PSA: If you are traveling into the Gorge along SR14 on the Washington side, be aware that there is a construction zone with a 40 mph speed limit in the Camas/Washougal area. And if you happen to get stuck behind someone driving 38 mph on that stretch of highway, try not to get frustrated—that person probably got a ticket earlier that morning and doesn’t want to take any chances on the way home. Just sayin’.  

Anyway, the trail is in its full late-spring glory, with abundant columbine and other flowers in bloom. I got to the trailhead a little later than expected (see above) but the crowds had not arrived yet. It’s usually pretty quiet if you get there before 10:00. 

Great little hike even with the Peregrine Falcon closure. We did 5 miles ish out and back found lots of wildflowers blooming and a few chocolate lilies. My son was thrilled that there were horses on the trail. Lots of little spots that could be unsafe for little ones especially towards the edges of overlooks. It was crazy busy but I suppose it was the weekend at a prime time of year. The WTA constructed lookout is an awesome lunch spot.

We arrived at the trailhead mid morning on a Saturday and there was still some parking. The trail ambassadors present were very helpful as we set out. The trail is a steady incline, but we took our time and enjoyed the many, varied wildflowers in bloom. We made our way to the Pioneer Point overlook with the  'tipping tree'. The views were breathtaking. As we had plans, we didn't take time to go on to the next overlook. When we got back to the lot, around noon, the lot was overflowing. 

All in all I would highly recommend this hike!

I did quite a tour around the Gorge trails today, Cape Horn being the third and the last of them. Plenty of parking was available at 5pm. 

Being short of time and physical strength after a long day, I hiked up to the Tipping Tree overlook (1.3 mi from the trailhead) and turned around there. The portion of trail I saw was in perfect shape, though in some places there was obvious water erosion. Probably it could be very wet in certain weather conditions. Views from the overlook are great, and there’re wildflowers blooming here and there. Not many people on the trail, and the overlook is kinda stretched along the cliff, so it’s easy to find your very own quiet spot. 

Note: This is the last week to hike the lower section until July. We hiked this clockwise, using the upper trail first. The fog made the trees ghostly and highlighted the spider webs on the maple tree trunks.

At the top the trail is slippery but easily manageable with trekking poles. The trail has been well brushed so there aren't any branches or blackberry brambles sticking into the trail. We saw a fair amount of dogs on the trail but there is one section on the lower trail that is not dog friendly. Also, you really should keep your dogs on a leash on this trail because of the sheer cliffs.

More information with directions, maps, and photos is at www.eyehike.com