Angel’s Rest (Columbia Gorge)
Published 9:00 pm Friday, May 27, 2005
What: A short, moderately steep hike to one of the best views in the lower Columbia River Gorge.
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Where: Follow I-5 south to Vancouver, take I-205 to I-84 and follow I-84 about 25 miles east to Exit 28 and the Historic Columbia River Highway 30. The parking area for the Angel’s Rest Trail 415 is on the right, 100 feet above sea level; a quieter overflow parking lot is just west on the Columbia Highway, uphill to the left, 150 feet above sea level.
Length: 4.4 miles round trip
Beginning elevation: 100 feet
Highest elevation: 1,640 feet
Maps: USGS Bridal Veil; Green Trails Bridal Veil No. 428.
Notes: Save this hike for a weekend, then head to the Columbia Gorge to climb to Angel’s Rest. The path is steep in places, but worth it on a clear day that will provide a vista including more than 40 miles of the river that carried Lewis and Clark to journey’s end. Look carefully to the east, and you may see 12,000-foot Mount Adams peeking above the distant hills.
The hike begins on a forested hillside and climbs east across a rocky slope before a descending to a footbridge that crosses Coopey Creek, 0.7 miles from the trailhead. The creek is the only source of water. Once across, the trail begins to climb in earnest, switching back to a viewpoint overlooking the Columbia River Gorge, 1.4 miles from the trailhead. As you continue to climb, you’ll begin to see wider views of the river below and the scenery up and down the Columbia. The final switchbacks cross big flat blocks of stone scattered on the hillside, but the path is easy to follow. You’ll climb to a trail junction where the main trail turns south and climbs along the crest of a rocky cliff. Turn north, or left, to scramble along a way trail and finally pull yourself up on top of a wide, flat rock that is Angel’s Rest.
Permits: None for Angel’s Rest Trailhead; leashed pets permitted.
More information: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, 541-308-1700.
Seabury Blair Jr.
Several books on hiking in the Northwest have been written by Seabury Blair Jr., including “Day Hike! Columbia Gorge” from Sasquatch Books.
