Wyeth Road Alignment

Page Index

• Cates Mill
• Wyeth Bench Roads
• USFS Cabins at Grays Creek
• Wyeth Cemetery

"Much of the old wagon road survives today as Herman Creek Road..."

Early CRH Alignment (c. 1914 - 1917)

Most of the Herman Creek Road / Wyeth Road CRH alignment follows the old county road seen on the map below, south of the later CRH river alignment. However, comparing the Google Earth imagery with the map below, it is clear that the Wyeth Road route was changed at some point.

The old road, south of the current road, is less steep than the new road, but it has a lot of twisty curves, is narrow, and has a precipitous drop to the north.

In fact, considering that the steep grade of the existing pavement on the Wyeth Road was 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.

However, if this is, in fact, the 1872 wagon road, I believe it is protected and that they are not using its old grades anywhere in the gorge for the State Trail.

In the photo above, on the right is the original route of both the Wyeth Road and the CRH, on the left is the modern Wyeth Road and the HCRH State Trail Route. The tracks shown in the photo below are a side road to an old, unofficial trash dump.

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

"The Herman Creek Road over Wyeth Bench has recently been paved and should be used as the hiking and biking connection between Cascade Locks and Wyeth, since no substantial sections of the original HCRH remain."

May 13, 2020

When Kirk and I were out there recently, this horse was still around. It made me happy.

Approaching Wyeth, if I remember right, the 1872 road and the modern road diverge, with the old route of the Sandy-Dalles Military Road running to the south, approximately where the utility poles are on the south end of the meadow, visible in the photo above. I've lost my original source for that information and am working on obtaining a new copy!

CLICK HERE to continue exploring the WAGON ROAD

CLICK HERE to continue exploring the HIGHWAY