This weekend, North Coast residents celebrated a historic moment in Wheeler as ground is officially broken for the Salmonberry Trail.
The Salmonberry Trail is an 82-mile rails-to-trails project that follows the historic Tillamook Railroad, which will eventually link Wheeler to Tillamook off Highway 101, offering hikers and bikers a safer, more scenic route through some of the most breathtaking landscapes on the Oregon Coast.
This weekend’s ground building ceremony was an opportunity for the community to gather and celebrate the work done so far, and the exciting future of the trail. The community gathered for live music, a kids’ parade, local vendors, railroad tours, guided walks, and an official ground building ceremony as the first bit of gravel was spread out over the new trail.
The ceremony was led by Wheeler Mayor Denise Donahue, Senator Suzanne Weber, Tillamook County Commissioner Mary Faith Bell, Rockaway Beach Mayor Charles McNeilly, and Salmonberry Trail Foundation Treasurer Jerry Wille.
After ten years of building community partnerships, planning and fundraising, the first half mile of the Salmonberry Trail is set to open in Wheeler on October 7 as a demonstration trail. The Wheeler segment is set to be followed by a segment in Washington County in 2027, and another in Rockaway Beach in the near future.
The Oregon Coast Visitors Association is proud to support the future of the Salmonberry Trail, which will serve as another gem of recreation for visitors and locals. A large portion of the current gaps in this trail also intersect with gaps on the Oregon Coast Trail, making it a great opportunity to continue to collaborate and combine efforts across partner organizations including the Oregon Coast Trail Foundation and the Tillamook Coast Visitors Association (TCVA), which is working specifically on addressing gaps in the Bay City area.
The Salmonberry Trail is a bridge to Oregon’s future, providing world-class recreation and crucial community connections. Storms cut off this historic route in 2007, but its spirit remains intact. We are committed to restoring the route as an 82-mile multi-use path, creating a stunning journey that unites communities and embodies Oregon’s unyielding spirit of adventure.
The Salmonberry Trail Foundation
Get involved:
Want to help make this vision a reality? Join a Salmonberry Trail group hike or work party to learn more about the vision for this piece of the OCT. You can also advocate for the trail by writing to your local representatives, encouraging them to support trail development and maintenance efforts, and to fund public lands and trails in Oregon.