OregonWildflowers  Locations  Cape Horn

Cape Horn

Description

Start your hike at the trailhead across from the Park and Ride lot, on the west side of Salmon Falls Road. Take the right fork for the "Upper Trail". The flowers start immediately: False Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum racemosum), Hooker's Fairy Bells (Disporum hookeri), Candyflower (Claytonia sibirica), Fringecup (Tellima grandiflora), Pacific Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum tenuipes), Piggy-Back Plant (Tolmiea menziesii), Pacific Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa), and Large-Leaved Avens (Geum macrophyllum).

Cross a small stream and start climbing gradually on a series of generally well-graded switchbacks. The Delphinium starts here, and continues for most of your hike. You will also see more of all of the previously-listed flowers, including Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus), Fairy Lanterns (Disporum smithii), False Lily-of-the-Valley (Maianthemum dilatatum), Inside-Out Flower (Vancouveria hexandra), Trailing Blackberry (Rubus ursinus), and Red Columbine (Aquilegia formosa).

After a few switchbacks, you will walk through one of several impressive "Delphinium forests". As you climb beyond that point, watch for Starry Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum stellatum), Yellow Violet (Viola glabella), Red Baneberry (Actaea rubra), and Redwood Sorrel (Oxalis oregana).

In approximately one mile, you will reach a trail junction marked "viewpoint" and "horses". Go left for a 250 foot detour to the Pioneer Point viewpoint. This is partially obstructed but still worth seeing on a clear day. The east-facing view includes Hamilton Mountain, Beacon Rock, Multnomah Falls, and Mist Falls. You can either retrace your steps to the trail junction, or continue up a rooty "trail" to rejoin the main trail.

On the main trail you will continue to see profuse amounts of everything. Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) also blooms along this section of trail. Descend gradually to an old road and follow it for approximately 200 feet before angling left uphill again. The trail climbs gradually and emerges from the forest to cross Strunk Road. Follow the trail which parallels the road in a grassy field, then turn right at the gate onto the gravel road. After approximately 1/3 mile, go left at the trail sign and proceed to the Nancy Russell Viewpoint. This is a wonderful place to stop, rest, and enjoy the view, before retracing your steps.

Alternatively, if you are doing a car shuttle, backtrack 100 feet from the viewpoint and turn left at the trail sign (well before returning the previously-mentioned gravel road). The trail descends relatively gradually for 0.8 mile down to Highway 14. Along the way, you will pass Phoca Viewpoint, named thusly for its view of Phoca Rock in the Columbia River. Near this spot you will see patches of Toughleaf Iris (Iris tenax).

Continue your descent to the highway, passing through another Delphinium forest. Small-Flowered Tiger Lily (Lilium columbianum) blooms along this stretch, as well as everything previously-listed. However, watch out for Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) which lie in wait for unsuspecting hikers who like to swing their arms a bit too forcefully!

You will eventually descend to a tunnel that passes beneath the highway. Continue another 0.2 mile to a trail junction, and turn right for the upper trailhead along Highway 14. You will pass through another wonderful Delphinium forest en route to your car.

Directions

If you can bring two cars to do a car shuttle, the "upper" parking area is on Highway 14 approximately 5 miles east of Washougal, before you reach the Cape Horn roadside viewpoint. Look for a large parking pullout on the right/south side of the highway (N 45° 34.380 W 122° 11.976).

Please consider carpooling or using Skamania County's West End Transit shuttle, which runs from the Fisher's Landing Transit Center in Vancouver to the Salmon Falls Park and Ride at the Cape Horn trailhead.

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