river view     
 September 2013
  
In This Issue: 
 
  


  
The Historic Columbia River Highway News is your source for updates and information regarding efforts to remember, restore and reconnect the Historic Columbia River Highway and State Trail--a world class adventure from Portland to The Dalles. 
McCord Bridge historic

Historic McCord Creek Bridge 

 
Historic Highway Advisory Committee
To Meet in Hood River GetInvolved

 

The Historic Columbia River Highway Advisory Committee will meet at the Hood River County Commissioners Boardroom (601 State Street, Hood River) on September 24th from 10 am - 3 pm. The meeting highlights include an update on engineering for the next phase of the Historic Highway State Trail between Wyeth and Starvation Creek, a presentation on the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department's Gorge Comprehensive Plan and a recap of the dedication ceremony for the newly constructed JB Yeon to Moffett State Trail.

 

To view the meeting agenda and read past meeting minutes please click here

  

For  more information  on the Advisory Committee, contact Kristen Stallman 
Newest State Trail Section to be dedicated
on September 14 Traildedication
 
Join the Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department as we dedicate the newest segment of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. This 1.6 mile trail connection, from Yeon State Park to Moffett Creek, allows cyclists to ride from Troutdale to Cascade Locks without having to use the shoulder of Interstate 84.

 

The dedication of this newest segment will occur on Saturday, September 14, 2013 at 11 am on the new McCord Creek Bridge. 

McCord Creek Bridge

Dedication site at McCord Creek

 

If you are attending the Dedication: 

Participants are encouraged to bicycle to the trail along the Historic Columbia River Highway or Historic Highway State Trail. If you are planning to ride your bike to the site you can access the Historic Highway State Trail from the following locations:

  • I-84 Exit 44 - Cascade Locks, Bridge of the Gods Trailhead (overflow parking will be available along WaNaPa Street). Park in Cascade Locks and enjoy a 6-mile bike ride to the new trail segment and plan on spending your day exploring Cascade Locks and other attractions along the Historic Highway State Trail.
  • I-84 Exit 40 - Bonneville Dam Exit - Parking will be available at the Toothrock Trailhead located on the south side of the Interstate. Park here and ride approximately 3.5 miles to the new trail segment and enjoy the dedication ceremony at McCord Creek Bridge.

If you are coming by car, park at the Ainsworth exit and board the shuttle:

  • Exit 35, Ainsworth Exit - Event parking will be available on the south side of I-84. A shuttle will be available for those driving to the event. The shuttle will drop folks off at the John B. Yeon Trailhead parking area. Please note there is ¼ mile walk to the McCord Creek Bridge from the shuttle drop off. Allow time to walk to the ceremony before 11 a.m.
  • NOTE: The John B.Yeon Trailhead parking lot will be closed during the dedication event.
  • For additional event information please visit:  WWW.HIGHWAYREVIVED.COM 
    • 
    State Trail Still Closed Until Oct. 31

We are opening the trail for two days only on Sept. 14 & 15 for the dedication ceremony and for a biking event.  The trail will close again after these activities.  It will not be open for use until October 31.  Construction activity will continue during September and October.  Workers will be busy paving, finishing walls, landscaping and installing the safety railing along I-84. It will still be a work zone and construction equipment will block the trail.

 

Hiway revived logo  

 Celebrate the New Trail in Cascade Locks

September 13, 14 & 15thhiwayrevived

 

Don't miss the Historic Highway Revived celebration in Cascade Locks, a three-day festival celebrating the Cascade Locks connection to the old highway. The City is celebrating with a whole host of fun events including the following:

  • Bridge of the Gods bridge walk at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning
  • 5k / 10k fun runs along the Historic Highway State Trail at 8 a.m. Saturday morning
  • Cruise in car show on Saturday
  • A beer & wine garden with live music in the heart of downtown
  • Fun kids' activities including the kite festival
  • Quilt block trail and quilters open house
  • Historic Highway inspired art show

Learn more about this fantastic event at:  

 

Cascade Locks
The Historic Highway provides an excellent connection to the community of Cascade Locks.
 

