Larch Mountain

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, 16mi east of Corbett, Oregon, although the road is closed during the winter and spring months.GeographyLarch Mountain is located in Multnomah County, Oregon approximately 40 miles east of Portland, above the Columbia River Gorge. Although it has an elevation of 4061ft, its prominence above the surrounding terrain is only 975ft. 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.HistoryIn 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.