WTA and Cape Horn Conservancy Volunteers have been working on a long reroute to move the existing trail off of sensitive habitat. It was one of the projects the Forest Service put into the Recreation Plan for the Trail when they decided to adopt the user-created route. Weather permitting we will open the new route on January 18th 2014 and begin restoring parts of the old trail that will be abandoned. Below is a map showing the change. No doubt the change will be met with a mixture of responses. Some will miss the trail the way it was, others will see the reroute as an improvement. In a nutshell, the reason for the reroute was to move the trail off of talus slopes, seep areas and away from cliff edges. They were concerned about safety and ongoing impacts to plants an animals in those unique habitat areas. During the planning process that occurred mostly in 2009, WTA, Friends of the Gorge and the Cape Horn Conservancy advocated vigorously for keeping viewpoints available. While the original Forest Service design would have moved entirely away from the cliff south of Hwy 14 - we were able to convince them to retain two popular spots with a "T" spur. (see map) The Forest Service designed the corridor of what we've come to call the "western reroute", but WTA was responsible for design details and construction. In accordance with the Forest Service Rec. Plan the portion above the switchbacks is built to accommodate equestrians (intended to be part of a Equestrian/Hiker route to Washougal in the future). Descending the first switchback marks a transition to a hiker-only Class 1 (primitive trail) that we've designed with steep sections, rock steps and tight switchbacks. Please help spread the word throughout the hiking community so folks aren't too confused when they next hike the trail.

First time Hiking the full loop. we had a blast and highly recommend it. Looking to hike it again in august or September.

This is a good hike that keeps getting better and better. It is good because it has grand views and is close to Vancouver. It keeps getting better because of the extensive work done by WTA, the Cape Horn Conservancy, and the U.S. Forest Service. The hike features spectacular views of the Colombia River Gorge from the top and bottom of the Cape Horn cliffs. While many Gorge hikes offer views of the Columbia River from lofty elevations, this hike also offers views from bluffs near the water. Since I first hiked the loop in 2006, trailhead parking has been added, parts of the trail have been rerouted with steps added to steeper sections, the Nancy Russel Overlook was built, the section at the top no longer crosses farmland, and tunnels under the highway have been added eliminating “run for your life” dashes across the road. Recently, a bridge was built across the stream, proving safer footing and much improved views of the Cape Horn Waterfall. Going counterclockwise gives the best views of the Gorge since you will be looking at them as you descend the slopes. The trail leading from highway 14 up to the upper viewpoints is in excellent condition, and the trail dropping back to the highway is generally in good condition. The trail below the highway zigzags down and across a steep talus slope. Good hiking boots with ankle support are a boon as you navigate across the lengthy sections of rocks. The last mile of the hike is a gentle climb through farmland complete with goats. I hiked this after several days of fall storms. There were four newly-downed trees on the trail, and two were especially challenging to negotiate. They were on steep muddy slopes and had root balls, trunks, and branches on the trail. Hopefully they will be taken care of soon.

WTA and Cape Horn Conservancy Volunteers were hard at work today finishing the construction on a set of steps leading down to the Oak Viewpoint. Thank you to the volunteers as well as the Jubitz Foundation which awarded a grant to pay for the materials.

Volunteers from WTA and the Cape Horn Conservancy are constructing a set of step that will lead to the Oak Viewpoint on the lower section of the Cape Horn Trail. It is south of Hwy 14 just before the trail begins to descend. For the next couple of days the area will be tricky to negotiate since we've dug up a part of the trail. You can still hike the route, just use caution as you follow the current route around the steps section. Unfortunately, vandals pulled out the direction sign near the viewpoint making it hard for those unfamiliar with the area to find their way onto the right trail. A second project in the works is a long reroute that when completed will replace the current trail and bypass a series of switchbacks through a talus slope. Moving the current trail off of the talus area satisfies a requirement of the Forest Service Recreation Plan for the trail as the talus is home to the Larch Mt. Salamander - a sensitive species of concern for the agency. We expect to complete the reroute by the end of this season and begin to decommission the section to be abandoned just prior to the falcon closure. The Oak viewpoint and the nearby Fir Tree "lunch spot" will remain part of the official trail, but rather than being waypoints on the main route, they will be the ends of a "T" spur trail.