Ribbon cutting opens three miles of Historic Highway State Trail August 3

The newest three-mile segment of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail opens with a Saturday dedication ceremony .

July 29, 2019

Contact: Don Hamilton, 503-704-7452, Don.Hamilton@odot.state.or.us

COLUMBIA GORGE -- ODOT along with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and project partners will dedicate the newest segment of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Wyeth Trailhead off Interstate 84 Exit 51.

Located between Cascade Locks and Hood River, the trail provides  scenic views in addition to safe accessible passage around Shellrock Mountain, where I-84's shoulder is narrowest. On its west end, the new trail connects to existing trail segments linking Starvation Creek and Viento State Park, creating six miles of car-free trail.

Here are details of the dedication event

What: Dedication of three additional miles of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail from Wyeth Trailhead to Lindsey Creek. 

When: The ribbon-cutting will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3. Explore the trail on foot or by bike between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Where: The dedication will take place at the new Wyeth Trailhead. The celebration will continue along the trail.

Getting to the event: Join us at the new Wyeth Trailhead, located off Interstate 84 Exit 51. Follow signs for event parking.

To arrive car-free, take the Columbia Gorge Express from Gateway Transit Center, Cascade Locks. To arrive for the ribbon-cutting, take the 8:45 a.m. eastbound bus from Gateway Transit Center or the 9:39 a.m. westbound bus from Cascade Locks. The Columbia Gorge Express will be making a special stop at Wyeth for the celebration. Our event shuttle will make a special pick up in Hood River at 9 a.m. Please note, buses can only carry a limited amount of bicycles and bikes may be stored underneath the bus.

Join a group bike ride to the ribbon cutting with the Portland Bicycling Club, ​departing from underneath the Bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks at 9 a.m. The ride is rated C+ (Moderate terrain with rolling short steep hills or moderate, sustained climbs) and is about 6.5 miles one way to the Wyeth Trailhead or up to 30 miles round trip.

Photo opportunities:

• Cyclists arriving to Wyeth Trailhead from Cascade Locks at about 9:30/9:45 a.m.
• Project partner and community member speeches at 10 a.m.
• Antique cars from the Horseless Carriage Club of America Portland Group and model replicas from Anvil Academy from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Attendees visiting stations along the trail from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“I’m pleased to announce the opening of the recently completed Wyeth to Lindsay Creek section of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail," said Rian Windsheimer, ODOT manager for the Portland area and the Columbia River Gorge. "As it grows, the trail improves access for all of us who want to experience the Gorge by biking and hiking, not at 65 mph. This opening takes us a long way toward reaching our goal of connecting all 73 miles between Troutdale and The Dalles.”

In the early 1950s, many miles of the Historic Columbia River Highway were damaged or destroyed to pave the way for Interstate 84. Congressional passage of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Act in 1986 motivated the Oregon Legislature to commit to restore the entire Historic Highway to its glory days of the 1920s.

This new portion of the State Trail is furthering efforts to restore all 73 miles of the Historic Columbia River Highway from Troutdale to The Dalles. When complete, the Historic Highway will include 51 miles of roadway shared by vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians, managed by ODOT. Another 22 miles will be accessible only by people walking, rolling or biking, sections known as the Historic Highway State Trail and managed by OPRD.

“What we have now is a set of day hikes and bike rides through the Gorge. Each of the sections of the Historic Highway that have been restored so far have been extremely popular. But when you connect them all together, it will be transformative, creating a world-class destination for multi-day trips. This is a situation where the whole is really greater than a sum of its parts,” said Arthur Babitz, chair of the Historic Columbia River Highway Advisory Committee and former mayor of Hood River.

Once the new section opens, project partners will have reconnected 68 of the original 73 miles. Now, only five more challenging miles remain between Viento State Park and Hood River to fully restore the Historic Highway. When completed, this route will draw visitors— including cyclists and trekkers—from around the globe who can experience the spectacular Columbia River Gorge the way it was meant to be seen—from beautiful vistas, next to cascading waterfalls and inside basalt tunnels—all while visiting welcoming towns along the way.

“The Historic Highway State Trail is a treasure for Oregonians and visitors alike,” said Todd Davidson, Travel Oregon CEO. “These world-class infrastructure projects enhance the Oregon experience and positively impact the economies in the communities surrounding the trail.”

Learn more at: www.historichighway.org