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Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail: Twin Tunnels

Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail: Twin Tunnels
Viewpoints
1547 Rock Creek Road
Mosier Oregon 97040

Information

541-374-8811
Access to the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail is free
Dogs are allowed on the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, but must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times.
lat: 45.68059 long: -121.408944

The Historic Columbia River Highway was designed by Samuel Lancaster and constructed between 1913 to 1922. Its purpose was not merely to provide an east-west transportation route through the Columbia River Gorge, but to take full advantage of every natural aspect, scenic feature, waterfall, viewpoint and panorama. When bridges or tunnels were designed, they stood by themselves as artistic compliments to the landscape. The Columbia River Highway served millions of travelers and became one of the grandest highways in the nation. When transportation needs required faster and larger roads, sections of the old highway were bypassed. By 1960, a new interstate highway had replaced nearly all of the older road. The 4.5 mile stretch of old highway between Hood River and Mosier, including the Mosier Twin Tunnels, was closed, filled with rock and abandoned.

In the 1980s, new interest in the old scenic highway began to resurface. Lost sections of highway were identified, unearthed and studied for potential renovation. Some portions of the original route were covered by I-84 when it was built. An ambitious restoration began with the removal of rock from the Mosier Twin Tunnels. Restoration took several months. When workers were done, several surprises were unearthed, such as historical graffiti dating back to 1921 (when drivers were snowbound for several days). The highway is owned and maintained by ODOT; the state trail is managed by the Parks and Recreation Department. In 2000, the highway was designated a National Historic Landmark, and in 2002, the state trail was designated a National Recreation Trail.

Now, visitors can enjoy stunning views of the Columbia River Gorge from the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. The trail comprises three disconnected paved paths along stretches of historic Highway 30 — which predated I-84 as the only road connecting Portland and The Dalles. Together the segments provide a combined 12-plus miles of spectacular geologic formations thrilling scenery from rivers to waterfalls to ponderosa pines! Plan your trip with these trail maps.

 

Nearby Attractions

Distance Unit:

Brenna’s Mosier Market
Brenna’s Mosier Market

Brenna's Mosier Market, 1st Avenue, Mosier, OR, USA
Distance: 0.56 Away

Food and Drinks Shopping

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Runcible Cider
Runcible Cider

Runcible Cider, Quartz Drive, Mosier, OR, USA
Distance: 0.61 Away

Food and Drinks Breweries and Distilleries Farms

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Lopez Farm
Lopez Farm

1120 Gem Lane, Mosier, Oregon 97040, USA
Distance: 0.74 Away

Food and Drinks Farms

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Analemma Wines
Analemma Wines

Analemma Wines, State Road, Mosier, OR, USA
Distance: 1.79 Away

Food and Drinks Wineries

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Root Orchards
Root Orchards

Root Orchards, Root Road, Mosier, OR, USA
Distance: 2.07 Away

Food and Drinks Farms

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Catherine Creek Trailhead
Catherine Creek Trailhead

Catherine Creek Day Use Area/Trailhead, Old Highway 8, Lyle, WA, USA
Distance: 3.06 Away

Outdoor Experiences Walks and Hikes

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The Society Hotel
The Society Hotel

The Society Hotel Hood River - Bingen, Cedar Street, Bingen, WA, USA
Distance: 3.46 Away

Food and Drinks Shopping Lodging

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Gorge Heritage Museum
Gorge Heritage Museum

Gorge Heritage Museum
Distance: 3.59 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers Tribal Experiences

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Tribal Salmon – Stanley Rock
Tribal Salmon – Stanley Rock

Stanley Rock, Oregon, USA
Distance: 3.60 Away

Food and Drinks Tribal Experiences

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Sacajawea – Lewis & Clark Mural
Sacajawea – Lewis & Clark Mural

105 Lewis and Clark Hwy, Cook, WA 98605, USA
Distance: 3.67 Away

Other

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Dickey’s Farm Store
Dickey’s Farm Store

806 W Steuben St, Bingen, WA 98605, USA
Distance: 4.06 Away

Food and Drinks Shopping

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Syncline Winery
Syncline Winery

Syncline Winery, Balch Road, Lyle, WA, USA
Distance: 4.53 Away

Food and Drinks Wineries

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