The Oregon Department of Transportation is beginning work to remove debris from the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail between Eagle Creek and Cascade Locks, the agency said.
The trail has been closed since December 2025 following heavy rains that triggered a landslide in Ruckel Creek. Debris from the slide measures up to 12 feet deep and includes large boulders and trees. Heavy equipment will operate in the area for the next several weeks as crews clear the debris.
The trail remains closed and hikers are urged to stay out while construction is underway. Bicyclists using the trail have no safe detour route except Interstate 84, according to ODOT.
Once the debris has been cleared by fall, the U.S. Forest Service will evaluate the trail and adjacent slope stability for safety. Oregon Parks and Recreation, ODOT, Oregon Department of Emergency Management, Hood River County, the City of Cascade Locks, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Forest Service are cooperating on the project.
The Ruckel Creek Trail has remained closed since the Eagle Creek Fire in 2017.