 

Celebrate the Historic Highway and

Camp in the Gorge Campfriends

 

Join the Friends of the Gorge for a Fall Camping Adventure at the Eagle Creek Group Campground. Sign up for guided hikes and evening campfire presentations. For only $15, you can stay at the campground for Friday and/or Saturday night, Sept. 13 and 14. Gorge ghost stories around the campfire are promised.

 

Eagle Creek hike
Join the Friends of the Gorge on a guided hike along the Eagle Creek Trail
  • Friday Night: Scott Cook, author of Curious Gorge, will be sharing nuggets of historical and geological information, oddities of the Gorge, and other things no one else knows but Scott! He's wildly entertaining as well!
  • Saturday Night: Chon Clayton, historian and Washington State Parks Ranger, will share travel ads from the 1920's and never-heard-before stories about the Gorge.

Throughout the weekend the Friends of the Gorge will be leading guided hikes which include:

  • Friday, September 13: A 2-mile hike on a newly built trail in Cascade Locks plus tours of businesses in Cascade Locks.
  • Saturday, September 14: A hike from  Eagle Creek to High Bridge with Hike Leader Joan Carter talking about the creation of the nation's first campground at Eagle Creek.
  • Sunday, September 15: Dave Johnson will be leading a hike to beautiful Dry Creek Falls.

Registration for the hikes is mandatory and available at www.gorgefriends.org/hikes  Register to camp here  

 

Cascade to Crown
 

Cascade to Crown Bicycle Ride

September 15 cascadecrown

  

Have you ever wanted to ride your bike on the Historic Highway? Now is your chance to do. Ride from the beautiful community of Cascade Locks to the panoramic Crown Point & Vista House. This ride is fully supported with rest stops & mechanical support at Bonneville Dam, Herman Creek Rd/Hill, Multnomah Falls,and Portland Women's Forum. Four ride options are available in 2013:

  • 62 mile - Challenge Plus or metric century
  • 48 mile - Challenge or half-century
  • 28 mile - Waterfalls
  • 10 mile - Family friendly

Register to participate at: www.cascadetocrownride.com 

 

The Historic Highway Hosts the 9th Annual Policymakers Ride policyride

 

On August 2nd, a group of 150 policymakers and elected officials from the Gorge and Portland Metro region came together to ride along the Historic Highway and take a preview ride on the unfinished new State Trail. The ride began in Corbett and ended in Cascade Locks where participants boarded the Cascade Locks sternwheeler and discussed regional and local issues in greater detail.

 

The invitation-only ride was organized by Cycle Oregon and provides key decision makers with the opportunity to take an in-depth look at the regional bikeway and trail network.

 

Policymaker Rider 2013
Policymakers ride along the yet to be completed Historic Highway State Trail

 

Gresham Chamber of Commerce Works to Improve Bicycle Tourism biketourism

 

On July 1st, the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center launched a regional Bicycle Tourism Initiative. The two-year initiative focuses on enhancing the East Multnomah County region as a bicycle tourist destination. The project includes the cities of Gresham, Fairview, Wood Village, and Troutdale and extends east into the Columbia River Gorge to Cascade Locks.

 

The Bicycle Tourism Initiative engages a diverse coalition of communities, public agencies, nonprofit organizations and businesses in a collaboration that leverages resources to increase bicycle tourism in the East Multnomah County region.

Alison of Gresham
Alison Hart, Gresham Chamber CEO on the Policymaker's Ride.

Upcoming:

  • The Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Travel Oregon will be hosting two Bicycle Tourism Studio Workshops in November.  
    • Gresham area, Wednesday, November 13th from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
    • Gorge area workshop, Thursday, November 14th from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  • Chamber staff will present a project overview and update at the September 24th HCRH Advisory Committee Meeting in Cascade Locks.
  • Corbett Focus Group, September, TBD. 

For more information, contact Heidi Beierle, Bicycle Tourism Initiative Project Coordinator or visit the project website  
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Contact  
Kristen Stallman, Historic Columbia River Highway Coordinator
Oregon Department of Transportation, Region 1