June 17, 2009

HISTORIC COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY – MOSIER TUNNELS SECTION

The HCRH has several sections that are closed to motorized vehicles. The longest is the section from Hood River over to the hamlet of Mosier, upriver about five miles. The attraction here are the two viewpoints overlooking the river and the historic Mosier Twin Tunnels plus new rock shed. There is a lot of shade on the trail, which is a plus in summer.

The west end of this section starts at the elegant Mark Hatfield West Trailhead and Visitor Center (N45d 42.231’x W121d 29.218’). Nice! Views of river. Visitor center, parking, picnic tables, water, flushies, souvenirs – and the trail – 16’ of fine blacktop. It heads uphill and around the corner. That’s right. Not a RR grade. Not a steady, consistent grade. Up and down. (Like a highway?) Lot of roadie bikers, studs on skate boards, a mom pushing the pram as she jogs along, grannies hiking. The HCRH gets used here.

Pedal up the grade and around the corner to find the road follows a bench above the river. Lots of trees for shade, which is nice as the trail out to the tunnels goes up and down, but mostly up to an overlook west of the tunnels (N45d 41.272’ x W121d 29.218’). Good views up and down the river. You can watch the wind surfers down at Hood River do their thing.

You can also look up at the cliffs above you and notice where boulders have taken out arches in the low stone wall around the observation point. The pavement here has deep dings. Over there is a small (2’) boulder stuck half way through an arch. Hard hat area? Probably won’t help.

From there the trail descends to the tunnels. Does it ever! It was long, glorious descent which left ToolBear in tears. Not just from the wind. He was hitting 27 mph – and in an hour he would be climbing back up that long grade. Probably hoofing it at 2.7 mph. (He did 3.4, hoofing it.)

The Mosier Twin Tunnels start at the west end with a new construction – a rock shed of concrete designed to take a 5,000# rock falling 200’ (N45d 41.074 x W121d 25.454’). That can hurt. Why? Because in the Old Days the tunnels were one way and cars backed up under sheer cliffs waiting their turn to cross. On occasion one of them would win that 5,000 rock. Caused talk – but the occupants of the car were not giving interviews.

The rock shed leads into the first of the twin tunnels, then there is a break with a rock shed overhead, then the last tunnel. These have elegant timber crib work inside. The gaps between the rock and the cribbing were stuffed with cord wood and then faced over. The eastern tunnel has horizontal adits where the blasting spoils were dumped out. A full explanation with photos and diagrams can be seen at Mark Hatfield West.

Once clear of the tunnels you find a new observation point dedicated in 2000 as part of the tunnel renovation project (N45d 41.156’ x W121d 25.091’). This is a good spot for a break, photo op and then turn around. The ranger has tipped TB that the road from here descents at a 5% grade for about two miles down to Mark Hatfield East Trailhead.

If you had a shuttle car, it would be a delightful ride. TB doesn’t. He heads back thru the tunnels and hoofs it up the grade to the OP. From there it is mostly downhill to the visitor center.

The trail head at the Mosier end, Mark Hatfield East, is not as elegant at MH West, but there is a large paved parking area, tables, vault toilet, etc. (N45d 40.797’ x W121d 24.542’). It is not on the current Google Earth coverage, so the coordinates might help you dial it in.

The Out & Back Stats: Mark Hatfield West to eastern viewpoint and return - 9.62 miles, max speed 28.2, moving average 8.1, moving time 1:10, stopped time 1:05. From 0820 to 1037 hrs. Nice morning ride.

Enjoy,

ToolBear

In a review of our ride on 8-22-08 I said that I was disappointed that the description of the trail was wrong and that only about 10 miles of the 35 mile trail described is actually open. I want to add that the five mile long portion of the trail between Mosier and Hood River is an excellent trail with beautiful views of the Columbia River Valley.

If you do this portion of the trail, you won't be disappointed. Just don't expect 35 miles of trail.

Lyle Clugg

Today my wife and I planned to do a 25 mile section of this trail between Mosier and Cascade Locks. The trail description says, "The center portion of the HCRH, between Warrendale and Mosier, is presently open for use." It is not.

The trail is open between Mosier and Hood River, about 5 miles. It then dumps out on to the city streets of Hood River (highway 30), and then 30 merges back into Interstate 84. There is no trail for the next 20 or so miles until Cascade Locks where it starts up again and goes about 5 more miles to Interstate Mile Marker 40 where it ends near Moffett Creek Falls. For now these are the only portions that are exclusively hike/bike trail. Further west, Old Highway 30 is open to vehicle traffic to Troutdale.

To summarize, only about 10 miles of this supposed 35 mile trail is open. It may be planned to extend these two segments, but no contruction has started.