Discover Troutdale: History and Landscape

Two themes stand out for a trip to Troutdale: historic buildings and transportation history, and landscapes and views. Harlow House and the Troutdale Rail Depot offer different historical points of reference. The Historic Columbia River Highway combines a scenic character with a clearly defined road history; the Ch’ak Ch’ak Trail and Sandy River Delta bring nature and views to the fore. This lets you prioritize the themes that matter for planning your trip.

Buildings and Local History

Harlow House was built for Fred E. Harlow in 1900 and opened as a museum in 1979. The house displays original furnishings from the Harlow family. The two dates distinguish the original construction from the later museum opening; the furnishings add a family connection to this timeline.

The Troutdale Rail Depot centers on a different historical turning point: it was rebuilt in 1907 after a fire. Comparing it with Harlow House reveals two distinct approaches to building history: Harlow House focuses on its builder, construction date, and later museum opening, while the depot tells the story of rebuilding after the fire.

The Historic Columbia River Highway

The Historic Columbia River Highway was the first scenic highway in the United States. You can explore it by car, bicycle, or on foot. The western, 21.6-mile section from Troutdale to Dodson follows the original route, with one exception: the section at Oneonta Gorge Creek was slightly rerouted in 1948 to bypass the Oneonta Tunnel.

There, the highway crosses Oneonta Gorge Creek on a 1948 reinforced-concrete girder bridge. The detour and the bridge are part of the history of the same section: they show both the reason for the changed alignment and the design of the crossing. Those interested in the development of historic roads will find a specific combination here of the original route, a tunnel bypass, and a later bridge.

Trail, Nature, and Views

The Ch’ak Ch’ak Trail is a scenic, 3-mile section of the historic 40-Mile Loop and offers views. It also improves access to the Sandy River Delta natural area. The delta covers 1,500 acres and lies where the Sandy River flows into the Columbia River. It is also an important viewpoint, with spectacular views of the western Columbia Gorge.

Another named viewpoint is in Depot Park, which includes a viewpoint at Beaver Creek. While the views from Sandy River Delta look toward the western Columbia Gorge, the viewpoint in Depot Park is located at Beaver Creek. Each place offers its own specific point of reference for the landscape.

Focus Areas for Your Trip

The themes differ in kind when making your choice: the Historic Columbia River Highway centers on the option to travel by car, bicycle, or on foot, as well as the history of a specific route. For the Ch’ak Ch’ak Trail, the length and improved access to Sandy River Delta are noted; the delta and Depot Park each offer their own kind of views. Harlow House and the rail depot present two different building histories. This lets you decide whether your trip should focus more on transportation and building history, or on nature and views.

Discover more destinations: Gresham, Portland.

Return to the main travel overview: Multnomah.