Recreating The Historic Columbia River Highway: The Blog: The Original HCRH Route Between Cascade Locks and Wyeth

While the 2006 HCRH Master Plan appears to be correct in that there is only one known existing fragment of the HCRH river route between Herman Creek / Wyeth Road and Wyeth, there is an earlier route, closely following the Herman Creek / Wyeth Road, that seems to be mostly entirely intact. It is, in fact, the original route of the Wyeth Road itself.

Considering that the steepness of the existing pavement on the Wyeth Road is a concern of the State Trail Planners, I wonder why they are not already planning on using this route for the trail. It is less steep, more curvy, and the right size (of course) for a bike path.

A clue on the changing route of the HCRH between Herman Creek and Wyeth from the ODOT 2010 CLI Report:

1914 - Built - Grading of three segments in Hood River County totaling 5.3 miles. (Multnomah / Hood River County line to 1/2 mile west of Cascade Locks - 1.5 miles; east of Wyeth to Shellrock Mountain - 1.7 miles; and Shellrock Mountain to Viento - 2.1 miles.)

I suspect that this work was done in order to connect existing sections of road, as the bridge (the Shellrock Mountain Road) between the Wyeth to Shellrock and the Shellrock to Viento segment was already complete at this time.

1912 - Built - Simon Benson contributed $10,000 for the construction of a new road across Shellrock Mountain. The road was built by Honor prisoners from the State Penitentiary.

So, it follows that the 1914 grading of 1.7 miles between Wyeth and Shellrock was connecting Shellrock to the existing Herman Creek / Wyeth road coming out of Cascade Locks, and this is the route reflected in the earlier 1913 / 1916 USGS map.

Detail - HCRH Herman Creek to Shellrock - Mt. Hood - Edition of March 1913, Reprinted 1916

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/topo/oregon/txu-pclmaps-topo-or-mount_hood-1911.jpg

Later on, the actual HCRH was then built following its own, new route above the river and railway.

1914-1915 - Built - 22 miles were graded from 2 1/2 miles west of Cascade Locks to the city of Hood River.

Detail - HCRH Herman Creek to Lindsey Creek - Hood River - 1926

This seems to clarify some confusion. In October 2013, I spoke with a fellow out on an old road grade in this section who told me that the old highway route was over the Wyeth Bench, following the Herman Creek / Wyeth Road. He had worked in many roles in the area over the last 45 years, and spoke of old maps referring to an unpaved road on the south side of the west Wyeth Road slope as being the original highway. Walking this route (pictures below), there were no artifacts that would indicate that it was ever a part of the HCRH, while all of the maps and photos I had seen to this point indicated a river route to the north.

However, for a short period, this route was surely, considering the maps and construction dates, the original route of the HCRH.

At this point, I am uncertain of this road's origins, but I suspect that it might actually have been the 1872 Wagon Road. If so, this might be the best preserved segment of this route left in the gorge, as it is still driveable and showed signs of recent use (tire tracks).

HCRH - Wyeth Road Route:

The old road, south of the current road, is less steep than the new road, but it does have a lot of twisty curves and a steep drop to the north. Comparing the Google Earth imagery with the maps above, it is clear that the Wyeth Road route was changed at some point.

Also, this might be the definitive answer to my power line question. Here, clearly, the road moved and the power lines stayed behind.

Wyeth Road. The old route, matching the old maps, is visible.
Google Earth. Imagery Date: July 18, 2010

Wyeth Road. The old route (straight line) and the new (large curve).
Google Earth. Imagery Date: July 18, 2010

Old and New Routes Eastbound (2013)
Historic Columbia River Highway. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Oregon. October 11, 2013.

On the right is the original route of both the Wyeth Road and the HCRH, on the left is the modern Wyeth Road and the HCRH State Trail Route.

To the Old Dump (2013)
Historic Columbia River Highway. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Oregon. October 11, 2013.

Westbound on Old Route (2013)
Historic Columbia River Highway. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Oregon. October 11, 2013.

Still Open to Trucks (2013)
Historic Columbia River Highway. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Oregon. October 11, 2013.

Another Route Following Power Lines (2013)
Historic Columbia River Highway. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Oregon. October 11, 2013.

Rocks on Old Route (2013)
Historic Columbia River Highway. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Oregon. October 11, 2013.

Large Mossy Rock, Eastbound on Old Route (2013)

Historic Columbia River Highway. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Oregon. October 11, 2013.

At the Top, Looking Down to the West, of the Early HCRH Alignment (2013)
Historic Columbia River Highway. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Oregon. October 11, 2013.

Below, on the left is the original route of both the Wyeth Road and the HCRH, on the right is the modern Wyeth Road and the HCRH State Trail Route.