Finally got around to doing the entire loop! When I've come to this trail in the past, it always seems to be during the closure for the falcon nesting (Feb-Jul). The long weekend we had before Christmas was a great time to get outdoors!
We started a little before 10am. There were 4-5 other cars in the parking lot, but way emptier than I've ever seen it before in the summer. As we were starting to get going, another 4 cars pulled in the lot behind us. The forecast of rain doesn't scare many in the PNW!
There are some good maps at the kiosk in the parking lot. Snap a picture with your phone to use as reference while you're on the hike! The whole loop is about 7.4 miles.
We decided to do the trail backwards, since I hadn't gotten to do the lower trail half of the loop before.
We started off going left (through the tunnel under the highway) instead of right. This started us off in the forest for a short time, but we arrived quickly to the country road.
A mile and a half of the lower trail is on the country road. It is a nice stroll through the countryside, with houses and fields and cows. You also get a nice view of the Cape Horn overlook you pass on the highway, but you get to look up to the overlook from below.
We were a little taken aback on the length of time we spent on the road, and kept thinking maybe we missed a turn somewhere. But the spot to continue on the trail is easy to see. It is right before a private driveway gate, and is well marked.
We continued on the trail, and in a short time we were at the waterfall.
It would be pretty easy for someone to drive and park at the end of the country road, then hike the short way to the falls, then back to your car (if the falls is all you want to see).
Honestly, the waterfall isn't much to look at. Perhaps it is more grander when there is a heavier waterflow, but it is not the best feature of this trail. The Cape Horn waterfall is easily overshadowed by the Pool of the Winds/Hardy Falls a short ways away in Beacon Rock State Park.
Continuing on the trail, there were areas with heavy rock slides. The trail is still visible, but you need to be watching your feet to avoid tripping on the rocks.
On the trail, there are several great overlook spots. The highlight of this trail are the wonderful views of the gorge, but also a good variety of scenery on this trail with forest, huge rocks, creeks, and fields.
After we passed back under the highway in the second tunnel, we started seeing the trail come across some horse trails as well. You can take the main trail, or the horse trail - the trails always merge back together after a few hundred feet or so. Some of the horse trails do bypass some of the overlook viewpoints.
Nancy Russell Overlook is well marked. It has a great view, and some nice stone seating areas if you want to rest here for a snack.
After the overlook, the trail merges with a wide gravel road. There is also another potential parking area if you want to bypass the hike and have a easy walk to the Nancy Russell Overlook (on google maps, this parking area is considered the - "Cape Horn Upper Trailhead").
At the end of the gravel road, you hit the paved "Strunk Road." Since we went backwards on the loop, I could see how it would be a little difficult to find the trail again once you hit Strunk Road, but I had made it to the N.R. Overlook before, so I knew where the trail continued. It is in a wooded area by a horse field. There are signs, one also includes a no vehicle/ATV sign. Past these signs, the trail continues in a wide wooded area.
The next viewpoint "Pioneer Point," has some great views of Beacon Rock, Multnomah Falls, and the Cape Horn overlook on the highway. It was pretty cool to be able to look up at that highway stop overlook from below when we were on the country road, then again from above from the upper trail.
The trail continues in the forest. It was a pretty easy hike from there, since it was all downhill on the switchbacks.There are some creek crossings with very nice bridges.
On the way down, we heard a crack and saw a pretty large tree fall. This tree wasn't close to the trail, but it did give us quite a surprise. So please be cautious!
Back at the parking lot, the lot was fuller than we had left, with about a dozen cars. We made it back a little after 1pm, so about 3 and a half hours in total for a leisurely hike.
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