Cape Horn
Cape Horn Trail is a 5.3 miles trail in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Washington and Oregon. The Forest Service rates it trail class 3, developed. The forest has not published allowed uses for it.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 45.5894, -122.1789 · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 45.5761, -122.1920 · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 3 segments.
The trail
| Length | 5.3 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 10-12 percent |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Minimum width | 18 inches |
| Accessibility | Evaluated and does not meet accessibility guidelines |
| Trail numbers | 4418 |
| Forest | Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (unit 0622) |
| States | Washington, Oregon |
| Detail published | basic characteristics |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Trailheads
The Forest Service recreation layer records no trailhead within a third of a mile of this trail's line. Many trails start from a road pullout or another trail with no trailhead record. The forest's recreation pages list the trailheads it does publish.
Camping nearby
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land outside posted closures. The forest office has the current rules.
Fire nearby
- WildfireHigh Lava
21 mi from the trail midpoint · 2,899 acres · 80% contained
- WildfireThe Narrows
30 mi from the trail midpoint · 305 acres · 98% contained
- WildfireGrasshopper
40 mi from the trail midpoint · 93,996 acres · 98% contained
- WildfireAustin
40 mi from the trail midpoint · 12,866 acres · 98% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
Explore
Park units nearby
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Cape Horn Trail?
5.3 miles, the sum of the 3 segments the Forest Service records under this name in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Cape Horn Trail?
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area has not published allowed uses for this trail. The forest office can say what is open.
Source: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area official page
Where does the Cape Horn Trail start?
The line begins at 45.5894, -122.1789 and ends at 45.5761, -122.1920. No Forest Service trailhead is recorded within a third of a mile of it. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Cape Horn Trail in a wilderness area?
No. The trail line does not cross any polygon in the National Wilderness Preservation System layer.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Where can I camp near the Cape Horn Trail?
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land outside posted closures. The forest office has the current rules.
Source: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area official page
How developed is the Cape Horn Trail?
Trail class 3, which the Forest Service describes as developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Cape Horn Trail?
The typical grade is 10-12 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Cape Horn Trail accessible?
No. The Forest Service evaluated it and found it does not meet its accessibility guidelines.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Cape Horn Trail?
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Forest Service unit 0622. The trail is in Washington and Oregon.
Source: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area official page
Is there a fire near the Cape Horn Trail?
4 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-09-18, the nearest High Lava at 21 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 3 segments named CAPE HORN in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0622. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed September 17, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.