Cispus Braille Trail

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Last modified Feb 11, 2010 01:17 PM

Barrier-free trails are generally designed for folks with mobility concerns-people in wheelchairs or with walking limitations. This unique forest path serves those forest visitors admirably, but it does far more than that. It also opens a wonderful Northwest forest up to the visually impaired. Even hikers who are completely blind can enjoy this remarkable trail.

It's hard to believe this area was leveled twice by forest fires, but it's true. But those fires are in the past, and the forest has recovered beautifully. This barrier-free interpretive trail explores the new forest and explains the changes wrought by the fires, as well as the processes of recovery.

Trail guide pamphlets are available at the Cispus Environmental Center, and the interpretive signs along the route are printed in bold, easy-to-read lettering and in braille. A guide rope is strung along the right side of the trail; it helps the visually impaired move from station to station. The compacted-dirt trail is smooth and free of those toe-grabbing roots so often found on forest trails.

Recent Trip Reports

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There are 1 trip reports for this hike.

Covel Creek #228,Angel Falls Loop #228.2 — May 28, 2007 — Lewis County Novice Hikers with Kids

Day hike

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A great hike for shade and well-maintained trails with views of waterfalls and rock-faces. We learned about it here while we...

A great hike for shade and well-maintained trails with views of waterfalls and rock-faces.

We learned about it here while we were hunting for ideal hikes for starting out with a family:

http://www.nwsource.com/travel/scr/tf_story.cfm?st=694750

We were permitted to park in the Cispus Learning Center maintained by the WA Principal’s Association. Directions and parking maps are available at this website.

http://www.awsp.org/Content/awsp/LearningCenters/Cispus/default.htm

Since the facility is open year-round for school and other groups, we were able to get a trail map, but one could also use Green Trails #333.

The hike is essentially two loops connected like a figure ""8"" so the total hike of 4.5 has very little repeated terrain, yet is never more than two and a half miles from the trailhead. The Cispus Center keeps it very well maintained.

The hike is easy, but does feature some ascent with switchbacks. A quarter of a mile of the hike is at the base of an overhanging rock formation.

The highlight of the trip is the Angel Falls 175 foot fall (pictured). Other falls and footbridges make the whole trip interesting—the trail even goes behind one of the waterfalls.

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Location: Cispus Braille (#228); South Cascades -- Dark Divide; Wentachee National Forest, Naches Ranger District

Average Hike Rating

2.00 out of 5

Based on 3 votes

Featured In...

Day Hiking: South Cascades
by Dan A. Nelson and Alan L. Bauer

To buy the full book, including maps, elevation profiles, photos, and more, visit:

REI
Amazon

A portion of all book sales from the links above benefits WTA and helps protect and maintain our trails.

Roundtrip	1.0 miles
Highest Point	7337 ft

Guidebooks & Maps: South Cascades; Green Trails No. 333 McCoy Peak

Driving Directions

(46.4387, -121.8526) Open in new window

Cispus Braille Trail: 46.4387166667 -121.8526

From Randle, drive 1 mile south on Forest Road 25 and then turn left (east) onto FR 23 (Cispus Road). Continue on FR 23 to its junction with FR 28. Bear right on FR 28, cross the Cispus River, turn right onto FR 76, and continue to the Cispus Environmental Center. Parking is on the left near the Elderberry Lodge.

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