I was excited to do this hike because it seems like it has a little bit of everything, but unfortunately due to the Peregrine Falcons in the area the lower half of the trail is closed off to ensure their habitat isn't disturbed, and so they keep coming back. This part of the trail will be closed until July 15th. It looks like this is an annual closure. As for the trail, I hiked up to the lookout, 2.5 miles round trip from the Park & Ride. There was one muddy crossing over a creek, and a section on the upper third of the trail that was a little loose and muddy, but other than that, for a winter hike it was great! Got to the top and was stuck in the low cloud cover, even though on the drive to the trailhead I could see Mt. Hood the majority of the time. I hiked this with my dog, and came across one person on the way down, but other than that we were alone. I will definitely be making another trip back here someday! Looks like a great summertime hike.

We fully enjoyed experiencing the Cape Horn Trail and can understand it's appeal. The trailhead parking was overflowing when we arrived at 10:30am. The camaraderie was palpable though, in the line at the toilet and along the trail. Everyone seemed tolerant, upbeat, and friendly. Probably because it was Saturday, the sun was out, and a "Re-Pete" was still plausible. We were a bit apprehensive about the detailed route descriptions on this site and the Portland Hiker's Guide. However, we found plenty of signs, well-used paths, and no need to look for obscure directional clues. Common sense and the kindness of strangers resolved any confusion. Words of advice: 1) Don't bother following a "horse trail" sign unless you are actually on a horse; 2) All trails marked "viewpoint" still lead back to the main trail. The loop trail is bisected by the highway. We took the loop counter=clockwise with the first half of the hike "above" the highway. Enjoyable views and wide portions of trail in the upper half. After crossing through a pedestrian tunnel under the highway, we began the lower portion of the trail. The route became much more sketchy, narrow, and rocky, but most enjoyable for the nearness to the Columbia and the waterfall. In retrospect, we wished we'd taken our lunch break before we hit the lower trail though, as its narrowness and exposure to extreme winds precluded a leisurely stop. The lower trail spits out onto a paved side road a mile or so below the main highway and trailhead parking. No traffic on this road during our walk back to the car. Just a pleasant stroll past farmhouses and pastures, through another pedestrian tunnel, and to the still=full lot. Well worth it - even with a crowd. We'll never forget the views or the roaring wind which sounded like surf and tore our caps off!

Pleasant trail run on New Years day. Great views, not too crowded. Some areas were easy to slip due to mud and ice around the waterfalls.

How this trail has changed since my first visit in 2010! My first foray up the upper trail was a muddy, steep affair. Now, turnpikes and switchbacks have made quite a difference on the hike up to the viewpoints at the top of Cape Horn. I am very appreciative of the many work parties that took place on this trail, and I have watched in admiration from a distance, so it was a thrill to see the upper trail "tamed" so to speak. The parking area was full at noon. This trail certainly is popular, and we saw lots of fellow hikers out today. We started with an ascent of the upper trail and took a counterclockwise loop. Pacific banana slugs were out and so were lancetooth snails--it was a banner day for molluscs. There were even a few European brown slugs crawling around. Fleabanes and pearly everlasting are in bloom but past their prime. Bigleaf maple leaves are falling, giving the trail some color. Mushrooms abound, especially Russula and Lepiota species. It was cloudy, but the rains stayed away, and there were excellent views of the Gorge, all the way to Beacon Rock. The trail is in good condition. There is one blowdown on the lower trail, which required ducking under or climbing over. Signage is clear. Some spots are slightly muddy or slippery, but there are no puddles or mudholes. Our circuit took 5 hours, including breaks for lunch and too many photos.

This is a beautiful hike! I highly recommend it! Gorgeous views and easy to navigate. There were lots of kids and it seems like it'd be a great place for a family day hike. Not too crowded for a holiday hike.