COLUMBIA RIVER WALK: DESOLATION ROW - Walking Portland - page 172

26 COLUMBIA RIVER WALK:
DESOLATION ROW
BOUNDARIES: N. Marine Dr., N. Portland Rd., Columbia Slough, I-5
DISTANCE: 5 miles
DIFFICULTY: Easy
PARKING: Free street parking
PUBLIC TRANSIT: TriMet Interstate MAX Yellow Line (Kenton/N. Denver Ave., Expo
Center Stations)
This is a great-wide-open, middle-of-nowhere, get-out-and-stretch-your-legs walk.
Though it passes by several heavy-industry areas, with all the accompanying toxic
leftovers, it also incorporates some of the more interesting natural features of the Port-
land region and the site of a historic residential development that was needlessly des-
troyed in a flood. In short, this walk provides plenty of opportunity to meditate on
things that have vanished without a trace, as well as the things we leave behind that
can never be completely erased. There's not a lot in the way of refreshments or enter-
tainment out here, so bring whatever supplies you might need, and prepare to cover a
bit of ground.
Start at the Kenton/N. Denver Ave. MAX Station. Take a moment to
marvel at the statue of Paul Bunyan on the far side of the MAX tracks.
(For more about him, see Walk 24: Historic Kenton . ) Staying on the
north side of the tracks, take the sidewalk past George's Dancin'
Bare—bet you can't guess what that is—and cross N. Argyle St. Cross
the MAX tracks and continue onto the pedestrian strip along the N. Den-
ver Ave. overpass.
Follow N. Denver across the Columbia Slough, then duck to the right
onto a corkscrew walkway leading down to N. Schmeer Rd. This loops
beneath Denver Ave.; carefully cross Schmeer and veer left to join the
Columbia Slough Trail.
To your right is, among other things, the Portland International Race-
way, where the Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association
( omrra.com ) holds competitive events throughout the summer; there are
also weekly drag races and motocross competitions, trade shows, “drift-