If youre hiking on a sunny afternoon bring extra water since the previous shaded trail is gone. 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. This is what one firecracker can do. He does something "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant has never seen. Everything was perfect.". Around milepost 5, hikers must register and issue themselves a permit. Also, you'll notice blackened conifers from the 2017 fire almost immediately, and most of the maples went up in flames but are vigorously sprouting back from their lignotubers. But by the time Stephen Nichols and Rhonda Casto headed back down the narrow path, the weather had turned. Van Sant asked Simmons. The trail negotiates its third cable-railed section on a high cliff with views to massive boulders that have tumbled into the creek below. Many shivered through a hungry, exposed night outdoors and shared afterwards that they learned why it's so important to pack overnight essentials, even for a short day hike. Tiffany has denied, under oath, that he ever intentionally destroyed anything: Mike Arnold: Do you know what happened to the hard drive that those files were on? Start point: Eagle Creek Trailhead End point: Tunnel Falls Trail Log: Trail Log Hike Type: Out and back Distance: 12.0 miles (round trip) Elevation gain: 1640 feet High point: 1,080 feet Seasons: Year round Difficulty: Moderate Backpackable: Yes Family Friendly: No Crowded: Yes Falling Poison-Oak **Falling Hazard** 902 Wasco Avenue, "I could hardly understand what he was saying he was crying so hard," Stephen Nichols Sr. said. Asked what he was sensing from Rhonda, Nichols told Van Sant, "I felt she was into me, too. The trail was the site of the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, leaving burn scars throughout the hike. But Simmons says that doesn't really sound like her daughter. For a full day and adventure, hike 6 miles (12 round-trip) to Tunnel Falls, a trek that takes you into the Gorges best taste of a wilderness adventure. About two miles down the trail you will reach beautiful 33ft Punchbowl falls which tumbles into a large pool amphitheatre below. "I never really knew that they went hiking," she explained. "I don't know," he replied. United States. Nichols says he hiked down to Rhonda's lifeless body and tried to resuscitate her. Photos (5,154) Directions. This 60ft waterfall is a tributary which tumbles into a round pool below before cascading into Eagle Creek Below. Carrie Rasmussen: Objection! She remembers her best friend as simply irreplaceable. beautiful trail lake is gorgeous would do it again next year. Explore one of 2 easy hiking trails in Eagle Creek or discover kid-friendly routes for your next family trip. I have never threatened Rhonda with physical harm. Just last week, Judge John Olsen denied the defense's motion to dismiss. Perfect day. The fourth cabled section of the trail takes you along a cliff 120 feet above the creek. Please stay inside the guardrails. website belongs to an official government organization in the Imagine adding exhaustion and weather to that situation. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 2 h 27 min to complete. She was learning to play the piano She loved it. Julia Simmons [looking at document]: Well, I see it here, so I must've done it. It is also a popular alternative route to the Pacific Crest Trail. "I saw something pop up on my phone. Pretty dusty this late in the season, water is low. He passed the couple on the trail possibly minutes before Rhonda's fatal fall: Mike Arnold: And what did she look like? Investigators returned to the scene of Rhonda Casto's fall for an unusual experiment. And I think she was attracted not so much to his looks, but to his what he had. Arnold questions the man who organized the dummy experiment, Deputy Daniel DeHaven. Hike Type: Out and back. This spectacular cliffsidehike passes through a forested basalt cliff overlooking Eagle Creek. Within days, Rhonda's loved ones held a memorial where her mother says Nichols was acting strangely. March 5, 2016 / 11:16 PM "She was, like, it for me. - Must haves for this season: Then came a knock on the door. Narrow trail with anchored cables into rock in some areas to hold onto for support away from cliff edge. Lots of rocks so wear good shoes and bring poles! Gorge trails, like Angels Rest, came online quickly and it appeared that Eagle Creek and others might be back up by spring 2020. This is still the same scenic trail it has always been - all the same waterfalls! I fully expected to spend the rest of my life with her. Arnold is talking about the condition and location of Rhonda's body. One of the cliff sections: these may be unsafe for small children (Jeff Statt) The Eagle Creek Trail to Punch Bowl Falls and Lower Punch Bowl Falls. (541) 308-1700 Length 11.9 miElevation gain 2,070 ftRoute type Out & back. Official websites use .gov A .gov As ever, there are a million things to appreciate about the trail, including the autumn colors, walking the edges of high cliff faces and views of the endless waterfalls Punchbowl Falls chief among them. "To me the evidence, the physical evidence and the science shows us it's an accident," said Arnold. 