Angels Rest-Devils Rest Loop Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Angel's Rest Trailhead
- End point: Devil's Rest
- Trail log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: Loop
- Distance: 10.9 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 2770 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: All Season
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: Yes
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Description
This hike explores a couple of waterfalls, a couple of amazing viewpoints and you'll get a good look at a forest regrowing from a 1991 fire.
You'll start at the Angel's Rest Trailhead. The trail starts in a river level forest but quickly begins climbing over open talus slopes with views of Columbia River windsurfers. The trail passes two waterfalls along the way, an overhead view of Coopey Falls and a quick detour on a treacherous side trail to smaller Upper Coopey Falls. After a small bridge over Coopey Creek, the trail switchbacks to the summit of Angel's Rest. The forest expanses surrounding the summit burned in a fire back in 1991, and lots of charred evidence remains. It is a unique landscape - one quite varied from other locales in the Gorge. Another side trail leads out on to the point itself. This side trail is safe enough, but keep an eye on any little ones with you. There are drop-offs near the trail.
This hike pauses at Angel's Rest and then continues on. The main trail switches back from the earlier junction and in 1/4 mile you'll come to a junction with Foxglove Way. Here, the Angel's Rest Trail continues to the left, but for this hike head up the hill on Foxglove Way. This trail is maintained completely by volunteer labor. You may encounter a few trees across the trail or salmonberries encroaching on the path, but in general, the trail is always in pretty good shape. In about a mile, you'll come to a somewhat boggy area filled with tall berry plants and the junction with the Foxglove Trail. You'll head straight ahead here on to the Foxglove Trail. There is a sign saying "Devil's Rest". It's about 0.4 mile up to Devil's Rest from here.
The view from Devil's Rest is completely treed in, but have heart, a great view is near at hand. Just before the summit there's a sign marking the west end of the Devil's Rest Trail (#420C), an official Forest Service trail. Continue eastward on the Devil's Rest Trail and after a short, steep descent, you'll come to a side trail branching to the left just before an obvious survey marker. The side trail leads to a viewpoint including Mount Saint Helens, Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, Skamania Island and the Washington Side of the Columbia River Gorge. Back on the main trail, head east past another viewpoint and a couple of small footbridges. The trail traverses the top of the ridge, then drops down several switchbacks to a junction with two other trails. From here the Wahkeena Trail (#420) leads east to Multnomah Falls. The Vista Point Trail (#419) starts northward to Fairy Falls and Wahkeena Falls. Our hike heads west on the Wahkeena Trail (#420).
You'll drop quickly down to a junction with the Angel's Rest Trail (#415) in about 4/10 of a mile. Go left (west) on the Angel's Rest Trail. You'll soon pass Wahkeena Springs and then you'll begin slowly climbing for a half mile. Then the trail levels out, crosses Mist Creek on a single log bridge and passes the lower junction with Foxglove Trail. 2 1/2 miles from Wahkeena Spring, you'll return to Angel's Rest-Foxglove Way Trail Junction. Follow the Angel's Rest Trail past Angel's Rest and down the hill to your car.
Note for families: While, there is plenty of space to avoid danger at the viewpoints, it should be noted to keep little ones close by to avoid them getting too close to the cliffside drop-offs. As one, somewhat nervous woman pointed out "There are no handrails".
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- None
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Angel's Rest
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Angel's Rest
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Hiking Oregon's Geology, by Ellen Morris Bishop
- Day Hike! Columbia Gorge, by Seabury Blair, Jr.
- Afoot and Afield Portland/Vancouver, by Douglas Lorain
- 35 Hiking Trails, Columbia River Gorge, by Don & Roberta Lowe
- Columbia River Gorge, 42 Scenic Hikes, by Don & Roberta Lowe
- Hiking the Columbia River Gorge - 1st and 2nd Editions, by Russ Schneider
- 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon - 3rd Edition, by William L Sullivan
More Links
- Article on the Angel's Rest hike from the Oregonian
- Angel's Rest Hike #7 on NWHiker.com
- LocalHikes: Angel's Rest