Mosier Twin Tunnels

Mosier Twin Tunnels are two restored road tunnels on the former U.S. Highway 30, now part of the paved, car-free Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. The 4.5-mile segment links Mosier and Hood River, with trailheads at either end. The tunnels sit about a mile west of Mosier’s east trailhead, making them a roughly two-mile walk or ride out and back before any extra exploring. Continue farther west if you want the full route; the tunnel pair works well as its own destination, too.

The two tunnels run consecutively for about 390 feet. Side passages open to windows in the rock, framing views across the Columbia River Gorge toward Coyote Wall and Eighteen Mile Island. A stone overlook sits before the eastern tunnel, and a short, rough spur beyond both tunnels reaches another Gorge viewpoint. The landscape changes along the path: open scabland and ponderosa pine near Mosier give way to fir forest west of the tunnels. For a photo that feels specific to this place, use one of the tunnel openings to frame the river-side view; the arch makes the old road part of the picture.

Samuel Lancaster designed the Historic Columbia River Highway, built from 1913 to 1922. Cars began using these tunnels in 1921, and the route was widened as vehicles grew; by the 1940s, one-way traffic signals managed the narrow passage. After I-84 opened, rock filled the tunnels and this stretch of road was abandoned. Restoration crews cleared the rubble and found old graffiti, including marks linked to drivers snowbound in 1921. The route reopened to people on foot and bicycles in 2000.

Start at Mark O. Hatfield East Trailhead on Rock Creek Road near Mosier, or use the west trailhead near Hood River for the longer one-way crossing. Parking requires a day-use permit, with a one-day permit available on site; a toilet is reported at the Mosier trailhead. Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet, and e-bikes are permitted. The paved route has some grade: it is described as universally accessible, but wheelchair users may need help in places, so it is not a level path.