I finally hiked the Eagle Creek loop in October after doing it every July for 9 years

Ryan Robinson · 2026-09-20T14:50:03.249913+00:00

Same 14 mile loop off the Columbia River, but the difference between a July trip and an October trip is like two totally different trails. In July the creek crossings are ankle deep and I can rock hop them in five minutes each. Last October the first crossing was thigh deep and moving fast enough that I stood there for 20 minutes watching sticks float by to judge the speed. The trail itself was way less crowded too, I saw 4 people all day instead of the usual 40. What got me was the snow up near Wahtum Lake, a solid 6 inches on the north facing slope, and I had packed for a summer hike. Anyone else shift their usual route to shoulder season and get surprised by how different the same trail feels?

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I finally hiked the Eagle Creek loop in October after doing it every July for 9 years | Backpacking Routes - HW Forums