Mosier Tunnels

Pacific tent caterpillar.

The Mosier Tunnels were built on the Historic Columbia River Highway as part of an effort not only to  connect Portland with The Dalles, but to create a road that would make the journey thoroughly enjoyable.  The highway sought to display the loveliest parts of the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge, taking advantage of stunning waterfalls and breathtaking panoramas.  The tunnels themselves were designed to be beautiful.  When I-84 took its place, the tunnels were abandoned and filled in.  Eventually support grew to reclaim the Old Highway, and today these tunnels are completely restored.  The  trail is paved and very smooth, and attracts far more cyclists than hikers.  On a hot day, expect it to be really cooking here along the asphalt in between shady spots and areas where the angle of the gorge is just right to channel a cool breeze.  The tunnels themselves are less than a mile from the trailhead, but we kept going and were rewarded by much natural beauty.

Balsamroot.

Yarrow with a female dimorphic long-horned beetle.

A window inside the tunnel.  

Just outside the tunnels, a structure built to shelter the trail from falling rocks.

Oregon sunshine.

Blueblossom ceanothus with flower crab spider.

Mule deer.

Phantom orchid (endangered).

Phantom orchid.

Hairy cat's-ear.

Bachelor's buttons.

Seven-spotted ladybug.

An inscription inside the east tunnel bears witness to two travelers who were snowbound there for 12 days in 1921.

Mile marker 72 is inside the tunnels.

Fireweed.

Ball-head cluster lily.

California poppy.