Cape Horn, Columbia River Gorge, Washington
Posted by: 
Rose Red
N 45° 34.588 W 122° 11.689
10T E 562820 N 5047307
Quick Description: Less than 30 minutes east from Portland/Vancouver, the Cape Horn Overlook along Washington's State Highway 14 (Milepost 25) provides one of the most scenic viewpoints in the Columbia River Gorge.
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 5/25/2007 2:52:02 PM
Waymark Code: WM1K8M
Views: 154
Long Description:
Less than 30 minutes east from
Portland/Vancouver, the Cape Horn Overlook along Washington's State
Highway 14 (Milepost 25) provides one of the most scenic viewpoints
in the Columbia River Gorge. However the view is only accessible
along a dangerous highway pull out. It is safer to be traveling
eastbound than westbound.
Cape Horn (River Mile (RM) 132) is a
formation of Grande Ronde basalt flows (Columbia River Basalt)--a
massive basalt cliff outcrop--covered by Troutdale gravels, which
in turn are covered by the lavas of the small Biddle Butte (aka
Mount Zion; known as Cape Horn Mountain in 1860s), an olivine
basalt shield volcano cone which rises above Cape Horn.
Standing at the rock wall, on a clear day
you can look upstream towards Beacon Rock and Skamania Island, and
down on Phoca Rock, located in the middle of the Columbia River.
Also looking down you can see the location of Cape Horn Landing,
once steamboat stop on the river. Absolutely
breathtaking!