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Vicinity Location:
26 miles east of Portland, Oregon in the Columbia River National Scenic Area.

Directions:
From Portland, take I-84 east to the Historic Highway cutoff, Bridal Veil exit # 28. The first parking lot is at the intersection of the cutoff road and the Historic Columbia River Highway. The second parking lot is just west of the intersection. The trailhead is south of the Historic Columbia River Highway, opposite the junction with the interstate access road in Bridal veil. From the overflow parking lot, take the trail at the north end of the parking lot.

Traveling westbound on I-84 from the Bonneville Dam, take Ainsworth State Park exit # 35 and follow the Historic Columbia River Highway for 7.1 miles (11.4 km).

No permits are required for parking.

No outhouse is available at the trailhead. The closest restrooms are .8 miles west at Bridal Veil Falls State Park.

Length and Elevation:
9.7 Miles total, Total elevation gain 3,300 feet. High point on the trail is 2,415 feet.

From trailhead to Devil’s Rest via Angel’s Rest – 3.7 miles, +2370 , -150 feet.
Devil’s Rest to Junction 415 – 1.9 miles, +45 , -1176 feet.
Junction 415 to  Angel’s Rest trailhead – 4.1 miles, +881, -1983 feet.

Trail:
Angel’s Rest Trail #415, Foxglove Way, Upper Foxglove Way, Devil’s Fork Trail, Devil’s Rest Trail #420C, Trail 420. Connects to Vista Point Trail #419.

There is at least one geocache along this trail at: N 45° 33.763 W 122° 07.711 Info at Geocaching.com

Trail Maps:
Topo Map, National Forest Service map

Review: June 8, 2008
This is a well maintained trail that is heavily used. The trail is nice and wide most of the way to Angel’s Rest. The first part of the trail is pretty gentle. After about ¼ mile, you cross a rock field with a view of the Gorge, freeway, river, and pasture. Across the river you can see Cape Horn and Highway 14.

The trail passes Coopey Creek Falls. Most of the view is obscured by brush and trees. There is a large fir tree on the left side of a trail that marks a small, slippery little trail that gives you an okay view of a small waterfall on Coopey Creek. The trail becomes rather steep and slippery, so you might decide the view isn’t worth the risk. In mid-April you’ll see hundreds of trillium in the forest along the trail. Later the cow parsnips, columbine, and monkshood appear.

The trail leaves Coopey Creek and starts switchbacking up the mountain. The understory becomes brushier as the cover from big trees lessens. The trail enters an area that was burned by a forest fire in 1991. Skeletal trees still remain and the fire opened up views of the Gorge and allow light for new plants to grow. After several more switchbacks there is a scree field of large, mostly flat rocks to cross. Some people may briefly lose their way here but if you follow the foot-worn dirty rocks and realize the trail only gains a little elevation crossing the rocks, you’ll get across easily. There may be a rock cairn on the other end of the scree field where the trail enters the trees.  This section also has the poison oak in and next to the trail.

On Angel’s rest you’ll see wild roses, iris, and other wildflowers. Near the top is a trail junction to Devil’s Rest. Turn left and climb over the rocks to Angel’s Rest. There is an overlook of the Gorge with a bench with a dedication on it.

After going out to the Angel’s Rest viewpoint, return along the ridge and instead of descending back the way you came up, turn left, follow the ridge that joins Angel’s Rest to the mountains, and go back into the woods. The trail ascends a couple of switchbacks in the woods then comes to a junction with trail 415 and Foxglove Way. You’ll need to look around to see the trail sign. It is about 8 feet up on a tree to the left of Foxglove way.

JCUFX is the junction between Upper Foxglove Way and the trail to Devil’s Fork. Take Upper Foxglove Way on the right. The trail to the left is Foxglove Way and returns to trail 415, but receives little maintenance.

Both the first portion of Foxglove Way and Upper Foxglove Way are well maintained trails. You can see that Upper Foxglove Way is an abandoned logging road. It makes a very pleasant hiking trail as it climbs through the forest with small clearings to let the sunlight through.

