Hiking the Cascade Head Rainforest Trail
- Radford Bean
- Aug 3
- 2 min read
7/18/2026—My friend Stephanie and I set out to hike the Cascade Head Rainforest Trail. It’s a trail she hikes at least twice a year, but for me it was my first time. She informed me that the trail isn’t very scenic, but it would give me a good workout. She was right; it wasn’t a scenic trail. There were no waterfalls or wildlife to see from the trail. However, there was a variety of different plants and fungi to see—a botanist’s and mycologist’s goldmine. And if you enjoy eating wood sorel (sp. Oregon oxalis), which I do, the forest floor was covered by the plant
The 6.9-mile trail begins climbing immediately from the trailhead and eventually climbs a little over 1,200 feet before reaching the Forest Service road out to Cascade Head and Hart’s Cove—the road is currently closed due to a slide. Some of the narrow trail requires caution in spots to avoid slipping off the trail and falling hundreds of feet.
Our hike took us past some towering Douglas fir trees, including some I’m sure are old growth judging by the girth of their trunks. Red elderberry trees were everywhere in the forest. Unlike black elderberries, which are edible, red elderberries are toxic to human consumption. During the first mile of the hike, we spotted red huckleberries and salmonberry—both are edible and tasty. A boardwalk takes hikers over a swampy section inhabited by skunk cabbage, some of which are the tallest skunk cabbage I have ever seen.
Numerous species of mushrooms border the trail. We spotted delicate angel wing mushrooms—highly poisonous—and sulfur tuft mushrooms—also poisonous. The white fruiting body of angel wing mushrooms is very soft and delicate to the touch. Sulfur tuft mushrooms grow in bunches and are tiny, yellowish brown, and about the diameter of a dime. There are a wide variety of fungi species along the trail, both ground and tree clinging varieties.
We took a break upon reaching the Forest Service road and talked about doing the rest of the trail another time. The northern leg takes hikers to Hwy 101.
Descending the last mile of our hike was hard on my left knee, as I had to step over tree roots and step down large height gaps in the trail surface. Descending trails always seem to be more punishing on my knees than ascending trails. Numerous exposed tree roots required paying attention to the trail surface to avoid tripping on the roots. My right knee that has less cartilage following knee surgery handled the descent much better.
Stephanie and I were exhausted by the time we reached my truck. The Cascade Head Rainforest Trail wasn’t the most picturesque or interesting, but it did give me the workout I was looking for. One trail down, many more ahead.
Sulfur Tuft Mushrooms Angel Wing Mushrooms Trail Footbridge Large Deer Fern Cascade Head Rainforest Trail Large Skunk Cabbage
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