Advocating for new ventures and lost trails that access Oregon’s natural wonders has become a regular part of our work. There are endless possibilities for TKO to be a partner in finding lost trails and bringing day-dream projects to life. You can join the support for new and lost trails across Oregon by donating today!
The Salmonberry Trail is no small venture. Over 87 miles of railroad line are sitting dormant and have the possibility of connecting the Valley to the Coast . The canyon section in particular is right up TKO’s bailiwick. We’ve been working closely with the engineering consultant on this project to assess the viability of this trail connection, approaching in different ways a rail-to-trail and rail-with-trail conversion!
We are working with many partners to advocate for this trail and we may see projects begin in the portion that connects to Stub Stewart State Park as early as 2021. Your support builds a community engagement that will see that the value of these places is met with a vested interest in their care.
Make no mistake, while the 87-mile corridor has dozens of amazing trestle bridges, the scene you see here is not one of them. A series of once-in-a-hundered-year floods ravaged through the Coast Range and wreaked havoc on many communities and infrastructure. The Salmonberry Corridor was not spared. While the rail companies sought to rebuild and restore after 1997, there seemed to be a desire to pause after 2008. That is when the dream came alive for the rail-to-trail and rail-with-trail conversions. TKO has been working to offer alternatives to rebuilding railbed through a more wilderness-like trail development.
In addition to spectacular trestle bridges, some of which reach heights of more than 80 feet from the river below, the corridor is also home to 13 tunnels of varying lengths. Some tunnels are safe for passage, but others need to have the trail rerouted to safely circumnavigate the decaying structures. TKO has been scouting the hillsides for those trail alternatives. You can support these projects and speed up access to these wonders by donating today!
Urban trails are a cornerstone to nature access for urban and suburban residents, offering countless physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health benefits. TKO has been busy throughout the Portland Metro Area and beyond in 2023 ensuring that these trails can continue to safely connect communities with the outdoors!
Throughout 2023 TKO has been lucky to participate in some outstanding trail projects in the Willamette and Umpqua River Valleys. These projects, critical to maintaining and reopening trails, allowed volunteers to grow their trail construction skills in some of Oregon’s most beautiful natural areas!
Have you caught the “saw bug” yet? Join TKO on a logout and you just might! This draw to saw work, the itch to feel the saw interact with wood as you cut, captivates many a trail crew member after just one day pulling saw. Saw work is a critical aspect of trail stewardship, and it’s this feeling that TKO has worked to inspire in emerging sawyers across Oregon.
Trailkeepers of Oregon
P.O. Box 14814
Portland, OR 97293
(971) 206-4351