WTA and the Cape Horn Conservancy did a Rake-a-thon for the work party. raking off all leaves to help with drainage and adding water sheds where needed to help standing water run off the low spots on the trail. WTA took on the lower trail segment while the CHC took on the upper segment. 

Also, there was a new bridge added this year to keep hikers out of the mud/out of a little creek(s) that develop during the fall and winter months  

This 7 something mile trail has a lot from, a waterfall to switchbacks, awesome view spots of the Gorge and it’s easy access to the trail head, it’s right off Hwy 14. Cape Horn is great for kids and dogs (as long as the dogs are leashed). Cape Horn is really an everything trail. 

Lastly, the lower segment of the trail is closes from February 1st through July 15th for nesting Peregrine falcons. Still the upper segment is a great in and back out hike with overlooks. 

I hope you add this trail to your hike wish list..... Thanks for reading. 

This is a trail run report.

I ran the Cape Horn trail loop counter clockwise from the standard trail head. Starts off steep, with multiple switchbacks and is unrelenting.  The first mile is the hardest part of the run.  There are great views along the entire trail.  After you get past the switchbacks is where this run really shines.  Consistent low grade downhill for miles with view points every 3/4 of a mile or so.

The section that is the lowest along the Columbia river is challenging because of short sections of rockfall.  I would have walked this section if it were at all wet but on this warm October day I carefully bounced from sharp rock to sharp rock.

Eventually you come to a road and it is a slow and steady uphill from here,which feels perfect at this stage of the run.  The hike had excellent signage and I had no problems navigating.  

What a wonderful trail run. Highly recommended.

Total run time: 1hr 14min

This is an easy 7.7 mile hike. You start the trail with a couple of switch back going uphill. The rest of the rail is pretty easy and smooth. Around this time of the year, the entire trail is open. There are times when the lower end of the trail is closed due to falcons breeding. 

The lower part of the trail has a water falls which you can hike to the back of it and enjoy the cold gentle drops of the fall.

I woke up ridiculously early without meaning to. I eventually gave up on trying to go back to sleep and instead drove out to the Cape Horn trailhead, a thirty minute drive from Vancouver. Just before 7am, my car was the third one in the lot. I had the trail mostly to myself until I began my descent from the first lookout. By then, people were streaming up. Lots of wildflowers along the trail including abundant columbine. Lots of interesting birds, too, which I normally miss because I'm so rarely on trail that early.