Backpacking the Northwest

There is also parking at an alternate trailhead on Mt. Pleasant Road or Strunk Road. Directions to these locations are not provided in this review. 

There are no bathrooms at the trailhead.

Length and Elevation:
8 Miles, Elevation gain 1,500 and loss 1,500,  total 3,000 Feet in elevation change.

Trail:
Cape Horn Trail

Trail Maps:
Topo Map

Review: June 16, 2007
This is a great low-elevation hike in the Gorge. Late May through the end of June have the best wildflower displays. In the late spring and summer the seasonal grows and the leaves infringes on the trail. You will definitely want rain pants for this first part of the trail if there is any chance of rain or early morning hiking. Be sure your hiking shoes or boots have good traction because the first mile or so of the trail is only dry in summer.
There are several switchbacks to negotiate as the trail climbs up towards Pioneer Peak. In the spring there is Columbine, larkspur, and thimbleberry along the trail underneath the forest canopy. In late spring the cow parsnips bloom along with the tiger lilies. About 2/3 of the way up the switchbacks is a fair grouping of tiger lilies by the trail. About a mile in, there is a junction to an alternate parking site on Mt. Pleasant road.
Parking is along the wide shoulder of Mt. Pleasant road. Walk up the 4-wheel drive road and turn right and uphill where there is a junction with a lesser used 4-wheel drive road. Walk past the BPA powerlines and look to the left for a trail that leads downhill to the Cape Horn trail. On the day that I hiked this trail, just uphill from the access trail, is a brown sign on the 4-wheel drive trail that show Cape Horn up the 4-wheel drive road. I advise using the access trail and not the 4-wheel drive road.
The trail becomes steep, levels out for a bit, then climbs again. The trail comes up to an overlook along some cliffs that have a terrific view of the Gorge. You can see Multnomah Falls, Beacon Rock, cows grazing in the field, and boats going up and down the river. Follow the trail along the cliffs and you will come out on a cape that also has a commanding view of the Gorge. Backtrack about 75 feet from the cape and you will come back to a trail junction. Take a left and head downhill from the junction.  The trail descends a few switchbacks and comes out in the woods on a 4-wheel drive road. Make a left and follow the road into the woods for less than 1/10 of a mile and make a left on an ATV trail. This is the first left you can make after joining the 4-wheel drive road. The trail comes out on a paved road, Strunk Road. Directly across the road there should be a sign on a tree pointing to the trail. Take a bearing of about 145 degrees true north and cross the field to a gravel road. Turn right and follow the gravel road past a property that is owned by the Friends of the Columbia Gorge land trust. Walk along the chain-link fence and continue the same direction downhill through a meadow. The trail enters the woods at the bottom of the meadow. After entering the woods and descending about ¼ on some switchbacks, you will enter a clearing that has nice views of the Gorge. The trees have been cut at the clearing because it is the beginning of the fencing that protects the highway and cars below from rocks falling off the cliffs. You can’t see the road because it is so close to the cliff. You will see some of the retention cables as you walk down the trail. The trail then switchbacks down towards highway 1The trees have been cut at the clearing because it is the beginning of the fencing that protects the highway and cars below from rocks falling off the cliffs. You can’t see the road because it is so close to the cliff. You will see some of the retention cables as you walk down the trail. The trail then switchbacks down towards highway 14. Just a short time before you get to Highway 14, you pass a building that looks like an outhouse. Perhaps there was a homestead near here. The trail comes out at Highway 14. Go straight across the road and descnd on the trail. Be careful crossing the highway because there is limited visibility and the cards zip around the corners. Take care of exposed skin because the trail descends through some stinging nettle crosses a small stream, climbs a bit, and continues through the woods. The trail comes to a 4-way junction. The right trail leads to parking on SR14 and the left trail leads to a view of a waterfall and an overlook of the gorge.
From the junction, the trail continues to descend and cross another small stream and then climbs back up some. This is the first rail where I’ve seen someone bring in 12 inch square concrete patio blocks for stepping stones so you don’t have to walk in the mud. The trail now drops down on a number of switchbacks and descends towards the Columbia River. One interesting place is where the trail comes out to a rock scree and you can see the next six switchbacks going down towards the river. The trail comes out almost above a tunnel portal on the Burlington Northern railroad. Turn left here and head east on the trail. After climbing several swithbacks across the broken basalt, you will hear a waterfall. Pretty soon you’ll se it come into view. Don’t worry about walking up the stream to approach it. After a few switchbacks, the trail drops back down and goes right behind the waterfall. When you get off the footpath and onto the paved road, stop and take a look around and above you. You can see SR 14 going around Cape Horn high above you. From here, follow the road uphill back to your car. Please respect the request not to park, pick up, or drop off hikers here so that the property owner doesn’t shut down access to this trail.

Enjoy the photos!!

Switchback Steve