CLICK HERE for State Trail Plans: Summit Creek to Lindsey Creek

The route of the original HCRH swings back south across the path of the freeway not too far east of the obliterated northern fragment.

It resumes many feet in the air.

This is the longest surviving stretch of the abandoned highway segments in the Highway Historic District.

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

This 0.4 mile continuous segment of the HCRH is in a secluded, little used portion of Lindsey Creek State Park, at the foot of Mount Defiance. It roughly follows the 200 foot contour line around the ridge dividing Summit and Lindsey creeks. In this area the geology rapidly alternates between Columbia River Basalt outcrops and the loose light – colored rock of the Shellrock formation mixed with silt soil. The area is forested with moist, mixed conifer forest dominated by Douglas fir and western hemlock in the overstory.

The original course of the HCRH climbed straight from the edge of the river at Shellrock Mountain to round the rocky pinnacle, which now forms the western end of the highway segment above I-84. For travelers from the east, this rock outcrop framed a dramatic view of Wind Mountain.

Continuing east the highway passes through a small, moderately steep draw framed in small basalt rock outcrops and pinnacles, forming an interesting vista now overgrown with vegetation. The road then passes around another, smaller rock cut, associated with a large turn out. A small cut-through in an area of mixed soil and rock follows this. An intersecting road or trail associated with this cut-through follows the lateral ridge north, to end abruptly above I-84. This may be a remnant of the road seen on the 1939 photograph in this area .

The HCRH continues east through two broad, shallow, forested draws. A contemporary access road crosses the historic highway in the first of these, leading to I-84 to the north and to the power line and National Forest property to the south. The second large draw contains remnants of road and naturalized plants which may reflect a settlement or opening visible on the 1939 aerial photograph.

The highway fragment ends just short of a large, slightly overhanging rock cut partially removed by the construction of the Interstate. Historically it then descended into the draw of Lindsey Creek to meet the railroad right of way at an elevation of about 120 feet, near the Lindsey Creek Inn.

Buildings and Structures

According to the historic road log, there were several short stretches of standard guard fence in this segment, and one of rubble masonry parapet. No trace of standard guard fence is left, except a small chunk of partially burned post that may be a remnant. The remains of the guard wall were identified by the survey in 1981 as a ruin, but were not located (HAER 1981). As mapped by this survey, this wall is associated with a rock cut and turn out, in approximately the location given by the road log. It is now a heap of stones and broken concrete, and details of its design are impossible to determine. No culverts or other drainage structures were relocated in this fragment.

Topography

The rock cuts in this section are in fair condition, compromised by some minor rock fall and slides, accumulation of soil in gutters, and small trees and other vegetation along the road edge. The large rock cut at the eastern end was not evaluated as it is past the end of the fragment and inaccessible. There are three fill-throughs. Two are in fair condition, with blocked drainage structures. One is in poor condition, with blocked drainage and overgrown vegetation.

The two cut-throughs in the fragment are both in fair condition. They are overgrown with vegetation and sapling trees, and one of them has formed an eyebrow of soil undercutting its top edge, compromising the stability of trees above. Both cut throughs have some slumping or rock fall into the roadbed.

Circulation

The roadbed of the historic highway is covered in a few inches of duff and moss through out the fragment. Below this layer, the pavement appears to be in good condition, with the centerline still apparent.

There are three wye intersections with short, unpaved side roads, all of which may be remnants of roads visible on the 1939 aerials. These are all in poor condition, covered in debris, overgrown with vegetation and/or washed out.

A currently used graveled access road forms a tee intersection with the Historic highway.

A lens shaped turnout associated with a rock cut, masonry wall and road or trail to the north is in poor condition. Its surface is covered in moss, with no evidence of pavement underneath. It is overgrown with Douglas fir and big leaf maple seedlings, and with invasive Scotch broom.

