Ride to Hood River - Mitchell Point tunnel?

[u/duckemaster]

Hi! I am hoping to finally make it out to see the new Mitchell Pt tunnel tomorrow. What I am trying to understand though - is it possible to bike all the way through to Hood River, even if it means hopping on I-84? My understanding is the tunnel was closed to bikes for the event, and there is still 1 short section of the bike path route that is not completed, that last few miles into Hood River. I guess I just want to know, will I be able to bike through the tunnel and then hope on I-84 (as terrible as it might be) for the last handful of miles? A RWGPS route I made shows this at 63 miles from my house.

Plan B is to ride back to Cascade Lochs which will be ~ 70 mile ride, so I'm not too worried either way, as long as the CAT buses are running!

reference websites:
https://bikeportland.org/2023/09/06/two-mile-carfree-section-of-paved-historic-columbia-river-highway-state-trail-opens-saturday-379154
https://www.oregon.gov/odot/regions/pages/historic-columbia-river-highway.aspx
https://bikeportland.org/2024/11/11/this-weekend-the-mitchell-point-tunnel-in-the-gorge-will-open-to-the-public-for-first-time-in-71-years-391232

[u/chimi_hendrix]

https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Regions/Pages/MitchellPoint.aspx

As of 2024, the Mitchell Point Tunnel is not connected to another trail segment.

On the west side of the tunnel, there is a 0.7-mile link still needed to connect Viento State Park to Mitchell Point, which is anticipated to begin construction as early as 2026.

On the east side, there is a 1.6-mile segment of trail needed to connect into Hood River.

For hikers: To coincide with the opening of the Mitchell Point Tunnel, ODOT and OPRD will provide a temporary pedestrian connection up to the start of construction in 2026 between Viento State Park and the Mitchell Point Tunnel to allow pedestrians access without a vehicle or riding a shuttle bus. Due to the temporary nature of the connection and width limitations, no bicycles will be allowed – this connection is pedestrian-only. From Viento State Park, travel east for two miles on the State Trail and then follow the signs to Mitchell Point Tunnel.

[u/woahthereguy → u/chimi_hendrix]

This is the answer. I rode in a group earlier this summer starting in Portland and took the old historic highway. The last 3.5 miles on 84 are pretty terrifying if you are starting to feel gassed.

[u/anynameisfinejeez]

I have ridden from Vancouver to Hood River via the Old Columbia River Highway, trail, and a few miles along I-84. That was a few years ago though.

[u/Wafer_Friendly]

I've biked from Hood River back to Portland a few times. They were all done before the recent construction. Basically there is a ten mile section just west of Hood River to Wyeth Road where you had to ride the shoulder of 84. I've looked at the routing recently and it seems like you would still need to ride 84 for about six miles to Viento, but I have not personally verified that.