Trail Symbols

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

Trail Guide Symbols

There was a time when trails were built strictly to get people from where they were standing, to somewhere else. These trails often went straight uphill because a straight line is the shortest route between two points.

Unfortunately, these trails sometimes made better routes for water rushing downhill than for hikers trying to reach the top of a ridge.

Now trails are built to get different types of users into the most beautiful and unique areas possible, while protecting the resources. It's the journey as much as the destination that counts.

The following symbols are used throughout this guide to let you know which trails are open to what type of use:

Trail Park

Many trailheads are now designated Trail Parks. These trails are identified with this symbol. The Northwest Forest Pass Program requires a permit to park near designated trailheads. The cost of these permits ranges from 5 dollars for a day use permit to 30 dollars for a season permit. Please see our Northwest Forest Pass Information Page.

Trail Uses

Hikers Permitted on Trail
Horses Permitted on Trail
Bicycles Permitted on Trail
Motorcycles Permitted on Trail
All Terrain Vehicles Permitted on Trail
Barrier Free Trail

Facilities

Parking
Restrooms
Information Station
Family Use
Interpretive Trail
Water
Picnic Area
Camping
Scenery

Trail Difficulty Ratings

Requires limited skill and has little physical challenge. Tread is smooth, level, and wide with generous clearing of trees, limbs, and other vegetation above and to each side of the trail to permit easy passage. Elevation gain or loss is minimal. Streams are most often crossed with bridges.

Requires a moderate skill level and provides a moderate physical challenge. Tread surface contains roots and embedded rocks. Clearing of trees, limbs, and other vegetation above and to each side of the trail results in occasional contact by the users. Elevation gain or loss is moderate. Streams are most often crossed by fords.

Requires a high degree of skill and provides a lot of physical challenge. Tread is seldom graded except on steep side slopes for safety and prevention of soil erosion. Minimal clearing of trees, limbs, and other vegetation results in hampering the progress of the user. Elevation gain or loss is usually severe. Streams are crossed by fording and are sometimes difficult.

Volume of Use (Encounters per day)

Volume Non-wilderness

Light 0-5

Medium 6-15

Heavy 16-50

X Heavy 50+

Volume	Non-wilderness
Light	0-5
Medium	6-15
Heavy	16-50
X Heavy	50+

Some trails may receive heavier use on weekends and holidays. .

	Requires limited skill and has little physical challenge. Tread is smooth, level, and wide with generous clearing of trees, limbs, and other vegetation above and to each side of the trail to permit easy passage. Elevation gain or loss is minimal. Streams are most often crossed with bridges.
	Requires a moderate skill level and provides a moderate physical challenge. Tread surface contains roots and embedded rocks. Clearing of trees, limbs, and other vegetation above and to each side of the trail results in occasional contact by the users. Elevation gain or loss is moderate. Streams are most often crossed by fords.
	Requires a high degree of skill and provides a lot of physical challenge. Tread is seldom graded except on steep side slopes for safety and prevention of soil erosion. Minimal clearing of trees, limbs, and other vegetation results in hampering the progress of the user. Elevation gain or loss is usually severe. Streams are crossed by fording and are sometimes difficult.