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. "We know people fall every day in their homes. "The pelvis was essentially shattered," Young told the court. Mike Arnold: And he wanted a conviction of Mr. Nichols? Generally considered a moderately challenging route. Plus cold weather gear So that was our goal. The climb out from eagle creek Trail on Indian springs Trail is no joke, very steep. Start point: Harvey Road Trailhead. "And so that's when I decided to go to China.". Bear in mind that it is only above the High Bridge that overnight camping is permitted on the Eagle Creek Trail; in addition, many of the original campsites have disappeared under heavy brush or downed trees, so availability is more limited than it used to be. But something was about to happen. Every year, there is a story about someone falling from this spot and injuring themselves. "No. "Accidents happen, and you wanna leave your family better off if you pass unexpectedly. Waterproof hiking boots will save your feet from a very uncomfortable day. Eagle Creek Trail high above Oregon's Columbia River Gorge It was along the Eagle Creek trail that Rhonda Casto, a 23-year-old mother of a nine-month-old girl, set out with her boyfriend, Stephen . Eagle Creek Trail In a nutshell: One of Oregon's most scenic trails, located in the Columbia River Gorge near Cascade Locks. "And as she said that, he turned around and said, 'If you leave me, I'll kill you.'". Van Sant asked. 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. Bring sunscreen and bug spray! When I'm really, really sad, I just -- I close down. Conifers at the bottom of the canyon survived the fire with a full canopy, but you'll pass through a scorched area where fireweed, thimbleberry, poison oak, and ocean spray flourish. All rights reserved (About Us). After all these years, friends Jessica Colburn and Brandi Arneson finally find the courage to visit, for the first time, the spot where Rhonda fell from that trail. Make sure you show up first thing in the morning or later in the day if you want to ensure a place to park. The trail turns into a gully and passes over the Fern Creek Bridge, one of two bridges on the trail that had to be replaced after the fire. Campfires are not permitted though. His condo, his money, his -- you know, his status," she replied. "Because he had an inkling that Rhonda was gonna leave him, and he didn't wanna pay child support," she replied. Eagle creek has many wonderful waterfalls. At this hearing, she doesn't want to talk to Mike Arnold, either: Carrie Rasmussen: Sustained means sustained. Detectives from Hood River County, where Eagle Creek Trail is located, began investigating Rhonda's death. Eagle Creek Trail, Oregon (Photo: Chris Ebarb Photography/Moment Open via Getty Images) Reach the first campsite, Tenas Camp, at mile 3.7, after passing 50-foot Skoonichuck Falls. Recreation Map Many have referred to this stretch of trail as the "Vertigo Mile". Restrooms broken at the trailhead but portapotties available. This is a very popular area for backpacking, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. (A sign that used to exist further uptrail described an earlier forest fire that swept through this area back in 1902.) "There's one universal truth out there, and that's physics. "She said he'd been kinda buggin' her to go hiking for like two or three weeks--like a month," Simmons said. "I feel like there is enough evidence to convict him," she continued. Got there early and the parking lot was already almost full. Next, you'll see the mouth of Opal Creek, which flows steeply down from the bowl below Tanner Butte. This hike is not far from Portland and is best in the spring or early summer to really appreciate the beautiful waterfalls. there are some very high cliffs and if you are afraid of heights or afraid of falling just be a little cautious. Past Tenas Camp, the forest was heavily burned in the 2017 fire. "You were tongue tied," Van Sant remarked. Tiffany has not been charged with any crime. Suddenly, disaster struck. Fires not allowed within 100feet of the trail during other times of the year. "I liked China. 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. With no cell phone signal, he returned to the trail parking lot and called 911. Beyond, the next 3 miles to Tunnel Falls do have some landslides that make for tricky hiking, and at least one semi-difficult creek crossing, but it does remain open and doable. "She got treated badly, and he tried to cheat on her several times," Julia Simmons alleged. It was along the Eagle Creek trail that Rhonda Casto, a 23-year-old. But as the majority of trails have reopened . Print/PDF map. But Rhonda also had a sense of humor, so I, I really--I don't know," said Nichols. You take it one day at a time," said Nichols. He lost, like, a quarter of a million dollars," said Julia Simmons. "They were a delight together. About 3 miles up, hikers will encounter the aptly named High Bridge, which traversesa narrowgorge150 feet above the creek. I was looking for a place, a room to rent," said Simmons. That objection is overruled. Again, a great photo opportunity. Rhonda's mom, who had moved out of the condo, had been babysitting the couple's 9- month-old daughter. There is parking available all the way from the trailhead back to Eagle Creek Fish Hatchery. One of the most popular backpacking trails; there are multiple camping sites along the trail. It took four years, but in 2013, Nichols was ready for a new chapter in his life. A stumble here can lead to a deadly freefall. At an exposed cliff viewpoint, you can see across to Loowit Falls splashing in a thin pretty veil down to a pool with a final short drop to Eagle Creek. connected to the .gov website. CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO DAMAGE FROM A 2017 WILDFIRE. 