was amazing, parts of it on a ledge
high above the valley below, others areas deep in the midst of towering trees.
And finally just before mile 6 was Tunnel Falls, a destination that made the whole trip for me. This waterfall is 175 feet tall and breathtaking. The trail leads you directly up to the falls, so close you can feel the mist of the rushing water, flying by just feet away from where you stand. But that's not all. A tunnel carved behind the falls leads you to the other side. The power of the waterfall, combined with the height of the trail caused a giddy exhilaration, the feeling that I had made it. It was so incredible it is hard to describe, all I can say is I'm glad I did it.
