Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail

Where motorists on old U.S. Highway 30 once crept around curves high along the cliffs of the Columbia River Gorge, hikers, bicyclists and  users of other muscle-driven forms of transportation leisurely enjoy the view from the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. The trail, two disconnected paved ribbons along abandoned stretches of the historic highway, give you more than 10 miles of sightseeing thrills. Between Hood River and Mosier, the five mile Twin Tunnels segment passes through two climate zones. Starting at the east Mark O. Hatfield Trailhead near Mosier, the trail leads through semi-arid terrain dotted with ponderosa pine for about a mile until you reach the Twin Tunnels. Spectacular geologic formations tell the story of the gorge's creation. After passing through the tunnels, you'll emerge into a forest of fir trees and other common western Oregon plants. Viewpoints along the 3.5 mile segment from the tunnels to the west Mark O. Hatfield Trailhead overlook the river. The other open, paved section of the trail parallels Interstate 84 between Cascade Locks and Bonneville Dam (the trail actually extends from Moffett Creek to Cascade Locks). Lush and green, this segment gets twice as much rainfall as the Twin Tunnels area. Ferns, moss-covered rocks and delicate, shaded wildflowers flank the 2.5 mile section from Cascade Locks to the Eagle Creek Fish Hatchery. The trail then continues for another mile west to the Tooth Rock Trailhead, with views of Bonneville Dam along the way. Several U.S. Forest Service trails intersect this segment of the trail.