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? He pleaded not guilty. "She was funny," friend Jessica Colburn said. Fair amount of people at Wahtum Lake, but it was a weekend so that was expected. Check out this 11.9-mile out-and-back trail near Cascade Locks, Oregon. Apparently, key evidence, including some death scene and autopsy photos, is missing. Mike Arnold: Did you steal ___'s Social Security benefits? He accuses Simmons of painting Nichols as a murderer, so she could one day collect Rhonda's life insurance policy: Mike Arnold: And did you say, "I wanna lay claim to be the beneficiary of my daughter's life insurance claim?". "They'd go to a movie or they'd go play Frisbee golf. The trail is very beautiful, lots of falls, flowers, and berries. Hikers have been rediscovering the beauty of Eagle Creek since it reopened on Jan. 1, more than three years after closing due to the Eagle Creek fire. After crossing the High Bridge, walk high above the creek to get a good view, more open since the fire, of 50-foot Skoonichuck Falls, which plunges in two big tiers below a 400-foot cliff. And I said, 'No, thank you,'" Nichols told Van Sant. 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. Tall, ribbon-like Wy'East Falls plunges from a basalt rampart - a short scramble up the creek will get you a better view of these falls which shrink to a trickle by the end of summer. For a nice day-trip, hike 3.3 miles (6.6 round-trip) to aptly named High Bridge, then return and head to Cascade Locks for a late lunch. And I don't know if you guys wanna use this, but she bit him on the shoulder. Not the trails fault that people dont know how to dig a hole or pack it out. "Physical evidence disappears, particularly in a rainy state like Oregon. If you still feel like you still have some energy, the last two major waterfalls, both on the West Fork Eagle Creek, can be seen in the next half mile. If you're day hiking, you can turn around here. "48 Hours" caught up with one hiker who has a terrifying tale to tell. But at least for now as of November the route is clear for the spectacular 3.3 miles to High Bridge. Suite 200 "One time she got really mad at him. 2016 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. We intended to hike to the campsite at mile 4 on the All Trails map, only to find this area no longer exists, so we hiked to 5.5 and found a couple of spots. It is the most dramatic section of the hike for its vertical rise above the gorge floor. --Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB. The Eagle Creek Trail is one of the best known Oregon state trails,. And Arnold says accidents like Rhonda's are more frequent than people realize. Meads headed out on a Gorge hike in May 2015, that soon became a struggle to survive. Only after you pass the 7 and 1/2 mile camp will you enter an area where most of the trees are truly dead. While we make every effort to fact-check, information found here should be considered anecdotal. "I went over to Julia's room and I'm like, 'Your daughter is just incredibly beautiful.' FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Some poison oak but you can avoid it.. NOTICE: This trail is closed until further notice because of damage from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. on official, secure websites. Standing on the High Bridge, you can see down the narrow gorge and also up the creek to small cascades. I loved it. "If Stephen Nichols murdered your daughter, why did he do it?" Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The Eagle Creek Trail is the most popular trail in the Columbia Gorge. One of the most popular trails on the Columbia River Gorge has reopened! 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. Arnold told the court of best-selling true-crime writer Steve Jackson. The hike was beautiful though. There were showers from time to time and the trail was damp. This page was last modified on 1 January 2023, at 00:10. He wanted to write a book. It was a chaplain sent by the local fire department. Gerry Tiffany: No, it was there when I left. Sconce says Stephen Nichols thought Rhonda was acting flirtatious toward others in the bar. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. The caveat is that the trail in many sections was blasted out of the basalt cliff faces by the 1915 crews that constructed it in conjunction with the work on the Historic Columbia River Highway. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service/Bureau of Land Management: National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) required; fee kiosk at the trailhead, Restrooms, picnic tables, information kiosk, nearby campground, Limited parking; if lot is full, go back to the. 