Sunset Highway (Oregon)
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The Sunset Highway, in the state of Oregon, is an official designation for the portion of U.S. Highway 26 between its western terminus, south of Seaside, and the interchange with Interstate 405 in downtown Portland. The highway was officially named January 17, 1946 for the US 41st Infantry Division of the United States Army, also known as the "Sunset Division." (It is a common misconception that the highway was so named because it heads west--into the sunset--out of Portland).
The western terminus of the highway (and of US 26) is at an interchange with U.S. Highway 101 between Seaside and Cannon Beach. The highway heads east from there through the coast range, passing through the valleys of the Necanicum and Nehalem rivers. It then crosses over the coast ranges, descending into the Tualatin Valley, into the community of Banks.
East of Banks, the highway merges with Oregon Route 6 and becomes a freeway, which passes through the high-tech regions of Washington County. The freeway enters the Portland metropolitan area north of Hillsboro, then passes through the city of Beaverton and the communities of Cedar Hills and Cedar Mill. The highway enters the Portland city limits near the Sylvan neighborhood, where it is also joined by Oregon Route 8; east of here the highway descends down a steep grade through a canyon which penetrates Portland's West Hills; this stretch of the Sunset is also known as Canyon Road. The highway skirts the southern edge of Portland's Washington Park, providing access to the Oregon Zoo and other attractions. At the bottom of the grade, the highway passes through the Vista Ridge Tunnel into downtown Portland. Immediately east of the tunnel is an interchange with I-405; this interchange marks the end of the Sunset Highway. US 26 continues past from there; briefly sharing an alignment with I-405 before crossing the Willamette River on the Ross Island Bridge.
