OC&E Woods Line State Trail
Encyclopedia
The OC&E Woods Line State Trail is a rail trail
in Klamath
and Lake
counties in the U.S. state
of Oregon
. It is Oregon's longest state park
. The trail follows the old OC&E (Oregon, California and Eastern) and Weyerhaeuser
railroads from Klamath Falls
to Thompson Reservoir. Along its 105 miles (169 km) length it passes through the communities of Olene
, Sprague River
, Dairy
, Beatty
, and Bly
.
The OC&E Woods Line State Trail is paved from Klamath Falls to the community of Olene, apporximately 8 miles. Beyond Olene, the trail surface is graded and compacted, which attracts mountain bikers, hikers, anglers, equestrian users, and wildlife watchers. Additionally, the trail has a gentle 2% slope grade.
and Eastern Oregon
with rail lines and take advantage of timber opportunities. Initial development efforts involved bonds sold by the city of Klamath Falls. Logging camps with spur railroads sprang up almost overnight, and by 1919, four lumber mills were located on the main line. After several delays, the OC&E was declared open in the fall of 1923, and in 1927 was extended to Bly.
Southern Pacific
and Burlington Northern operated the line jointly from 1925 until 1974, when it was purchased by Weyerhaeuser, who solely operated the entire railroad in support of its timber operations. At peak production in the late 1970s, the OC&E was reported to be transporting 35,000 loads of wood products a year.
In the early 1980s, the OC&E had a decline in traffic, and when it was no longer cost effective to move logs by rail, Weyerhaeuser railbanked the line, and deeded it to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
in 1992. The last logging train entered Klamath Falls on April 29, 1990.
is used by over 130,000 visitors every year. For example, from Olene, an unpaved section of the trail passes ranch lands, rivers and forests.
The trail provides connections to eight communities, five schools, and several suburban areas within Klamath Falls. Along each section, the trail passes through 13 interpretive signs highlighting historical interest points along the trails, recalling its old railroad years, including the historic 1898 steel bridge spanning the A Canal, all sites available for park visitors. Past the steel bridge sits a restored caboose
, the last one used to run the rails to Klamath Falls.
Major trailheads are located along the trail identified by an OC&E State Trail railroad sign, including Crosby Street in Klamath Falls, Wiard Park, Highway 39, Reeder Road, Switchbacks, Bly and Horse Glades.
The trail from Klamath Falls to Olene is paved, crosses the A Canal bike path and over the Canal through the 1898 steel railroad bridge shortly after running along Wiard Park. From Olene to Dairy the trail runs by the scenic Lost River
, ranchlands, Sweede's Cut and Dairy Y Siding. From Dairy to the Sprague River, it becomes a gravel trail through the Winema National Forest
, Devils Garden and Double Switchbacks built around the hills, which have camping areas, shortly before Bliss Road meets the Sprague River Highway. From Sprague River to Beatty the trail gives chance for fishing off the Sprague River, as well as Wildlife viewing and the Buttes of the Gods next to Bly Mountain. The same activities are presented from Beatty to Bly along several trestles and the cutoff of the Woods Line Trail.
and next to the Sycan Shops. The trail meets Five Mile Creak after 10 miles and runs along as its companion for 6 miles crossing over it several times. The Horse Glades trail takes off after mile 19 of the Woods Line, an area provided with restrooms and camping areas. The most notable structure of the Woods Line is the Merritt Creek Trestle, running 400 feet long and 50 feet high. The Woods Trail ends seven miles north of the trestle
at a point called Sycan Marsh at the north end of Ferguson Mountain, an attraction for birdwatchers
. Ivory Pine Road runs from Highway 140 up to the Horse Glades trail.
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
in Klamath
Klamath County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge* Crater Lake National Park * Deschutes National Forest * Fremont National Forest * Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge* Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge...
and Lake
Lake County, Oregon
Lake County is a county in the high desert south central region of the U.S. state of Oregon, so named for the many lakes found within its boundaries, including Lake Abert, Hart Lake Reservoir, and Goose Lake. While Lake is among Oregon's largest counties, it is sparsely populated with 7,895...
