Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail

The Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail is a state park in the U.S. state of Oregon. It contains several sections of the Historic Columbia River Highway, which runs on the Columbia River Gorge Oregon side. The sections unconnected Highway State Trail are closed to motorized traffic and released only for pedestrians, cyclists and other non- motorized road users. The traffic runs over the modern Interstate 84 Currently, the 105 -acre State Trail includes 16 km of the former highways.

Plant

A section is 8 km long twin tunnel segment between Hood River and Mosier, passing through two different climate zones. It is accessible from both sides with parking facilities and information boards at the west end there is a visitor center. Usage is subject to charges. The eastern section at Mosier performs semi- arid area with Ponderosa pines to the highway leading into the tunnel. On the other side of the tunnel, the highway leads through a pine forest. Several vantage points offer a panorama of the Columbia River Gorge.

The other, about 8 km accessible paved section runs parallel to Interstate 84 between Cascade Locks and the Bonneville Dam. This section performs a completely different environment because it gets twice as much rainfall as the Twin Tunnels area. Ferns, moss-covered rocks and numerous wildflowers flank the almost 4 km long section between Cascade Locks and the Eagle Creek Fish Hatchery. The path then leads 1.5 km to the west Tooth Rock Trail Head and offers views of the Bonneville Dam. Then the path continues to the Moffett Creek Bridge.

History

The lines of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail were sections of the 1913-1922 built Historic Columbia River Highway. Removing a faster connection to 1960, the sections were closed and abandoned. In 1987 the restoration of the old highway was decided. The rockfall blocked due to twin tunnels at Mosier were cleared. When working a few surprises were discovered, such as graffiti dating from 1921, which was created when some motorists were snowed in for several days of snow drifts.