Describe destination image here

Info

• Start point: Tooth Rock Trailhead
• End point: Tooth Rock Trailhead
• Trail Log: Trail Log
• Hike Type: Loop
• Distance: 2.0 miles
• Elevation gain: 100 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Seasons: Year Round
• Family Friendly: Yes
• Backpackable: No
• Crowded: Yes

Hike Description

Describe destination image here

When the original Columbia River Highway was designed by Samuel Lancaster and others it was decided to skirt Tooth Rock on a pair of viaducts. The construction of Bonneville Dam in the 1930s forced the relocation of the highway and the original route was abandoned in 1937 when a new tunnel was drilled through the rock. The old viaducts remained in place largely forgotten for almost 60 years. In 1996 this portion of the old highway was refurbished as a hiking and bicycling path. The Eagle Creek Viaduct was repaired from the rockfall damage and a new pedestrian bridge was built over the east portal of Toothrock Tunnel. This hike explores all of these areas and more.

Start at the Tooth Rock Trailhead and hike the Historic Highway eastward. The first part of the path is little more than a freeway shoulder but soon you'll veer away form the freeway a bit as the old highway works it way through the trees. After a bit, the highway trail turns north and crosses above the modern Interstate. Soon you'll come to Tooth Rock Viaduct, which is basically a bridge pinned to the side of the mountain. A section of this viaduct had collapsed from the weight of accumulated rock and was repaired in 1996. Railings here are similar to the Moffett Creek Bridge and the Sheppard's Dell Bridge. The old road loops around Tooth Rock with some amazing views of Bonneville Dam, the Columbia River and the westbound freeway lanes constructed in the 1950s. On the east side of the rock the highway crosses Eagle Creek Viaduct. This viaduct is actually a "half-viaduct", with half the road resting on a narrow ledge blasted from the rock and half the road on the viaduct. The railing here is the same as the standard arched, rubble masonry walls used as guardrails on much of the highway. Much of the original railing was lost and the viaduct was heavily damaged by a rockslide during the construction of a new powerhouse at the dam. The deck and railing have been repaired for trail use. A new footbridge spans the Interstate at the east end of Tooth Rock Tunnel. Next, the Historic Trail comes to set of stairs that lead down to the freeway. The next piece of old highway was completely demolished to make room for the 1937 highway, not the eastbound lanes of I-84. The HCRHT continues east as a wide highway shoulder, protected from modern traffic by modern barricades.

Instead of continuing east here, turn right and head uphill on the Tooth Rock Portage Road Loop. This path follows an even older road. This road is probably part of the 1872 "The Dalles-to-Sandy Wagon Road". This road did link Portland and The Dalles, but the steeply graded, rough road was never a success. In fact, when the Oregon Railway & Navigation Co. constructed its rail line in the Gorge (later the Union Pacific), the railroad appropriated part of the earlier roadway for its own use. Today, we can hike this overgrown road. 0.4 miles west, there is a short trail connecting our trail to Road 777. This provides a shortcut to Tanner Creek, Tanner Butte and Wauna Viewpoint. Another 0.4 miles brings the wagon road to a point where it intersects the HCRHT, 0.2 miles from the Tooth Rock Trailhead.

Maps

• Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
• Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
• Latitude, Longitude: 45.63661, -121.93777

Fees, Regulations, etc.

• Northwest Forest Pass required at trailhead

Trip Reports

• (Click here to add your own)

Related Discussions / Q&A

• (Click here to ask a question or start a conversation)

Guidebooks that cover this hike

• 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon - 3rd Edition, by William L Sullivan

More Links

Contributors

• Stevefromdodge (creator)