Columbia River Gorge
 Cape Horn Trail

General Information

Christina Brittain photo ©2006.

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BUD QUINN celebrating birthday #83 by hiking CAPE HORN TRAIL on  09/25/06.
Having survived the hike, he nicknamed it Quinn Trail in honor of his accomplishment.

Above: View from Pioneer Point atop Cape Horn Trail bluff in Skamania County, Columbia River Gorge.. The Cape Horn trailhead is just a five minute walk from Quinn Mountain.  

There is a proposal to formalize the already created Cape Horn Trail, which is a diverse trail offering vast open views of the Columbia River Gorge just 25 miles east of the Portland/Vancouver Metropolitan area. Numerous issues regarding safety, accessibility, parking, protection of private property from trespass, highway crossings, etc. must be resolved before the Trail becomes more heavily used by the public at large.

Concerned citizens living in the immediate vicinity of the Cape Horn Trail have formed the Cape Horn Conservancy to share their thoughts and promote safe, practical Trail development in the coming years.

From the existing Cape Horn Overlook along Washington's HWY 14, visitors are treated to one of the most scenic viewpoints in the Gorge, but parking is limited to a narrow strip along the highway. With recent public purchases of hundreds of acres atop Cape Horn, a trail and overlook area could be built to offer a safer and more stunning recreation opportunity for Gorge visitors.

Cape Horn Trail in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

Photo from Friends of the Gorge website at www.gorgefriends.org.

Today, the Cape Horn Trail, is still a primitive trail, beginning at the intersection of Salmon Falls Road and State Highway 14. It takes hikers to the top of the Cape Horn bluff where they will marvel at the expansiveness and beauty of the Gorge.

Go to the Friends of the Gorge website at
http://www.gorgefriends.org/trails/CapeHorn/photo_album.2005-01-07.3995863969
to see pictures taken from Cape Horn Trail and bluff.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT CAPE HORN TRAIL AT THESE LINKS:

FRIENDS OF THE GORGE   
http://www.gorgefriends.org/trails/CapeHorn/