Starvation Creek State Park

Oregon State Archives: A 1940 Journey Across Oregon

Starvation Creek empties into the Columbia at 134.5 m [West of Hwy. 730 Junction]. Here is STARVATION CREEK STATE PARK, so named because at this point in 1884 an Oregon Washington Railroad & Navigation train was marooned for two weeks in thirty foot snowdrifts, and food was with difficulty carried to the starving passengers. Newspapers of that day gave columns of space to this story, telling how car seats were burned in addition to all coal in the locomotive tender, that passengers might be kept from freezing.

1946 State Parks Report: Starvation Creek State Park

Starvation Creek State Park is situated on Starvation Creek at Mile Post 56.47. It is described as being in Section 3 and 4, Township 2 North of Range 9 East, W.M., Hood River County, Oregon, containing 78.13 acres, after minor deductions for Bonneville Dam flowage easements up to the 94.6 contour line, and additional right of way to the railroad company for necessary grade protection. The deed dates were August 7, 1930 and July 18, 1938.

The original name of this creek was "Starveout", so designated in the winter of 1884-85 when a deep snow stalled two trains in the immediate vicinity. Hood River men using home made skis, were employed to carry food to the snow bound passengers. In the beginning they were paid $25.00 per trip. This was before the days of huge rotary snow plows, now used by the railroads which clear the tracks so rapidly and effectively. A similar type is also employed to keep the highways clear.

Almost the entire area of this park is on the steep slope of the south side of the Gorge, with the park facilities snugly situated in a delightfully restricted nook between fern-clad cliffs, thru which the tumbling stream leads upward a short distance to the foot of the picturesquely broken waterfall that flows over a basalt ledge nearly two hundred feet high. In its descent there are three minor breaks over protruding rocks, before it splashes widely on the bass [sic] of fallen stone at its base. The form of this fall is somewhat different from others in the Gorge, and is the most easterly major fall of this remarkable series, which notably range in height from near two to near three hundred feet, most of them clean drops, Multnomah, with an overall descent of over six hundred feet being an outstanding exception.

Near the entrance to the park, a rustic foot bridge crosses the stream to the facilitated picnic place, which is frequently visited, especially by out of state motorists passing westward, who sight this most easterly fall from the highway as they approach it, and stop to obtain a more intimate view. Another foot bridge once crossed the stream over a jumble of rock near the base of the fall, but a winter flood carried it away. The trails, bridges and picnic area facilities were all the work of CCC forces.

W. A. Langille

State Parks Historian

December 5, 1945

Recommendations:

Additional land was purchased between the railroad and river a few years ago with the thought of providing a boat picnic area at some later date. A water system should be provided in the main park, latrines also. A few more tables should be provided.

S. H. Boardman

State Parks Superintendent

March 25, 1946

Chester H. Armstrong, HISTORY OF THE OREGON STATE PARKS: 1917-1963

Starvation Creek State Park is located on the south side of Old Oregon Trail (Interstate Highway 80N), opposite mile post 53.2, approximately 10 miles west of Hood River in Hood River County.

The first land purchased for this roadside picnic area was 74.56 acres from Clara Nelson on August 7, 1930, at a cost of $1,864. Another tract, containing 72.26 acres, was purchased from Mrs. Nelson on July 18, 1938, at a cost of $230. The Highway Commission deeded 0.8 of an acre of land from the NE1/4 of Section 4, Township 2 North, Range 9 East W.M., to the Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company on April 9, 1940, for use in the realignment of their railroad tracks. Total acreage in the park at the close of 1963 was 146.02 acres.

Acquisition of this park land was to preserve for posterity the beautiful falls on Starvation Creek and the surrounding hillsides with their evergreen cover of fir timber. Almost the entire area is on the steep slope of the south side of the Columbia Gorge. Picnic facilities are nestled in a small nook not far from the base of Starvation Falls, an unusual, picturesque cataract which flows over a basalt ledge nearly 200 feet high, its fall being broken three times by protruding rocks.

Starvation Creek State Park was named for the creek and the falls by the same name. Oregon Geographic Names says, "Starvation Falls were so named because it was the place west of Dog (Hood) River that a party of pioneer travelers suffered because of some defection in their commissary." W. A. Langille once wrote "the original name of this creek was Starveout, so designated in the winter of 1884-85 when a deep snow stalled two trains in the immediate vicinity. Hood River men, using home made skis, were employed to carry food to the snow-bound passengers."

Improvements are an entrance road, car parking area, trail to the falls, and a small picnic area with tables, benches, fireplaces, water and sanitary facilities. The Civilian Conservation Corps did some of this work at the park.

Attendance during 1963 totaled 10,588 day visitors. Overnight camping facilities have not been provided.

The plaque below was moved to this location from its original site just east of Shellrock Mountain on a now abandoned fragment of the original highway. [Now part of the HCRH State Trail - 6/13/2020]

Not sure if the little piece of old grade below is a part of the original Route 2 alignment through here, part of the old wagon road, or just some remnant of all the work done re-configuring this area over the years...

Oregon State Parks: Starvation Creek State Park

Land was purchased from private owners between 1930 and 1960. There are two theories on the origin of the name Starvation Creek. It is said that a party of overland pioneers nearly starved here for lack of provisions. The place also was called Starveout after two Union Pacific Railroad trains were stalled in the area by heavy snows in the winter of 1884-1885. For some days, the passengers were kept from starvation by men who packed supplies from Hood River on skis.

Acreage: 146.82

Annual day use attendance: 188,264

Along the CRH route, ivy is usually a sign of former habitation or development of some sort. This is probably growing here because of the park. I have yet to see mention of any other settlement in this area.

I am guessing that this was either the old rail grade or built during the construction of I-84 to protect the highway from the creek during storms and floods. There are many embankments like this along the freeway through the Gorge.

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