Photo courtesy North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District
Photo courtesy North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District
As its name would indicate, the Trolley Trail was once an electric rail line transporting goods and people between Milwaukie and Gladstone from the mid-1890s to the late 1950s.
Rails removed, trail cleared and paving complete, it's now a smooth, 6-mile cruise, passing neighborhoods and commercial areas along its route.
The northern terminus, with ample parking, is Riverfront Park in downtown Milwaukie, at the intersection of SE McLoughlin Blvd/Hwy 99E and Jefferson Street. In Gladstone the trail ends near Gladstone High School, near the intersection of E. Jersey St. and Portland Avenue.
Along the way the trail crosses many intersections (including SE McLoughlin Blvd., where there's a traffic light), and at about midpoint, at Stringfield Family Park, there are nice restrooms and a play area.
The Trolley Trail is an important link in the regional trail system, connecting the parks and trails along the Clackamas River in the Gladstone/Oregon City area with the Springwater Trail to the north.
A collection of historical photos from the Trolley Trail can be found at http://www.hhpr.com/