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. "He goes, 'Rhonda's dead.' Van Sant asked. This trail offers some of the most spectacular scenery of any trail in the Gorge, including at least 5 waterfalls. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian. Beautiful! It could potentially be a criminal act. "And I kept saying, 'I don't even know who you are, but you are the most amazing man I've ever met. Not suitable for young children. The grade was easy after the first mile. "He started to verbally abuse Rhonda by calling her stupid and a bunch of other names," she said. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Nichols and his daughter, now 5, moved to Wuxi, about 75 miles from Shanghai. Simmons moved into Nichols' Portland, Oregon, condo. "all the details that we'd so far heard, none of those makes sense with just simply sliding and falling down," said Arneson. Longitude: -121.91970. "I somehow grabbed onto a root," she said. "I always believed, you know, he pushed her," said Gerry Tiffany. Check out this 4.8-mile out-and-back trail near Cascade Locks, Oregon. At 4.5 miles (name of the bridge) you'll pass over Eagle Creek again but this time you will only be about 5 feet off the water. Van Sant asked Simmons. See the other AllTrails of Eagle Creek to Wahtum and many people will report the same. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. To top it all off, Nichols met Landy Yin Yan and after about a year of dating, he proposed. "Rhonda's family claims that you were not grieving," Van Sant noted to Nichols. There are a couple of small sloping campsites below the trail. The trail enters a lovely amphitheater, dripping with moss and maidenhair fern, where Tunnel Falls plunges 175 feet to a shallow pool. The trail is easy to follow with large stretches of snow and ice. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. As you pass behind it just think about how much effort it must have taken back then to do this work far into this canyon! Later this month the judge will consider reducing Nichols' $2 million bail. "She'd call me, or she'd be over at my house.". It was a cold day rain off and on. (The Eagle Benson Trail, which rises 2,900 feet to the Benson Plateau, has not been maintained since the 2017 fire.). "Once you start getting really high up, there is a very -- a narrow part of the trail that -- there's kind of, like, a rope or a chain on the inner cliff edge that you have to hold onto 'cause it's just barely wide enough for one person to walk all around the ledge," said Colburn. Arnold claims Simmons would do just about anything for money, including a despicable crime: cashing her granddaughter's monthly death benefit check from the government despite never having custody of her. "She couldn't have a better thing in her life than Landy.". And knowing that you're never getting back to your child.". Bring your raincoat. Beautiful hike this morning; passed some others but trail not overly crowded. But ultimately, does Simmons' confession of taking her granddaughter's checks really tarnish all of her testimony in the case of her beloved Rhonda? As the name implies, your path with pass through a tunnel behind the falls about midway up the drop. Heavy winter storms have saturated the Columbia Gorge this winter, which could make hiking a miserable experience for those caught unprepared. A picture, taken by Rhonda herself and sent to her brother, shows red marks left from an alleged physical encounter with Nichols. Trail was moderately busy until after punch bowel falls then slimed down significantly. With dozens of waterfalls, rocky cliffs coated in moss and a crystal-clear creek that runs through it all, the Eagle Creek Trail is one of the most majestic natural attractions in Oregon. "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. This trail follows a cliff for portions and can be very dangerous when slippery. Elevation gain: 2360 feet. In 2008, three years into their relationship, the couple became parents when their daughter was born. The beauty here can mask a dangerous truth -- that these paths can be perilous. "It turns out the reason that indictment came up is because of pressure from a book author!" Most hikers either turn. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. Meaning, Arnold contends, that Rhonda slipped feet first, because if she'd been pushed, she would have tumbled head over heels, sustaining injuries over her entire body. Across the creek, you'll may notice little Tenas Falls, where a tributary splits around a rock to make a twin plunge into Eagle Creek. It wouldn't be long before the recently-divorced 30-year-old day trader took 20-year-old Rhonda Casto on their first date. The route of the Eagle Creek Trail #501 (not a GPS track) (bobcat) Courtesy: National Geographic Topo. You have an attorney who's representing the state on this matter. This isn't the best trail for dogs or kids. "She just looked at me, and she said, 'Your daughter's gone,'" said Simmons. Many water sources ! The two first landed in San Francisco, where Stephen