Yakima Canyon Twin Tunnels SR 821

An early automobile drives through the Yakima River Canyon tunnel at the south entrance of the canyon. The double tunnel was cut into a solid basalt cliff. Area high school and college students enjoyed writing their names and year of graduation on the rock surfaces.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Posted by Jeff. You can email me at: rumblefish351@aim.com at 5:23 PM

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Washington State Route 821

A 25 mile long stretch of historic highway between Selah and Ellensburg along the Yakima River

Opened in 1971, this new freeway bypassed SR 821

US Route 97 was originally aligned along SR 821

South entrance to the tunnels

German Shepherd Dog on guard at the north tunnel entrance on Easter Sunday, 4/12/2009

Should the Yakima Canyon Tunnel Be Restored and Preserved?

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Jeff. You can email me at: rumblefish351@aim.com: * Named Portland's Best Web Historian by Willamette Week in 2016 *

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The picture below was taken in 1966 and shows the original highway with the "new" bypass down below.

It appears that at one time, both the upper and lower routes were open. National Park City was a proposed city plotted in 1891. It was a town that was planned but never built on North Selah Butte. This is located 4 miles north of the Yakima Firing Range.

This photo below shows the south side of the tunnel.

Descending back down, heading south towards Yakima. Note the power/telephone lines and poles between the rail line and highway.

Climbing to the entrance of the tunnel. This traveler is heading south towards Selah.

This picture was taken sometime during the 1920's.

The date on the photograph says: 2/24/1963

This picture shows the bypass construction around the tunnel