The Salmonberry Trail Foundation / by Lee McKnight

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Imagine if this was your hiking trail… a group of Oregonians is working to transform 84 miles of this rail line into recreational trails!

The Salmonberry Trail Foundation is a new non-profit with a mission to transform a former rail line into a one-of-a-kind Pacific Northwest outdoor experience. The proposed 84 miles of uninterrupted, multi-use, non-motorized trail will connect the Willamette Valley to the Oregon Coast. Beginning it Banks Oregon, and embedded within the Tillamook State Forest is follows the Salmonberry river and descends along the Oregon Coast all the way to Tillamook.

The Salmonberry Trail aims to reestablish and expand this unique natural resource for all of Oregon. The trail will be a world class tourist destination while simultaneously boosting local economies, strengthening community relationships, improving regional quality-of-life and connecting all Oregonians to rich history, culture and environment of the state. Project goals for 2019 include increasing organizational capacity, raising public awareness and building momentum for the project.

Severe winter storms in 2007 damaged the Pacific Railway and Navigation line that serviced this area for nearly a century. When the cost of rail repairs was prohibitive, the idea to convert the line into a public-use trail was born.

For more than 10 years, the project has been championed by the Salmonberry Trail Intergovernmental Agency (STIA) and the Tillamook Forest Heritage Trust (TFHT). 2018 was a year of significant progress. STIA signed a lease with the Port of Tillamook Bay, ushering in a new phase of trail development. Technical plans were completed for key phases of the project. Cycle Oregon co-sponsored a two-day gravel riding event that brought 100 people out to the trail. Last but not least, TFHT hired Alana Kambury to launch the Salmonberry Trail Foundation.

The Salmonberry Trail Foundation is curating qualified individuals to join its Board of Directors and to develop partnerships with aligned organizations. To stay up to date, sign up to receive newsletters. Follow us online @thesalmonberrytrail. For inquiries please email alana@salmonberrytrail.org. All tax-deductible donations are appreciated!