Views and Vistas

The view of Wind Mountain at the western end of the segment is in poor condition, compromised by vegetation, the concrete barrier at the end of the segment, and the Interstate below. The inventory also identified a vista to the south, up a steep draw framed by interesting rock formations. This vista is in poor condition as well, as it is overgrown with small trees.

"Rock cuts were sometimes shaped to achieve a naturalistic look, perhaps including areas that could be planted or allowed to re-vegetate naturally. These rock cuts could bring a sense of intimacy with the landscape or add drama to the road by bringing rock outcrop close to the roadway, in some cases even overhanging it. Rock cuts might be shaped to create aesthetically pleasing waterfalls and control how the water reached the road (Davis et al. 2004), although it is not known if this was done along the historic highway."

"...the highway passes through a small, moderately steep draw framed in small basalt rock outcrops and pinnacles, forming an interesting vista now overgrown with vegetation."

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

Turnouts

Turnouts along the HCRH were often associated with rock cuts, and were built from the excess rock taken from the faces of the cut. These turnouts were as much by-products of the construction process as circulation features. Turnouts were also found near features, such as waterfalls or trail heads, where people stopped regularly, providing parking for a few cars. A turnout might be associated with a fine view, as they would be later in NPS roads (Davis et al. 2004).

The inventory identified two historic turnouts in poor condition, one of which may have been associated with a view. Others may be identified and relocated in the future from historic aerial photographs.

"According to the historic road log, there were several short stretches of standard guard fence in this segment and one of rubble masonry parapet. No trace of standard guard fence is left except a small chunk of partially burned post that may be a remnant. The remains of the guard wall were identified by the survey in 1981 but were not located (HAER 1981). As mapped by this survey, this wall is associated with a rock cut and turn out, in approximately the location given by the road log. It is now a heap of stones and broken concrete, and details of its design are impossible to determine."

"...remnants of the rock guard rails that seem to have disintegrated where they stood."

Old Viewpoint?

I suspect that this used to be a viewpoint back in the day. There are lost recreational facilities, like the picnic area near Perham Creek, and this would not be the first lost viewpoint that I suspect... The good news, it will be a viewpoint again.

"An intersecting road or trail... follows the lateral ridge north, to end abruptly above I-84. This may be the remnant of the road seen on the 1939 photograph in this area."

ODOT - Cultural Landscape Inventory: Shellrock Mountain to Ruthton Point.

"An overlook is proposed along this section to take advantage of some great views of the Columbia River, and a second overlook would be located along a short spur trail that allows for a 180 degree panoramic view of the Columbia River."

ODOT 2010 State Trail Plan.

Photo Currently Unavailable

"No trace of standard guard fence is left except a small chunk of partially burned post that may be a remnant."

Above, believe it or not, there is pavement under all of that.

December 13, 2014

For a while I wondered if this site, below, was actually the location of the Lindsey Creek Inn, since the Harrison Auto Camp was at the actual creek... According to Kristen Stallman, the Inn probably predated the camp at that site, though.

This was actually an old rock quarry used for CRH road building materials. The photo below was shot from the wagon road.

"Wooden posts still intact in the wet climate of the Gorge are unlikely to be historic."

December 13, 2014

More photos of the east end on their way!

Once again, the HCRH disappears into the air over I-84. This is the point at the end of the Lindsey Creek Section of the HCRH. It almost looks like the old highway route is out by the tracks.

"The highway fragment ends just short of a large, slightly overhanging rock cut partially removed by the construction of the interstate. Historically it then descended into the draw of Lindsey Creek to meet the railroad at an elevation of about 120 feet near the Lindsey Creek Inn."

From this angle, at the bottom of the photo above, it looks like there is a road bed atop the old rock cut through here. It might be a small fragment of the HCRH north of the freeway. If so, then this section is also north of the railway (for a few feet). Or the flat rock between the tracks and the freeway may actually be the old road bed.

Below, the CRH at Lindsey Creek. The bridge is off camera to the left in the drainage there, and we can see the highway and tracks returning to view and heading toward Summit Creek and Shellrock Mountain.

US 30

Water Level Alignment

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