Shellrock to Summit Creek Fragment

CLICK HERE for State Trail Plans: Shellrock Mountain

ODOT, Cultural Landscape Inventory: Shellrock Mountain to Ruthton Point - Historic Columbia River Highway

Only two fragments of HCRH pavement remain in the Shellrock Mountain section. The largest is a stretch of about 700 feet, consisting of part of the roadbed, the north edge broken off by I-84 and the south edge hidden by rock fall and vegetation. The pavement itself is buckled, patchy, and overgrown with trees, shrubs and moss. In other areas there are small patches of asphalt and heaps of asphalt piled in the roadbed. There is a trail in poor condition connecting to the military wagon road that intersects the alignment of the HCRH at its east end.

Views and Vistas

The most notable views in this section are found at its east endpoint, in the draw of Summit Creek in Lindsey Creek State Park. From this point there is a framed view of picturesque boulders, rock outcrops and a tree in center of the falls. Benson Falls, further upstream on Summit Creek, is partly concealed by vegetation. Other, contemporary views of the Gorge and I-84 can be found along the segment as well.

Small Scale Features and Archaeology

Archaeological features identified by the inventory survey include remains of concrete guard rail from the 1940s and concrete rubble by the side of the road, the original location of the plaque commemorating the “honor men” who built the road replaced by the HCRH.

Oregon State Archives: A 1940 Journey Across Oregon

The Dalles and Sandy Wagon Road was authorized by the Oregon Legislature in 1867 and appropriation made for its construction. The road was built to a point 15 miles west of Hood River. Portions of the old dry masonry retaining wall may still be seen a hundred feet or so above the Columbia Highway, especially at Shell Rock Mountain.

Oregon State Archives: A 1940 Journey Across Oregon

Near LINDSAY CREEK, 135.7 m. [West of Hwy. 730 Junction], is a bronze plaque commemorating the commencement in 1912 the building of the first section of the Columbia River Highway..

http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/exhibits/across/thedalles.html

The plaque, below, was moved to this location at Starvation Creek State Park from its original site, just east of Shellrock Mountain, on a now abandoned fragment of the original highway. The current display contains a replica, if I remember right...

CLICK HERE to continue exploring the highway