This route description follows the Cape Horn Loop in the clockwise direction starting and ending at the Salmon Falls Road park-and-ride.  It includes portions of the loop on Cape Horn Road, Lower Cape Horn Trail, and Upper Cape Horn Trail.  Time points are given for completing the loop to meet Skamania Transit.

Cape Horn Road:

1:30 PM  -  at the park and ride
This allows for the bus to be a few minutes later than the scheduled time of 1:10 PM.

From the Skamania Transit stop walk past the toilets and start out the park-and-ride entrance.  Look for a gravel path leading down and then right to a point where SR14 can be crossed directly to Cape Horn Road.

Follow Cape Horn Road for a bit less than 1-1/2 miles to the trailhead on the right a few yards before a decorative road gate.  The trail is marked by a brown sign.

Lower Cape Horn Trail:

2:00 PM  -  at the lower Cape Horn Trail
The road can be walked in 30 minutes at a fast pace.

The trail climbs the short but steep road bank and weaves through a few small boulders above the road.  Soon it crosses rockfalls far below SR14.  After a view opens south to a small rock island and a river navigation aid follow the trail up two switchback turns.  Cross four chutes leading down over a cliff and into the river.  When stream flow is high or in freezing conditions these chutes can be dangerous.  A fall would certainly be fatal.  In less than ¼ mile there is a short climb up a few high steps to a nice view up river.  This section may require hand holds on nearby trees and stumps.

In less than ¼ mile the trail crosses behind a waterfall.  This can be a welcome opportunity to cool off in the summer or an unwelcome opportunity to be wet as well as cold in other seasons.

2:30 PM  -  at the falls

The trail then heads out onto a large, moss covered rockfall and immediately turns back toward the stream below the falls.  The trail goes above the stream for a few yards before heading out onto the rockfall for a traverse of about 100 yards.  Sometimes it is possible to see two waterfalls from here.

Cross a small stream and head down over another large mossy rockfall for four switchback turns.  The trail proceeds along the top of cliffs above the mighty Columbia passing several good viewpoints.  There are faint bypass trails around some of these viewpoints for times when the trail is slippery or when the gorge wind is high.  The most downriver viewpoint is near four angle-iron anchors of an old beacon.  From here you can see the railroad disappearing into the tunnel below.  This tunnel has been underfoot but undetectable for most of the way from Cape Horn Road.

2:50 PM  -  above the railroad tunnel entrance
From here the trail climbs more than 1000 ft.  If there is less than 2½ hours before the return bus it is probably better to turn around and return via the lower trail and Cape Horn Road.  It is not safe to return via the highway.  The half-bridge has a rock wall on one side and nothing but air on the other.  There is no space for pedestrians.

Turn away from the river and follow a small stream for a few yards.  At this point the trail heads up 500 vertical feet to SR14.  First, it slides close by a large basalt block before switching back above that block and traversing a rockfall.  Then come six switchback turns on the rockfall and seven in the woods above.  Cross a perpetually wet area with the aid of a stile and continue past a lookout and two switchback turns to another lookout sheltered by a large tree.  Follow along the edge of a cliff overlooking the rockfalls crossed earlier.  Acrophobes may not enjoy some of this section but the views are great.

In a few hundred yards, cross a small stream.  This stream makes one of the waterfalls seen from the rockfall below.  In a bit more than 100 yards, come to the only trail junction on the lower trail.  Proceed straight then curve away from the river and alongside a stream.  Far below here this stream flows over the trail as it crosses behind the falls.  Cross the stream and hike up the bank.  SR14 is less than a ¼ mile down the trail.  There are faint side trails in this area but the traffic noise on the highway can be a guide.

Upper Cape Horn Trail:

3:30 PM  -  at state route 14 crossing
It is not safe to return via the highway.  The half-bridge has a rock wall on one side and nothing but air on the other.  There is no space for pedestrians.

Go straight across SR14 and find the trail at the end of the guard rail.  The trail continues not far from the highway until it crosses a small stream.  Soon pass a small dilapidated wooden structure.  After that it’s up to an overlook far above the highway where it passes hard up against the cliff.  The screen above the highway is anchored here.  Be careful not to trip on the cables.

3:50 PM  -  at “chainlink overlook”

Continue across the small cleared overlook area where the trail runs a bit farther from the edge.  Go slightly downhill to where the trail begins to climb in a gentle turn.  At the fifth switchback turn do not make the turn but continue straight.  The level, gently curving trail comes out of the woods at an overlook.  Look northeast at this level to see the outcrop of Pioneer Point.  This former home site has been cleared of buildings and most non-native plants.

Uphill it is easy to find the former driveway to the site.  Follow it out (away from the river) to paved Strunk Road where it dead-ends.  Turn left (west) and walk along the road for less than 100 yards until the end of the woods on the right.

4:15 PM  -  at Strunk Road

The route follows an old way between a field and the woods.  The route turns to the right, becomes more like a trail and then joins the abandoned Pioneer Road.

After crossing under small power lines, the abandoned road turns left and joins a maintained gravel road.  Do not follow around this turn in the road but continue straight onto a short section of trail that connects the roads by descending the bank of the gravel road.  Maintain the direction of travel by continuing on the gravel road and then leaving it in about 100 yards on a trail to the right.

After a sharp right turn go close by a fence corner and avoid a faint trail on an old road grade. Continue toward the river and the cliff top viewpoint.  Walk carefully along the cliff edge in the Columbia upstream direction.  Dip off to the left for a brief departure from the edge then return to great views where a large tree has tipped up its roots.  Continue along the cliff top but back a bit behind a few trees to a good upriver viewpoint.

From here it’s a bit more than 700 vertical feet down to the park-and-ride.  The way down leads back into the woods.  At first it is quite steep to the right of the trail but then less so as the trail emerges to views northward to Silver Star Mountain.  The view is created by a power line and maintenance road.  The route does not go onto the power line road but follows a few yards above it before turning away and descending steeply.

4:45 PM  -  at the Silver Star viewpoint

After a steep traverse (cross slope with downhill to the right) pass a side trail that leads left back to the power line road.  After less than ¼ mile there is a “T” junction with a faint side trail that also leads left back to the power line road.  (These side trails are short and will not lead to significant delay if accidentally followed.)  The correct way here is right.

5:00 PM  -  at the top of long switchbacks
If it is after 5:15 PM then 500 ft. of descent must be covered in 20 minutes.  Use the fastest possible walking speed.  It is possible to run the remaining distance in less than 15 minutes but injury is likely at this pace.

From here long switchbacks lead down the remaining 500 ft. of elevation to the park-and-ride.  Along the way cross a small stream less than 200 yards before coming out at Salmon Falls Road.  Walk straight across the road onto a gravel path that leads to the bus stop.

5:25 PM  -  at Salmon Falls Road park-and-ride
10 minutes to use the toilet and relax before the bus comes