Our route begins at the Angel's Rest Trailhead. If you arrive to find the parking lot full, don't worry, as there is usually additional parking available if you continue up Palmer Mill Road. Keep in mind, though, this is a busy area, so parking isn't guaranteed. Unfortunately, this area is known for car break-ins, so ensure your vehicle is tidy and free of valuables.

We'll start by climbing up to Angel's Rest, an iconic route among Portland-area runners that's always worth the effort. Depending on the day, you'll likely be navigating around hikers for the first two miles, but we'll soon find solitude. The initial climb gains about 1500 feet in those first two miles, so we'll definitely earn those views. Along the way, it's worth making the short detour to Upper Coopey Falls within the first mile.

The trail crosses Coopey Creek on a footbridge and begins a series of switchbacks, initially through forest, then opening up to expansive Gorge views along rocky terrain as it steadily climbs. At the top, you'll reach what appears to be a "T" intersection. To the left is the Angel's Rest viewpoint, and to the right, our route continues. The viewpoint is well worth visiting if you've never been (and even if you have). Just hold onto your hat, as it often experiences the full force of Gorge winds.

Return to the intersection and continue up the trail. Soon we'll encounter another intersection where we'll keep right. At this point, the number of other trail users will diminish significantly, especially on the trails we're taking. In a very short distance, the trail makes a sharp turn. At this turn, you'll notice another trail blocked by a log, suggesting it might be the wrong path. However, this is exactly the trail we're following, called Lily's Lane. Step over the cut log and enjoy Lily's Lane, a relatively flat and occasionally descending trail. There are a few spots where vegetation slightly encroaches on the path, but overall it's in good condition.

We will pass a junction with Devil's Fork on our right, but we will continue straight, soon rejoining Angel's Rest Trail. There is currently one large log across Angel's Rest Trail.  It's one of those awkward ones that's a little too low to crawl under and a bit cumbersome to scramble over.  We opted to go over and it was fairly painless. At this point you are going to be wanting to keep your eye out for a trail that goes up the hillside on our right. This is Primrose Path.  It's a hell of a climb (devil pun). It rewards you with some great views of the Gorge through the charred canopy. 

After just a quarter mile, we'll reach an intersection with Devil's Cutoff. We'll continue climbing, following the arrowed sign for Primrose Path. As you head upward, you'll notice a trail branching to the left and another continuing straight uphill. We'll continue straight up on the aptly named Devil's Slide, which maintains the punishing climb. Fortunately, it's only a short distance more to the top. We'll pass the return junction of Primrose Path on our left but continue straight until we emerge at the backside of Devil's Rest. Here you'll find an iconic West Gorge landmark, a handmade sign adorned with a devilish character named "Nog" riding a slide. The sign reads, "A Pox On He Who Vandals Me." The perfect embodiment of this quirky trail network. 

Coming over the summit of Devil's Rest, we'll head right and then quickly turn left onto the She Devil trail. This is the start of those lush, spongey, fairytale-like trails I promised in the intro. Truly primo stuff. After just a brief moment on She Devil, take the sharp left onto Little Devil (seriously, how cool are these signs?), which after about a quarter mile intersects with The Way.

We'll turn right onto The Way. This trail is marked by old tin-can lids painted with yin and yang symbols. You'll also notice a puzzling sign reading "University of Michigan Biological Station Property." Despite my best research efforts, I can't determine the reason behind this sign. Land ownership records show no evidence that the University of Michigan owns land in this area (or anywhere else in Oregon, for that matter). The sign is clearly old, as indicated by its rusted patina, but the mystery remains unsolved.

After just a half mile, The Way rejoins the She Devil Trail. At this point, if you've spent time in the West Gorge, you've likely seen signs for She Devil and Little Devil, and perhaps you've even run short stretches of them. But this next trail we're about to take is where the real solitude begins.

After another half mile on She Devil, we'll come across a trail branching off to our right. According to some maps, this trail is named "Oil Pan / Vacuum Cleaner Trail," and you can probably guess why. I absolutely love this trail. It feels like someone just gently raked a path through the forest. The trail is incredibly soft and squishy, almost like running on a foam pad. With moss-covered trees lining a narrow dirt track weaving through carpets of green, the experience is nothing short of dreamy. The winding path has that special quality that effortlessly quiets your mind. I honestly can't think of another trail that puts me into a flow state faster.

Now, about that unusual trail name: scattered along the way are pieces of an old vacuum cleaner of unknown vintage. Apparently, there's also an oil pan somewhere nearby, but I'm not much of a car guy, so your guess is as good as mine.

After crossing some non-USFS standard footbridges, we'll find a trail to our right called Bullet Car Trail. This trail leads to—you guessed it—an old, wrecked car riddled with bullet holes. Once again, its history is a mystery, but it's clearly been there for quite some time. The trail descends, crossing a few more creeks on crudely fashioned footbridges. After one of these bridges, there is a faint trail to our right; be sure to follow the map closely, as it’s easy to miss. As a side note, the main trail eventually dead-ends at a cliff band above the Angel's Rest hiking area.

This short trail has grown in significantly since my first visit, reflecting its limited use. On the day we visited the bullet car, beautiful miniature daffodils were making their spring debut. After seeing the car, retrace your steps and rejoin the Oil Pan / Vacuum Cleaner Trail.

Continuing along this trail, we'll pass a few paths that might look like trails but lead nowhere. Soon, the trail begins descending down the hillside on an old roadbed, eventually emerging onto Palmer Mill Road. This portion of Palmer Mill Road is behind a barricade and is slowly being reclaimed by nature. Just ahead, you’ll notice large concrete jersey barriers.

At this point, you can follow Palmer Mill Road back to your car. However, if you're up for a bit more adventure, I highly recommend the side trip to Upper Bridal Veil Falls. As mentioned earlier, this social path is steep and slippery, making it challenging, especially in wet conditions. However, it rewards you with one of the most stunning waterfalls in the Gorge.

As you continue down Palmer Mill Road, look carefully for a faint user trail to your left. This is another spot where you'll want to closely reference the provided GPX file. The trail heads straight down the hillside. On our recent visit between rain showers, this section was exceptionally slippery. As you descend, you'll soon glimpse the broad waterfall to your left.

When you reach Bridal Veil Creek, follow the creek upstream for a closer view. Upper Bridal Veil Falls is truly spectacular, cascading into an expansive amphitheater that you’ll likely have all to yourself. I could easily spend an entire day here, simply soaking in the beauty at the water's edge.

After you've fully enjoyed Upper Bridal Veil Falls, make the strenuous climb back up to Palmer Mill Road. From there, it’s only about a mile of gentle gravel road descent back to your car. I hope you've thoroughly enjoyed your journey through Foxglovia.