The last weekend of November I drove to the Cape Horn Trailhead in the western Columbia River Gorge. The loop trail, 7.5 miles with 1,400 feet of elevation gain, had just gone through some significant upgrades. Tunnels were built under Highway 14, the trail was widened and switchbacks were added to the steep portions.
It’s a testament to the Friends of the Columbia Gorge that a quality Cape Horn Trail is becoming a reality. The first few times I hiked the loop trail it was very rough in places and not very well marked.
These days the Cape Horn Trail is a gem. There are some nice viewpoints of the Columbia River stretching for miles in each direction, a flat stretch of trail bordering some farmlands, an overlook with beautiful rock-work as a tribute to Nancy Russell (the founder of the Friends of the Gorge) and a walk in front of a misty waterfall.
I highly recommend the trail.
Misty waterfall along the lower trail
Cape Horn Bridge on Highway 14
Very late-blooming Penstemons
Pine Siskin
Looking up the Columbia River Gorge
Licorice Ferns
Ferns growing along the upper trail
What I learned today: There is a sparrow-looking bird called a “siskin.”
They are colorful and fairly common at lower elevations during the winter months. Keep me company along my hikes, they do.