This trail originally started from the east end of the McCord Creek Bridge along the route described on the Original Elowah Falls Trail page. Today, it branches off from Gorge Trail #400, approximately .3 miles from the Yeon State Park trailhead.

"Then by a series of switchbacks the trail begins to climb toward the top of Elowah falls. At various points along this section of the trail wonderful views are had of Beacon rock, the Bonneville dam and other points of interest in the Columbia gorge."

"Along the trail to both Elowah and Upper McCord Creek Falls can be seen several sections of old cast iron and wooden pipes..."

Below, a view of the old pipes from Warrendale in 1902.

"...a July 1915 view [below] that shows the pipeline where the Upper Mc Cord trail is now located..."

"Along the trail one passes a large airplane beacon light and notices the large, black cast iron pipe that in early days was constructed by the Crown-Willamette Paper company to furnish water from McCord creek to the paper plant in the flat near the mouth of McCord Creek."

OregonHikers.org: Pipeline along the Upper McCord Trail

This trail and flume pipe were built circa 1890 by pioneer Myron Kelly to deliver pressurized water down from atop Twin Falls to his pulp mill on the Columbia (via the half-mile, 600 vertical foot pipe). The water pressure turned "pulp wheels" that ground up cottonwood trees to sell to Camas' paper mills. (Cook. Curious Gorge. 31-32)

The upper trail wasn't blasted out of the cliffs altogether. It's an improved natural feature. If you look across the other side of the canyon, you can see that the crack between lava flows continues on the other side. The track may have been passable to adventurous (read foolish) types before the trail was improved. I'm sure some blasting was done, but it wasn't nearly on the scale of Eagle Creek. Since the developed stonework lower down proves that at least that portion was built for tourism, I suspect the entire trail was a very early tourist trap.

"...on a foray up the Nesmith Ridge route awhile back I was wandering around the flatter "plateau" area at the base of the ridge and found a continuation of the old pipeline. It picks up atop the cliffs immediately above the trail switchbacks. A good piece of it was still remaining and it headed off in a general southeasterly direction. Assuming it meets up with the creek eventually, it'd intersect a fair distance above Upper Elowah (Upper McCord Creek) Falls. It was a good-sized pipe."

Upper McCord Creek Falls

"Pictures fail to do the matched pair of waterfalls justice. Though smaller than Elowah, they're a lot bigger than they seem at first glance."

"After the awesome Gorge view and a look down to Elowah Falls from the railed viewpoint ledge (which Kelly had chiseled out), the trail soon ends at Upper McCord's falls."

Northwest Waterfall Survey: Upper McCord Creek Falls

Upper McCord Creek Falls may be more appropriately considered the upper tier of Elowah Falls because the two are so close together (and can actually be seen in tandem from one or two locations), but regardless of its questionable independence is a very scenic waterfall...

Height: 64 feet

Primary Form: Segmented Plunges

Links

Curious Gorge Blog (entry #10 Elowah Falls)

Scott Cook has some great photos and info on the old pipe and this trail.

https://curiousgorgeblog.wordpress.com/10-2/

"Here is a 1936 Oregonian article describing the trail, the Flume pipeline, and a bit about the petrified tree stump that once graced the McCord Creek bridge before being removed for the I-84 bridge widening: Mc Cord Creek petrified trees and pipe trail, May 1936 (http://curiousgorgeblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/mccord-creek-petrified-trees-and-pipe-trail-may-1936.pdf)"

Some neat photos & history here...

OregonHikers.org: Icy Wonderland - Elowah and Upper McCord Falls (Jan 1, 2015)

http://www.oregonhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=20733

OregonHikers.org: Pipeline along the Upper McCord Trail

http://www.oregonhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=3750

CLICK HERE to continue exploring the highway