Waypoint JCTBL is at 45 33.630 122 08.317 begins Devil’s Fork Trail and is an old trail junction that has branches stacked blocking off the right fork. It is the continuation of the old logging roads.

Devil’s Fork Trail is on the left and slopes slightly downhill. This part of the trail is also an old logging road so the tread is wide, the grade pretty constant, and seems to be maintained annually. If you need water and don’t have a filter, there are springs at 45 33.647N, 122 08.024W. The easiest way to access them is from clearing at an old trail junction at 45 33.647N, 122 08.035W. It looks like there is a primitive trail going straight downhill into the woods. Use a GPS or compass to note your direction so you can return to the correct trail. Continue along the hillside for a short distance then make your way down to the springs by following the flowing water sounds.

Back on the trail, you’ll encounter muddy spots from seepage then come to the junction of Devil’s Rest and Wahkeena Trail at 45 33.638N, 122 07.961W. Take the right junction uphill to a trail junction just below Devil’s Rest. At the junction, it is an obvious left for the short ascent to Devil’s Rest.

Devil’s Rest is pretty much a pile of moss covered rocks, but it is the top of something. Walk up to the top, satisfy that urge to reach a summit, take some pictures, and decide which way to return to the trailhead. Turn left at the trail junction just below Devil’s Rest for the longer way towards Multnomah Falls and loop back or turn right and head back down the trail to the Wahkeena Trail junction.

To return the short way, drop back down and turn right at the Wahkeena Trail junction. Turn left on the Primrose trail and left onto trail 415 back to Angel’s rest.

For the longer loop, turn left at the junction to trail 420C to Multnomah Falls. Look for a small trail junction to the left in about .5 miles. Take this short trail to a great viewpoint overlooking the Gorge. On a clear day you have a great view of Mt. Adams. You can also see Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier on the horizon. The forest fire in 1991 improved this viewpoint or perhaps created it.

Follow this trail as it climbs a bit along the top edge of the Gorge escarpment and there are scattered views and there is one more viewpoint as the trail begins to descend and crosses a small creek. Keep left at the short connector trail to Multnomah Basin Road. Turn left at JCTR, at 46 34.141N 122 06.822W. The straight ahead fork should be blocked by branches. This is the top of the switchback zone. The walk here is pleasant though the trail descends fairly steeply. The splashing stream greets you on the east side of the switchbacks leading down to the junction with trail 420 and turn left here. In about 150 feet you will take another left at the trail junction and continue on trail 420. In about .2 miles is another junction for trail 415. Take the left junction again, leading to Angel’s Rest.

After a short time, the trail comes to Wahkeena Springs. This is a great place to fill up with water if you’re low on water. This is one of the rare places where the creek bursts right out of the rocks. The trail here is fairly level and goes along above Wahkeena Creek. Enjoy the sound of the torrent of water rushing down the mountain as it heads towards the Columbia River. Listen to the sounds of the stream as it slowly recedes the farther you get from it. Look back and you can see the whitewater splashing down the hillside.

The trail climbs several switchbacks comes out of the woods on a scree slope and you can see into the Multnomah drainage. On a clear day you can see Mt. Adams peeking above the mountains in the distance. The trail gains elevation slowly and crosses a couple of small creeks and passes by a couple of clearings with a nice view of Mt. St. Helens.

Soon the trail crosses another stream and intersects with the Foxglove Trail and continues down and crosses another stream and passes the trail junction for east end of Foxglove Way. The trail makes one final ascent to the junction for the west end of Foxglove Way. Retrace your steps down to the junction with Angels Rest trail and back down to the parking lot.

The trail is safe for small children as long as you keep them away from the cliffs at Angel’s Rest and viewpoints. Be sure to avoid the poison oak. Remember that your dog can get the poison oak on their fur and then rub it onto you.

This is a dog happy trail! There were at least 20 dogs hiking with their owners on the trail this weekend day.

Enjoy the photos!!

Gallery Pics

Photos for the Angel’s Rest section.

Gallery Pics

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