Salmonberry River
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| | Difficulty:2A V (v1a1 V) Raps:0
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Required 41mi Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 12 Aug 2023
"Soloed the Salmonberry for the second time. Love this hike although it is starting to get pretty grown over in the lower half. A group that I passed w |
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| Best season: | Sprint to Autumn
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45.7046, -123.4110
45.7500, -123.6524
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Introduction[edit]
Check "Red Tape" before planning a trip to this area.
A unique non-technical canyon / hiking / backpacking destination: this is a 16mi+ section of the abandoned railroad line along the Salmonberry River through the Oregon coast range. Non-technical does not mean easy, however. The route is largely abandoned, overgrown, and it is far more dangerous than your average hike. This is absolutely not a route for the inexperienced. The route used to be an active train line used for hauling lumber out from the coast, until large sections were damaged/destroyed by the Great Coastal Gale of 2007. Between the start at Cochran Pond and the Nehalem River takeout there are 18+ railway bridges you walk across, including 2 massive wooden trestle bridges, and at least nine tunnels. The full route is commonly done as an overnight hike, although strong hikers could do it as a day trip. You can also do an out-and-back from Cochran Pond to see the two large trestle bridges and the first couple tunnels.
- Best hiked from east to west to have the elevation change work in your favor.
- There are a number of fixed ropes and at least one ladder along the route. Reportedly, the middle section is quite overgrown as of 2024.
- There are no active trains on the canyon segment of the Salmonberry between Cochran Pond and the Nehalem River due to damaged/overgrown track, and a number of blown-out bridges.
Beware of car breakins, particularly at the start, although they have been reported at the takeout as well.
Approach[edit]
Descent[edit]
Exit[edit]
Red tape[edit]
- According to Port of Tillamook Bay - Salmonberry Trail there is no trespassing allowed on Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad Property.
- Per Salmonberry Trail - River and Canyon Segments - Final Plan Report - Vol 1: "The underlying owner of the Salmonberry rail right-of-way is POTB (Port of Tillamook Bay). This right-of-way was formally railbanked in 2018. Railbanking is a federal process allowing alternative uses of rail right-of-way while retaining reversion rights should future circumstances of national significance dictate restoration of rail service. Subsequent to the approval of railbanking, POTB executed an agreement with STIA (Salmonberry Trail Intergovernmental Agency) authorizing the development and operation of the Salmonberry Trail.
- Per Salmonberry Trail Org: (Salmonberry Trail Intergovernmental Agency): "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. What's out there now is just not ready--nor is it safe or legal--for public access."
Beta sites[edit]
- Salmonberry Trail Org
- oregonhikers.org
- foresthiker.com
Trip reports and media[edit]
Background[edit]
From the Salmonberry Trail - River and Canyon Segments - Final Plan Report:
"The Port of Tillamook Bay (POTB)–owned Salmonberry Corridor was used for passenger and/or freight rail services between the Oregon Coast and the Tualatin Valley from the early 1900s until 2007. The Salmonberry Corridor has been subject to significant damage from storm events and flooding for its entire history. Severe winter weather in late 2007 caused major landslides, railbed failures, and extensive damage to rail bridges, trestles, and tunnels, particularly in areas of the corridor now identified as the Canyon Segment. This storm damage, combined with declining freight traffic volumes, deteriorating rail infrastructure conditions, steep surrounding topography and unstable slopes, sensitive water and fisheries resources, and significant access constraints, challenged the restoration of rail service.
These conditions and circumstances motivated POTB, along with partners such as the Grand Ronde Tribes, Tillamook and Washington Counties, and several state agencies, to propose the rail corridor between the City of Tillamook and the City of Banks for conversion to a bicycle/pedestrian trail. This partnership was formalized as the Salmonberry Trail Intergovernmental Agency (STIA) in 2017. In 2019, a nonprofit Salmonberry Trail Foundation (STF) was incorporated to assist in the long-term funding and development of the trail."