In the past few years, the Cape Horn Loop Trail has become one of the best-known "unknown" trails in the Columbia Gorge. This user-created trail is already making its way into hiking books and websites. Now, the U.S. Forest Service is conducting a planning process for the trail.

With the recent public purchases of hundreds of acres on top of Cape Horn now, an official trail and overlook area above the Cape Horn highway pull out can provide a safer and more stunning recreation opportunity for Gorge lovers.

The top of Cape Horn was originally planned as a subdivision in the 1980's. Spurred on by Friends' Founder Nancy Russell, the Trust for Public Land (TPL) bought 12 of the 16 lots, effectively stopping the subdivision.  The U.S. Forest Service then bought the land from TPL.  Columbia Land Trust purchased two properties in 2001, and with a 2004 U.S. Forest Service purchase, a loop was created by trail enthusiasts, making the area accessible to the public.

In 2006, Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust purchased the one developed lot from the subdivision and secured an option to purchase the other privately held rim view property. Friends' Campaign for Cape Horn raised over $4.11 million to secure the properties and provide a public overlook that will honor Nancy Russell.

For scenic beauty and recreation access, there is no other place like it on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge.

Click here for photos of Cape Horn

What You Can Do to Help.

Contact the U.S. Forest Service's National Scenic Area office and ask them to:

• Make the Cape Horn Trail an official Forest Service trail, keeping the full loop trail.

Dan Harkenrider
Area Manager
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
902 Wasco Ave., Ste. 200
Hood River, OR 97031
FAX: 541 386-1916