Eagle Creek is a tributary, long, of the Powder River in the northeastern part of the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

. Beginning at Eagle Lake in the

Wallowa Mountains The Wallowa Mountains () are a mountain range located in the Columbia Plateau of northeastern Oregon in the United States. The range runs approximately northwest to southeast in southwestern Wallowa County and eastern Union County between the ...

, the creek flows generally southwest and then southeast to meet the river near the small city of Richland. The creek's headwaters are in the

Eagle Cap Wilderness Eagle Cap Wilderness is a wilderness area located in the Wallowa Mountains of northeastern Oregon (United States), within the Wallowa–Whitman National Forest.

within the

Wallowa–Whitman National Forest The Wallowa–Whitman National Forest is a United States National Forest in the U.S. states of Oregon and Idaho. Formed upon the merger of the Wallowa and Whitman national forests in 1954, it is located in the northeastern corner of the state, in ...

. The upper of the creek, from Eagle Lake to the national forest boundary at Skull Creek, are part of the

National Wild and Scenic Rivers System The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-542), enacted by the U.S. Congress to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free- ...

Recreation

Camping and hiking

The Main Eagle Trailhead, adjacent to the creek near its confluence with Boulder Creek, provides access to an extensive system of trails for hiking and horse riding in the wilderness. It is at the north end of Forest Road 7755, about north of

Baker City Baker City is a city in and the county seat of Baker County, Oregon, United States. It was named after Edward D. Baker, the only U.S. Senator ever killed in military combat. The population was 10,099 at the time of the 2020 census. History Pla ...

. Amenities include parking, an interpretive site, and a vault toilet. Along Forest Road 7755 slightly downstream of the Main Eagle Trailhead is the Boulder Park Campground with seven sites for tent or trailer camping. Amenities include picnic tables, a vault toilet, and a loading ramp and bunk feeder for pack and riding animals. Water for the animals is available from the creek. Two Color Campground, downstream of the Main Eagle Trailhead and near the confluence with Two Color Creek, has 11 sites for tent and trailer camping, picnic tables, and vault toilets. Near the campground is the Two Color Guard Station, a rental cabin with accommodations for up to 12 people. Amenities include parking, a vault toilet, propane lights, a cook stove and oven, a propane heater, and a horse corral. No smoking or pets are allowed inside the cabin. The site has no water for drinking, cooking, or washing. Tamarack Campground, near the confluence of Eagle Creek with West Eagle Creek, is along Forest Road 77. It has room for 12 tents or small trailers; amenities include toilets, picnic tables, and drinking water. Eagle Fork Campground, along Forest Road 7735, is near the confluence of Eagle Creek with Little Eagle Creek. With room for seven tents or trailers, it has amenities including picnic tables, toilets, and drinking water. The campground is adjacent to the Eagle Forks Trailhead, with access to Martin Bridge Trail along the creek.

Fishing

Eagle Creek supports a population of wild as well as stocked

rainbow trout The rainbow trout (''Oncorhynchus mykiss'') is a species of trout native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead (sometimes called "steelhead trout") is an anadromous (sea-run) form of the coasta ...

up to long. Anglers can reach the lower river by road and the upper river along trails.

Tributaries

Named tributaries of Eagle Creek from source to mouth are Cached Creek and Bench Canyon, then Copper, Boulder, Little Boulder, Two Color, West Eagle, and Skookum creeks, followed by Excelsior Gulch. Then Dixie, Bennet, O'Brien, Bradley, and East Fork Eagle creeks, followed by Blue Canyon and Twilight Gulch. Further downstream come Paddy Creek and Empire Gulch followed by Basin, Dempsey, Puzzle, and Shanghai creeks. Then Six Dollar Gulch and Holcolmb, Little Eagle, and Trouble creeks, followed by Town Gulch. Then Skull, Barnard, and Summit creeks.

References

External links