Cape Horn Overlooks Hike

Overview

The Cape Horn Trail threads parcels of Forest Service land to a series of viewpoints, but the entire loop is open only for 5 1/2 months (see the Cape Horn Loop Hike). The lower end of the loop which traverses the cliffs at Cape Horn is closed between February 1st and July 15th to protect nesting peregrine falcons. You will need to turn around where horses have to turn around, at the Windblown Fir Viewpoint on the second tier of cliffs. During the closure months, there are a variety of out and back options which will take you to some of the higher elevation viewpoints. From the Park and Ride lot, walk past an information kiosk with its large map, and cross Salmon Falls Road to pass a sign for the Cape Horn Trail. Keep right at a junction to stay on the Upper Trail. Hike above a blackberry-choked gully, and pass a gnarly Douglas-fir. Switchback down to a footbridge over a creek, and then begin walking up a slope of maples and alders. Make a switchback on a rooty trail that rises past boulders draped with licorice fern. Seven more switchbacks take you up through sword fern, snowberry, and thimbleberry. Ignore side trails leading off to the right to reach a powerline corridor. Enter a Douglas-fir wood, and make a traverse along a steep slope. Switchback under a mossy basalt face, and then wind up along the powerline corridor, where you'll get views to Silver Star Mountain on a clear day. At a junction, make a left for a viewpoint (horses must stay right). The view from here to the east and south includes the Prindle Cliffs, Hamilton Mountain, Beacon Rock, Phoca Rock, Multnomah Falls, Mist Falls, Yeon Mountain, and Larch Mountain. Looking west, you'll see the promontory of Cape Horn and the viaduct that carries Highway 14. Continue up from the viewpoint to where a short spur leads left to Pioneer Point, also known as Tipping Tree Point because of the large tree that fell over here with rootball exposed. Views from here are similar to those from the lower viewpoint. See if you can make out Angels Rest, Devils Rest,

Trail Stats

Photos

400px-CapeHornOverlooksMap

400px-CapeHornOverlooksMap

250px-Pholiota_%28Pholiota_sp

250px-Pholiota_%28Pholiota_sp

250px-Reflections

250px-Reflections

250px-FallenTreeViewpoint1

250px-FallenTreeViewpoint1

250px-Trail_sign%2C_Cape_Horn

250px-Trail_sign%2C_Cape_Horn

400px-Upper_Waterfall_Viewpoint%2C_Cape_Horn_Trail

400px-Upper_Waterfall_Viewpoint%2C_Cape_Horn_Trail

Tags