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Getting There
I got a late start so I wanted to pick a hike that was close to home. I've only got one hike in this month (for the WA Trails Association's August Hike-A-Thon). The wildfire smoke has been bad in the area so I've been exercising caution instead of my legs. (ba-dum-clank).
I thought about heading to Archer Mountain but figured I'd check the Cape Horn Trailhead parking lot. I even thought if the main parking lot, I'd drive down Cape Horn Road and park there. (Good thing I didn't because there's is maybe room for one car - no parking in the turnaround).
I was surprised to find the parking lot less than 1/2 full. Bizarre for a weekend at this time of day. Guess folks are still staying away from smokey areas. I parked, geared up and set out.
The Hike
Distance: 6.63 mi
Elevation Gain: 1,401 ft
Moving Time: 2:35:15
Avg Pace: 23:25
Calories: 1,368
Total Time: 2:49:35
I wanted to
see the lower section of the trail which is typically closed from Feb 1
- July 15 as it’s a nesting site for the Peregrine Falcon. According to
the Forest Service (fa.usda.gov), they’ve returned here for 100 years
and probably more.
I opted for the clockwise loop. The first 1.4
mi is on Cape Horn Road with views of the river and highway lookout
above. The actual trail starts just before a gate and private property.
There’s really no parking down here.
My new pack interferes with
my wide brimmed hat so I had to take it off. Fortunately it’s shade most
of the way. There are some gorgeous viewpoints that are well-marked
along the way and I made sure to stop at Cape Horn Falls. Except for the
viewpoints there are designations for horses.
The trail is not
particularly steep thanks to the long switchbacks. There’s a tunnel
under Hwy 14 so no need to worry about crossing a busy road. Once I got
to Strunk Road it’s pretty much downhill. I checked out the viewpoints
on the northeast side before zigzagging down to the trailhead.
