Angel’s Rest makes for an excellent Portland area day hike, and the Foxglove Way extension enriches this popular hike with more views. One of the most easily accessible and most rewarding hikes on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge, Angel's Rest is just a short drive from the city. It cuts a striking profile, rising 1,600 feet over the Columbia Gorge, and hikers can enjoy breathtaking views of the Columbia, southwest Washington, and several Cascade peaks from prominent bluff at the summit that allows a full 270-degree view.
The main out-and-back hiking trail offers hikers a moderately steep approach to the summit. Along the way hikers will encounter a diverse range of forest and plant life, thanks in part to a 1991 wildfire that cleared the way for wildflowers to bloom while also revealing new viewpoints. Ferns, trillium, larkspur, and Solomon's seal dot the trail as you cross over Coopey Falls and Coopey Creek on your way to the Angel’s Rest summit.
The summit offers panoramic views of the Columbia Gorge, including Beacon Rock and Silver Star Mountain, and it is the perfect place to rest and enjoy some sunshine and a bite to eat. If you have the time before heading back, the additional 2.4-mile Foxglove Way loop is a great choice for anyone hoping to tack on a bit more hiking, or for anyone just wanting to see a little bit more of this beautiful terrain.
From Angel's Rest proper, return past the junction that heads down to the trailhead and hike uphill on the established path. The upper hiking loop option will take you on a densely wooded path that leads up to 2,100 feet and also provides the option of hiking out to Devil's Rest. As you meander along, notice the star-flowered Solomon's seal in late spring. Stop for a break by the creekside campsite, complete with a picnic table, before finishing the hiking loop that returns you to the Angel's Rest summit for final views of the Columbia River Gorge before your return trip.
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