was stunned to be met by authorities and arrested. A tree fell over, taking a section of trail with it. "I don't even know who Jen Sconce is," Nichols laughed. Soon, you'll come to the Punch Bowl Falls overlook, where you can view Punch Bowl Falls spouting into its circular amphitheater and magnificent deep pool below. Looking across the gorge, you can see different layers of basalt entablature separated by narrower bands of colonnade. He was buying drinks for all of us. Within this corridor, theres only one side trail to worry about: a short trip down to the water between Punch Bowl Falls and Lower Punch Bowl Falls. If youre heading out to hike Eagle Creek whether its your first time or your 50th there are a few factors to consider and some preparations to make (including packing the essentials) before leaving home. He got a job teaching English to Chinese businessmen. And Arnold thinks he knows why Rasmussen, after all that time, decided to act: Mike Arnold: There's an email that was read earlier into the record from Steve Jackson to you, dated February 17th, 2014. "Yeah. Campfire prohibited June 1 - Sept 15. And she goes, 'OK, well, you're missing out. You should cross-check against other references before planning a hike. Kayakers take the plunge through some rapids far below. Carrie Rasmussen: Right. The trail is well groomed, just rocky and narrow in spots. He told the operator that Rhonda had been acting high, being silly and running on the slippery trail before she fell. While there isnt much elevation gain, weve rated this trail moderately difficult for some tricky crossings over streams and around landslides, and for the generally treacherous terrain. Dozens of search and rescues are done every year. Mike Arnold: What is your opinion about whether or not Miss Casto was pushed? Then 8 o'clock rolled around and nothing.". Backpacked to Moss Bridge (5ish mi) stayed the night and hiked to Tunnel Falls the next morning. Make sure you allow as much room as possible when letting people pass. A. Wilderness Permits are required when entering Mark O Hatfield Wilderness. Eagle Creek Trailhead & Trail (#440) Area Status: Open This spectacular cliffside hike passes through a forested basalt cliff overlooking Eagle Creek. In April 2014, a secret grand jury heard evidence and indicted Stephen Nichols for the murder of Rhonda Casto. For overnight backpacking up Eagle Creek Trail, it is highly recommended you park in the large parking lot near Eagle Creek Fish Hatchery. Your physical evidence could disappear within hours or days," Arnold explained. Landy quickly became like a mother to his daughter. In 2005, Simmons played a role in introducing her daughter to a man who would change the course of Rhonda's life. She wanted to lose weight," said Nichols. As Rhonda and Nichols made their way up Eagle Creek Trail, they had some challenges. There are three main areas to park for the Eagle Creek Trailhead. This is one of the most popular trails in the Columbia River Gorge and can be a crowded experience on summer weekends. This was one of Oregons gems, it was almost too sad to do the hike. The falls convey the East Fork Eagle Creek from the bluffs above to the creek bed below, and then downstream into the main Eagle Creek run. Also loop opportunities with other Gorge trails abound. However, recovery efforts from the 2017 Eagle Creek wildfire are still underway on some of these multi-day loop trail opportunities (Ruckel Creek #403, Tanner Butte #401, Eagle-Tanner #433, and Tanner Cutoff #448 trails remain closed). Share sensitive information only Deputy Matt English with the Hood River County Sheriff's Office, says their 911 center received a call at 6:09 p.m. from a man who had accompanied the woman on the hike. Then came the time for that hike in March 2009. Because while the trail has largely healed from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, the flames of five years ago will keep this an unstable and dynamic place of falling trees and landslides for years to come. The Eagle Creek Trailhead is about a 45 minute drive east of downtown Portland on Interstate 84. Arnold says no tests were done to see if Rhonda made any contact with the outcroppings on the way down the cliffside -- contact that could have affected where her body finally came to rest. They were both upbeat and happy, you know, just a zest for life," he said. "I can tell that -- based on the injuries that she has, she -- she landed predominantly on her legs and her pelvis," Young testified. But now, on the stand, Mike Arnold puts her credibility under the microscope: Julia Simmons: Are you just trying to badger me? "Attraction right away?" The trail is rocky in many areas and requires one to be paying attention so, make sure you stop once in a while to lift up your head to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and not miss some of the waterfalls. Besides life insurance money, the prosecution will argue yet another potential motive for murder -- a love triangle -- claiming that Stephen Nichols was in love with Rhonda's younger sister, Melanie. If you are nervous with heights think twice about this trip.
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