Larch Mountain (Multnomah County, Oregon)
| Larch Mountain | |
|---|---|
Larch Mountain, as seen from Washougal, Washington.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,061 ft (1,238 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 975 ft (297 m) |
| Coordinates | 45°31′58″N 122°05′16″W / 45.532756064°N 122.087797881°WCoordinates: 45°31′58″N 122°05′16″W / 45.532756064°N 122.087797881°W |
| Geography | |
| Location | Multnomah County, Oregon, U.S. |
| Topo map | USGS Multnomah Falls |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | 1.8–1.4 Ma |
| Mountain type | Shield volcano |
| Volcanic field | Boring Lava Field |
| Last eruption | 1.4 Ma |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | paved road (June–October) hiking trails (November–May) |
Larch Mountain is an extinct volcano near Portland, Oregon. The name is misleading, as no western larch (a large coniferous tree) can be found there. It received that name when early lumbermen sold the noble fir wood as larch. The peak can be reached between May and November on paved Larch Mountain Road, 16 miles (26 km) east of Corbett, Oregon, although the road is closed during the winter and spring months.
Larch Mountain is located in Multnomah County, Oregon approximately 40 miles east of Portland, above the Columbia River Gorge. Although it has an elevation of 4,061 feet (1,238 m), its prominence above the surrounding terrain is only 975 feet (297 m). The summit of the mountain is accessible by Larch Mountain Road between May and November, which branches off from the Historic Columbia River Highway two miles east of Corbett. Due to the risk of driving on the mountain's upper slopes in winter weather, the road closes during the winter months at milepost 10.
In 1879, Amos James Moore was the first known person to advocate for the logging and settling of Larch Mountain. Attractive due to its proximity to Portland and the Columbia River, it contained what were considered some of the highest-quality cedar, hemlock, and fir trees in the United States. In 1886, the Bridal Veil Lumbering Company started logging and constructed a lumber mill, followed a year later by the Latourrel Falls Wagon Road and Lumber Company. The operation rapidly expanded with the construction of a wooden plank road extending from Larch Mountain to the railroad line near the river, allowing for the large-scale logging of the mountain. The Bridal Veil Lumbering company became known for the high quality of its timber.
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