THE SALMONBERRY TRAIL: A VISION OF RECONNECTION

Welcome to Oregon's most ambitious rail-trail project.

Please note: Parts of the line are actively used by trains and the portions that have been storm-damaged are too dangerous for public access. We know there's lots of interest in getting out into this historic passage over the Coast Range, and we're working on it. But what's out there now is just not ready--nor is it safe or legal--for public access.

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Behind the scenes: We’re surveying the heart of the canyon segment of the Salmonberry Trail. Unmaintained since the storm of 2007, nature is showing her persistence.
Photo 1: Hanging rails show how much earth has eroded from underneath the rail line.
Photo 2: A logjam on Wolf Creek pushes into the trestle. Fortunately, these trestles were built for heavy loads of logs on rail cars and can be shored up for lighter loads of hikers and cyclists in the future.
Photo 3. Michael, a lead engineer for the project, takes a rest after scrambling down the canyon to inspect damage to the trestle.

#trestle #salmonberrytrail #tillamookcounty #railstotrails #pnwonderland

It’s been a challenging year so far but there’s light up ahead.
#salmonberrytrail #lightattheendofthetunnel #tgif

Why so much planning for a trail?

Around 100 years old, bridges and trestles on the Salmonberry Trail are an engineering marvel of the early 20th Century. They’re also structures that need to be surveyed and maintained, which hasn’t happened since the storm of 2007.
The planning we’re doing now takes a good look at what these structures need, how stable the landscape around the tracks are, and give us an idea of what is feasible where.

Trestle from below.
I got to join the survey team leading planning for the canyon and river segments of the Salmonberry Trail. It was a day camp in engineering, landscape architecture, and GIS from seasoned professionals helping us understand what it will take to make this epic trail a reality.
#railstotrails #salmonberrytrail #historicarchitecture

Thanks to our partners in Tillamook and Washington Counties, planning for the second half of the Salmonberry Trail is underway. The Canyon and River segments are the most remote, and therefore the hardest to access. Some say they’re the most beautiful.
The planners are taking special measures to keep a safe social distance. We’ll send an update from the field as planning progresses.

This shot was taken during a recent survey. To the right of the abutment you can see the partially washed out rail line leading up to a trestle. The plan for these trail segments will give the Salmonberry Trail Foundation and its partners a clearer understanding of the work that needs to be done to make the Salmonberry Trail a reality.

We're kepping our eyes on the bigger picture and celebrating the new Salmonberry Trail Foundation this month. The new non-profit will be the fundraising body of the project with crossover leadership from STIA and the Tillamook Forest Heritage Trust, as well as some new faces and minds! Stay tuned for more... #pnwonderland #salmonberrytrail #railtotrail #oregon #trail

Train Trestle.jpg — Salmonberry Trail Meeting Set for November 6

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
**October 21, 2020**
**Media Contact:**Dennis Wiley
503-986-0723
dennis.wiley@oregon.gov
**Salmonberry Trail meeting set for November 6th**
SALEM, Ore. - The Salmonberry Trail Intergovernmental Agency (STIA) will meet virtually to discuss the proposed Salmonberry Trail corridor 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. November 6th. The public can view the proceedings via https://bit.ly/stiavideo .
Items to be discussed include updates on the Salmonberry Trail Foundation and status of the current River and Canyon Segment planning study and the 2021 meeting schedule and budget.
The proposed Salmonberry Trail is an 86-mile corridor that follows the Port of Tillamook Bay Railway and terminates in Banks. The proposed route connects eight cities and two counties, passing by the Oregon coastline, fisheries, farmland and the Oregon Coast Range.
STIA was established to promote and facilitate coordinated direction and guidance in the planning, development and maintenance of the multi-use trail.
For more information or if you’d like to submit public comment for board members to review send comments to dennis.wiley@oregon.gov. at least 3 days prior to the meeting.