BRIDAL VEIL, Ore. — Angel's Rest Trail reopened Thursday morning after it was closed last week due to a reported encounter between a cougar and a hiker running the trail, the U.S. Forest Service reported.
Angels Rest Trail had been closed to tourists since June 12, a day after the U.S. Forest Service received a report that a cougar had followed a trail runner down the path and become aggressive.
"The trail runner encountered this cougar, and it actually attempted to take a swipe at the runner with its paw," said Beth Quillian of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The trail runner was not hurt and was able to make it safely down the trail.
Quillian said this is a rare encounter. Cougars are "generally elusive and normally don't want to be around people," she said, "but wildlife can be unpredictable."
The initial encounter happened on June 11. It wasn't the first time a cougar was spotted in the Columbia River Gorge this month. According to the Skamania County Communications Center, a hiker on the Cook Hill Loop reported a cougar near the trail on June 6.
There have been no reported sightings of a cougar since June 11. As long as that doesn't change, Angel's Rest Trail will stay open.
For more information from the U.S. Forest Service, reach out to 541-308-1700 with questions or concerns.
What to do if you encounter a cougar
If you do come across a cougar or mountain lion on a trail, the U.S. Forest Service advises that you do the following:
- Do not run.
- Make eye contact with the animal.
- Appear large by raising arms.
- Do not bend over.
- Make loud noises by shouting, waving and throwing objects.