Page Index

• Palmer, Oregon

April 28, 2020

This page was a complete mess, and it still is, just less messy. I'll run through all the old cabin links later, set up new pages for the falls, and hopefully, finally, get out there to explore these places in person soon enough!

But for now, on with the site rebuild!

"Palmer Mill used to be driveable (it's gated though) but a few years ago flood washed out a huge chunk of it, making it impassable except by dirt bike."

April 28, 2020

The last time I was out there, in 2019, the road was still drivable from the HCRH to Brower Road. Above that, it is gated. I've been told it is washed out not too far past the gate at Brower Road.

Photo Currently Unavailable

"It's kinda weird back there. Not very highly traveled at all, tons of old dumping from when the roads were still open. probably in the 70s or 80s based on the vintage of the motorcycles and tires. lots of bullet holes and beer cans. Someone obviously maintains the trails a bit. Some recent (1-2 years) chainsaw-action on the blow-downs. I even saw what looked to be a Ferris-Wheel car?? I ran into a local resident who gave me some info on lower Palmer Mill Rd closure (he's hoping they'll re-open it) and the 7.5 foot long cougar that owns that ridge above and to the north of upper Palmer Mill. No, that's not a colloquialism, just look at that print i found!"

Middle & Upper Bridal Veil Falls

A bushwhack...

http://www.portlandhikers.org/archive/view/16424

http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=14126&hilit=Upper+Bridal+Veil

"The Friday afternoon before Memorial Day weekend Eric & I headed out to find 2 Falls on Bridal Veil Creek that dont have trails to them. First was Upper Bridal Veil Falls. This is fairly close to the Palmer Mill Road but does require a decent of about 500' through brush & undergrowth, then a short hike back upstream to the falls. After we were done here we returned to the Old Columbia Highway were it intersects with Bridal Veil Creek. We then headed up the creek on the west side for about 3/4 of a mile until we reached Middle Bridal Veil Falls. At times it was easier said than done."

Abandoned Houses

Not sure if there is anything left of this old structure...

Some more info, and pictures, here:

...near Middle Bridal Veil Falls... "Guy" Portland Hikers Forum: http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=17741&start=20&hilit=Abandoned

cfm, Portland Hikers Forum: Forgotten road ramble in the Gorge

I'm pretty sure this cabin is on private property.

I was up there last year, and there was some fencing and No Trespassing signage nearby. A road had been cleared leading from the old Bridal Veil B & B leading up there and a car was actually parked on the day I went, and some kind of fire was burning in a clearing below the cabin. I saw some goats penned there as well.

I returned again recently (last month) and the cabin has further collapsed. I walked a bit of the road and it is already being reclaimed by mother nature. Behind it (southwesterly) is Oregon State Park land with some very interesting trails up the W side of the Bridal Veil drainage, and no flagging! If you want to visit legally, head up the BV drainage, then cut up at the steep side streambed before you reach Middle BV Falls to the the next bench. You may see some OR State Park boundary signs. The cabin is just north in an alder clearing/flat. Stay on the trail south of the cabin for some real fun wanders and meet some elks.

Links

CLICK HERE to continue exploring the highway