EAGLE CREEK, Ore. — Construction work will close the exit of Interstate 84 that leads to the popular Eagle Creek trail in the Columbia Gorge, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).
The Eagle Creek exit, or Exit 41, is expected to remain closed until mid-May.
The Eagle Creek trail, which reopened to the public in 2020 after the 2017 Eagle Creek Wildfire, will stay open, but hikers will find it harder to get to. Not only is the highway exit closed, the parking lot that most hikers use will not be accessible.
ODOT plans to repair a bridge on the off-ramp. Don Hamilton with ODOT said landslides in the area have caused issues.
Hikers can still access the Eagle Creek trailhead via the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail until 7 p.m. each day, when the bridge closes to all users. People can access the trail from the east at the Bridge of the Gods Trailhead or from the west at John B. Yeon or Tooth Rock Trailheads. Hikers should note that access from the west includes a 40-foot staircase.
Drivers should also expect single-lane closures in the area at night, ODOT said.
ODOT crews will be busy over the next several months making improvements to the Historical Columbia River Highway. Crews will make repairs to the Tooth Rock Tunnel and the Mitchell Point Tunnel, along with many paving projects along the highway.
People traveling to the Gorge should plan ahead and check road closures in advance, Hamilton said, especially during the busy summer months. That may mean opting not to travel during peak times during the summer, Hamilton said.