Such a beautiful hike! I highly recommend it. Got to the TH at around 10am and it was packed, got a good parking spot though, since someone was leaving. The trail didn’t feel crowded like the parking lot was. Restrooms are open!

The trail was a bit muddy in some spots but it wasn’t so bad.

The last portion of the trail was on a road, so that part wasn’t the greatest but still it was a beautiful hike.

Getting there was easy too. Any vehicle can make it (could be sketchy if there is snow/ ice on the road)

Started at the parking lot on Salmon Falls Road and went counterclockwise. Not a lot of people out on a clear weekday morning. A bit muddy in parts, super windy at the viewpoints, and some rocky scramble at the lower elevations. Got soaked by a waterfall, all around great hike, and not too far from home.

Beautiful trail. Started at the right trail junction and it started raining and I did not have rain gear because no rain was predicted for today. Nice trail shower and it kept us cool as we assented the 800 foot slope. The views on this trail are amazing. We did the entire 7.5 mile loop. The trail becomes moderately difficult toward the end because of the scree slopes the rocks were slippery because of the rain. The waterfalls along this trail are beautiful. Once you are through the difficult rocks you will reach Cape Horn Road and it is a little over a mile on this pave uphill road to reach the trail back to the parking lot. This is a not to be missed trail in the Columbia Gorge. If you hike it read about the history of this trail and how it was created. Nancy Russell was a wonderful visionary and this trail would not have been possible with out her. 

I should have known better, but I wanted a quick hike close to home and thought I could avoid any physical distancing debacles by going early on a weekday morning (I arrived before 8am). My mistake! It wasn’t really crowded but definitely busier than normal, and hardly a mask to be seen on any passing hikers. Listen—I’m not a fanatic about masks on trails (although I’m happy to put one on as a courtesy when passing other hikers), but if you are choosing not to carry a mask on trail, you really need to be aware of your surroundings and give people a bit of space. Actually, stopping on narrow sections of trail where others cannot easily pass (or failing to yield to faster hikers) has always been poor etiquette, so if we all just do what has always been considered respectful, we should be fine. 

*pops another zinc lozenge* 

Good news: the narrow, precipitous, and sometimes slippery section of trail leading up to the first viewpoint has been rerouted, so there is now a safer and easier option for people with dogs and little ones besides the way-overgrown horse path. Not sure if WTA was involved in that work, but it looks great!