Punch Bowl Falls (Eagle Creek Trail) — cliff jumping spot in Cascade Locks, Oregon
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Punch Bowl Falls (Eagle Creek Trail)

Cascade Locks, Oregon
Photo: Kelvin Kay / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

About this spot

Punch Bowl Falls is a well-known round plunge pool on Eagle Creek in the Columbia River Gorge, reached from the Eagle Creek Trailhead off I-84 Exit 41 near Cascade Locks (a day-use/Forest Pass fee applies at the lot). It's about 2 miles in on a cliffside trail with steep drop-offs; sections were damaged by the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, so check current Forest Service trail status first. Lower Punch Bowl Falls, just downstream, is the popular swimming spot. Cliff jumping and diving off the falls are officially prohibited by the Forest Service, enforced due to submerged rock and log hazards, strong currents, and past injuries. Swim here, don't jump — the water stays cold year-round and the return swim is longer than it looks.

Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.

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