Welcome to Trail Only: 5 Friendly Rides Cycling in the Columbia Gorge!
Descriptions of each ride Below. Click on Panels to see Ride Details and Map
1. Bonneville Trail HCRH
2. Cascade Locks to Yeon Trail Head Trail HCRH; This extends the Bonneville trail.
3. Twin Tunnels at Hatfield HCRH
4. Wyeth to Viento St Park Plus HCRH
5. Riverfront Trail
Small descriptions and a few images below to describe the five tails below.
"HCRH or The Historic Columbia River Trail has three Trails which are free of vehicles. These are different geologies, vistas, sounds, smells and botany! The three rides are Bonneville Trail & extension to Yeon, Wyeth to Viento Trail (soon to be the Mitchell Point Trail),
This Trail is a good introduction to the Gorge. It proceeds from Cascade Locks West to Bonneville Dam. Views of the River and Table Mountain as well as the Dam are plenty. You will be biking on top of the original 1916 highway. Alert: you have to use stairs at Eagle Creek. There are tire channels to guide your bike up and down th esteps. The steps were made in 1996 and are not ADA compliant. We are endeavoring to make this compliant to the 1990 America with Disabilities Act. At Bonneville Dam, be sure to visit the Herman the Sturgeon Pond!
Left: US FS Eagle Creek Overlook Campground east of Bonneville Dam. Right: Herman the Sturgeon, eyeball to eyeball view thru glass window at its level.
This is the longer version of Ride 1 above. This adds several more miles and reveals an incredible view of Beacon Rock. Right before the Yeon parking lot is a wall of sand...which is the deposit of hundreds of water surges from the Missoula Flood.
Left: Rounding The iconic Bridge of the Gods Bridge. Right: Lovely canopy forest in autumn.
This classic Historic Columbia River Trail is from Hood River to Mosier, OR. Start at the western trailhead (restrooms) and proceed East. You will see some geologic extrusions, cycle under the canopy of maples, and emerge in the dry pre-desert of the eastern gorge. The tunnel has adits which open north to view the River. Towards the end of the tunnel look for the carving of entrapped car passengers in a snow storm! Continue to the easter gate of the trail and see the immense rock slides and pine dominant ecosphere. Winds are part of the ride, so don't be surprised.
Left: Lightened view of inside Twin Tunnels. Right: Peeking over left shoulder is Coyote Wall, WA.
This Trail-only-ride is a newer trail (2018) with grand sweeping vision of the River and the Washington mountain ranges. Wyeth is has new rest rooms and picnic areas. The Starvation Creek area shows off several intimate waterfalls. There is an extension to Viento State Park and another extra mile plus you can add on too. Some day this will connect to Mitchell Point Tunnel.
Left: Rounding Shellrock Mountain Right: Cabin Falls west of Starvation Creek.
This sweet 5 mile trail begins from the Discovery Center and goes south to The Dalles. The trail follows the Columbia River with fishing platforms and beaver toppled trees. It courses along the high desert terrain with huge power lines and the Google complex of hidden servers answering your questions, e.g. nearest restroom? You are following the early American explorers along this trail with several historical signs. Keep going into downtown The Dalles and find great breweries, restaurants and delicious hand packed ice icream.
Left: Welcome to the high desert; Tribe fishing platforms coming up on the River. Right: Look for beaver teeth marks on trees along the Columbia.
