Hood River Pipeline Hike

Overview

This excursion along the lower reaches of the Hood River involves some aberrations of what is normally considered a “hike.” First, you’re on private land all the way, actually the route of the old penstock which led from the 1923 Powerdale Dam on the Hood River, decommissioned in 2010, to the powerhouse and gantry where you’ll begin the hike, all of this route having been turned over to the Columbia Land Trust by PacifiCorp in 2013. Young Hood Riverians blooded themselves hiking along the top of the nine-foot diameter penstock to reach “secret” beaches on the Hood River. Much of the penstock has been taken away. Unusually, however, part of the agreement for the transfer of ownership, in addition to restoration of fish habitat, was to preserve recreational use of the corridor. This provision is somewhat of a nightmare as the route trespasses on the Mount Hood Railroad’s right of way and also involves 0.6 miles of PacifiCorp’s catwalk atop the remaining section of penstock, the most interesting section of this hike. To begin your exploration of this corridor, walk up to the information kiosk, and then head right towards the well graffitied power station. To your left, the Mount Hood Railroad’s trestle spans the Hood River. The end of the trail is behind the powerhouse, straddled by its maintenance gantry. From here, you’ll get a view across the cobbled verges of the Hood River to a stand of cottonwoods that glows golden in the fall. Return to the parking area, and take the wide path that leads across the Mount Hood Railroad (This crossing is controversial, and there are plans to construct some kind of safe passage over or under the railroad.). Bear left to walk along the railroad, where there’s still a section of the old penstock. A steep oak-forested hillside slopes down from Highway 35 above. A spur leads right to rock hop a narrow river channel to pass through blackberries, willows, and cottonwoods to a beach on the main channel of the Hood River. Back at the railroad tracks, take the next path on the right

Trail Stats

Photos

300px-HoodRiverPipelineMap

300px-HoodRiverPipelineMap

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250px-Tina_up_on_the_catwalk%2C_Powerdale_Corridor

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250px-Looking_downstream%2C_Powerdale_Corridor

250px-Railroad_trestle%2C_Hood_River%2C_Powerdale_Corridor

250px-Railroad_trestle%2C_Hood_River%2C_Powerdale_Corridor

400px-Tina_at_the_narrows%2C_Powerdale_Corridor

400px-Tina_at_the_narrows%2C_Powerdale_Corridor

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