A view from Cape Horn. Photo by Aubrey Russell.
Just in time for Christmas, a gift from the Forest Service to hikers.
On Friday, the Forest Service gave its blessing to the Cape Horn Trail, an eight-mile loop in Skamania County with some of the most stunning views of the Columbia River Gorge.
Considered one of the Gorge’s “best kept secrets”, the Forest Service decision means big changes are coming, ones will improve safety, allow more access, and maybe even make it one of the most popular hikes in area.
The Cape Horn loop was constructed over a period of several years by local hikers, led by groups as such the Friends of the Columbia Gorge. It was designed for visual impact. The trail contains several outstanding scenic viewpoints including a section that goes behind a waterfall.
But until now, the trail wasn’t part of the official system of hikes in the Gorge Scenic Area. So it hasn’t gotten as much attention as the better known trails on the Oregon side of the river.
Cape Horn. Photo by Aubrey Russell
Now that the Forest Service is taking it over, it’s planning some big improvements, including:
- Parts of the trail will be rerouted to avoid sensitive areas such as wetlands and sections of loose rock.
- In 2011, the Forest Service plans to build a handicapped accessible parking lot and scenic viewpoint from the rim of Cape Horn on the upper part of the trail.
- Currently, the trail crosses Highway 14 in at least two places, creating safety hazards. The Forest Service wants to replace those crossing with underground hiking tunnels.
- The lower part of the trail will be closed every year from January 1 through June 30 to protect a nesting area for peregrine falcons. The closure starts in 2010, so if you want to hike the complete loop, time is running out for this season.
When the Forest Service first announced plans to take over the trail, Friends of the Columbia Gorge were concerned that some of its amazing views would be lost.
See: Protecting The “Wow” In The Columbia River Gorge
But Renee Tkach with the Friends says the two groups were able to work out their differences during a field visit this fall. “We feel like this is a great victory,” she says.
Adding to the appeal… the trail is in the far Western part of the Gorge Scenic Area and about only a half hour drive from downtown Portland and Vancouver.
Trail Map Courtesy Friends of The Columbia Gorge
