Salmonberry Canyon — Port of Tillamook Bay RR

OR · Timber → Enright

One storm in 2007 threw this railroad into the river.

Heads up: Washouts, hanging rail and collapsed trestles — extremely dangerous. The west end near the coast is used by the ACTIVE Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad.

The line through the Coast Range between the Willamette Valley and Tillamook was completed in 1911. It followed the Salmonberry River through a steep, rain-soaked canyon full of tunnels and trestles. Southern Pacific ran it for decades before the Port of Tillamook Bay took over.

On December 2–3, 2007, the Great Coastal Gale sent the Salmonberry River into flood. Embankments collapsed, trestles fell, tunnels were damaged, and whole sections of track ended up hanging in mid-air or lying in the river.

Repairs were first estimated at $20 million, then $57.3 million. The railroad was never rebuilt. Since 2018 a state agency has been planning the Salmonberry Trail along the corridor. Until then, the canyon is a scene of hanging rail, broken bridges and rainforest.

⚠️ Before you go: every railroad on this map is private property. A line that looks abandoned may still be owned by a railroad, used to store rail cars, or put back into service at any time — sometimes with no warning. Before going near any track, make sure it's truly abandoned (no recent use, rails not polished, no signals or cars stored on it) and that you're allowed to be there. Never assume a track is dead.

📷 Photos & stories from riders

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