Old River Road to Mary S. Young Park

About this event

DESCRIPTION : Let's meet at George Rogers Park in Oswego for a paved out-and-back walk, mostly along the Willamette, connecting Old River Road to Mary S. Young Park. Restrooms available in both Geo Rogers Park and Mary S. Young Park.

Note: Thank you in advance for changing your RSVP from "Going" to "Not Going" (or put a note in the chat) if your plans change.

DISTANCE : About 5.5 miles

PARKING: George Rogers Park 611 S. State Street, Lake Oswego, or surrounding streets.

MEET : George Rogers Park, Lake Oswego, lower parking lot near the trellis leading to a grassy area.

Historical Notes: You'll see the Oswego Iron Furnace, a massive stone and brick blast furnace listed on the National Register of Historic Places, built in 1866.

The brick and concrete structure located along the riverside path connecting Old River Road with George Rogers Park is the abandoned Crown-Willamette Paper Company Log Loading Station aka Oswego Log Hoist ).

• Built Around 1900–1914: The facility was constructed to lift harvested timber out of the Willamette River.

• Log Hoist Operation: Logs floated downriver in booms from areas like Astoria via sternwheelers to Oswego. Workers used a motor-powered hoist to lift the logs up the steep embankment and load them onto Southern Pacific Railroad flatbed cars.

• Paper Mill Supply: The rail cars transported the timber above the Willamette Falls to paper mills, including the Crown Willamette Paper Company operations.

• Abandonment: The station operated until 1933 , when the Southern Pacific Railroad abandoned the line and trucking methods replaced river-to-rail logging transport.

• Later Attempt: There was a brief, unsuccessful effort in the late 1970s to convert the industrial shell into a residential structure, which left behind partial window and interior changes.

LAUNCH TIME : 10:00 AM

FITNESS LEVEL : Expect a moderate pace for this flat-as-a-pancake walk.

ATTIRE : Bring layers and your adventurous spirit.

GUESTS : Welcome! Register by name in the website. Dogs on leash ok.

AFTER WALK REPAST OPTION : Group preference.

From Portland City Trail Walking Group