Parking
From SR 14 near milepost 38 in North Bonneville, turn onto Dam Access Road. At the T, turn right, then take the first left into the Fort Cascades National Historic Site parking area.
Overview
About Fort Cascades Trail
Why go
- Fourteen stops connect Indigenous portage, fort, town, and railroad history.
Heads up
- Root-lifted pavement; the railroad display sits up a short hill.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Columbia River Gorge map
Full mapElevation17–66 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Columbia River Gorge alerts
- ClosureEagle Creek Fire area closureDo not enter Oneonta Gorge or the specified trail sections because hazards remain following the Eagle Creek Fire.Official details
- CautionAircraft and drone restrictions at developed recreation sitesAircraft and drone landings, drop-offs, and pickups are prohibited at six high-use developed recreation sites to protect visitor safety.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Columbia River Gorge Tour Guide
Your drive to Fort Cascades Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Fort Cascades Historic Site0:00 / 0:30
“You're approaching Fort Cascades Historic Site, where a mile-and-a-half riverside loop traces a vanished portage town.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Columbia River Gorge Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Bradford Island Visitor Center
- Bonneville Fish Hatchery
- Wahclella Falls Trailhead
- Washington Shore Visitor Center at Bonneville Dam
- 217 audio storiesacross Columbia River Gorge’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bald Eagle, Black Bear, American Pika, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 111 trails, 78 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Fort Cascades Trail
A short history loopFort Cascades Trail is an easy, 1.
Fort Cascades Trail is an easy, 1.5-mile loop through the historic site beside the Columbia River, downstream of Bonneville Dam. Fourteen numbered stops trace an Indigenous fishing and trading place and portage around the Cascade Rapids, then the military fort, the town of Cascades, and its portage railroad. This is a history walk with the river along much of the route, not a strenuous day hike.
Follow the river and the sitesThe path is mostly level.
The path is mostly level. At the 1894 flood stop, it dips to the flood edge, where the river stripped soil from the ground and exposed boulders. Another stop marks the rocks that channeled fish toward the former fishwheel. Other markers cover the fort, townsite, a petroglyph replica, and the old portage routes. A short rise reaches the former railroad grade, where original wheels and narrow-gauge track remain.
Start at the historic siteAllow about an hour to read the stops.
Allow about an hour to read the stops. Begin at the Fort Cascades National Historic Site parking area off Dam Access Road. Roots have lifted parts of the pavement, and the railroad display is up a short hill. Dogs are allowed on leash; no permit is required. Poison oak grows beside the path, so stay on the marked route. Follow the historic loop rather than continuing onto the longer Columbia Trail network.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Columbia River Gorge
267 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
51 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
136 sightingsAmerican PikaMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
16 sightingsWapitiMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
195 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
74 sightingsChinook SalmonMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Columbia River Gorge. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