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. It is Oregon's longest state park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
. The trail follows the old OC&E (Oregon, California and Eastern) and Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser is one of the largest pulp and paper companies in the world. It is the world's largest private sector owner of softwood timberland; and the second largest owner of United States timberland, behind Plum Creek Timber...
railroads from Klamath Falls
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Klamath Falls is a city in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. Originally called Linkville when George Nurse founded the town in 1867, after the Link River on whose falls this city sat, although no falls currently exist; the name was changed to Klamath Falls in 1892...
to Thompson Reservoir. Along its 105 miles (169 km) length it passes through the communities of Olene
Olene, Oregon
Olene is an unincorporated community in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. It is located 10 miles southeast of Klamath Falls on Oregon Route 140. Olene has a store and at one time it had a school. In 1940 Olene had a population of 62 and was considered a suburb of Klamath Falls...
, Sprague River
Sprague River, Oregon
Sprague River is an unincorporated community in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. It is located about northeast of Klamath Falls near the Sprague River, northwest of Oregon Route 140.-History:...
, Dairy
Dairy, Oregon
Dairy is an unincorporated community located in Klamath County, Oregon, United States.- Geography :Dairy is located on Oregon Route 140 at the west end of Oregon Route 70, and is approximately 19 miles from Klamath Falls.-History:...
, Beatty
Beatty, Oregon
Beatty is an unincorporated community in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. Beatty is located on Oregon Route 140 at the confluence of the Sycan and Sprague Rivers and is 30 miles east of Klamath Falls....
, and Bly
Bly, Oregon
Bly is an unincorporated community in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. It is about east of Klamath Falls. , the population was 486.- History :...
.
The OC&E Woods Line State Trail is paved from Klamath Falls to the community of Olene, apporximately 8 miles. Beyond Olene, the trail surface is graded and compacted, which attracts mountain bikers, hikers, anglers, equestrian users, and wildlife watchers. Additionally, the trail has a gentle 2% slope grade.
History
Construction on the OC&E Railroad (also known as the Klamath Municipal Railway) began in the summer of 1917 as part of a grand scheme to connect CentralCentral Oregon
Central Oregon is a geographic region in the U.S. state of Oregon and is traditionally considered to be made up of Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook counties. Other definitions include larger areas, often encompassing areas to the north towards the Columbia River, eastward towards Burns, or south...
and Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon is the eastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is not an officially recognized geographic entity, thus the boundaries of the region vary according to context. It is sometimes understood to include only the eight easternmost counties in the state; in other contexts, it includes...
with rail lines and take advantage of timber opportunities. Initial development efforts involved bonds sold by the city of Klamath Falls. Logging camps with spur railroads sprang up almost overnight, and by 1919, four lumber mills were located on the main line. After several delays, the OC&E was declared open in the fall of 1923, and in 1927 was extended to Bly.
Southern Pacific
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
and Burlington Northern operated the line jointly from 1925 until 1974, when it was purchased by Weyerhaeuser, who solely operated the entire railroad in support of its timber operations. At peak production in the late 1970s, the OC&E was reported to be transporting 35,000 loads of wood products a year.
In the early 1980s, the OC&E had a decline in traffic, and when it was no longer cost effective to move logs by rail, Weyerhaeuser railbanked the line, and deeded it to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department , officially known as the State Parks and Recreation Department, is the government agency of the U.S. state of Oregon which operates its system of state parks...
in 1992. The last logging train entered Klamath Falls on April 29, 1990.
Uses
The OC&E Woods Line State Trail is a conversion of the OC&E Railroad disused railway easement into a non-motorized path used for walking, cycling, jogging and horse riding. The now paved flat trails stretch through agricultural and forest areas appealing for recreational development. The OC&E linear parkLinear park
A linear park is a park that is much longer than wide. It is often formed as a part of a rails-to-trails conversion of railroad beds to rail trail recreational use...
is used by over 130,000 visitors every year. For example, from Olene, an unpaved section of the trail passes ranch lands, rivers and forests.
The trail provides connections to eight communities, five schools, and several suburban areas within Klamath Falls. Along each section, the trail passes through 13 interpretive signs highlighting historical interest points along the trails, recalling its old railroad years, including the historic 1898 steel bridge spanning the A Canal, all sites available for park visitors. Past the steel bridge sits a restored caboose
Caboose
A caboose is a manned North American rail transport vehicle coupled at the end of a freight train. Although cabooses were once used on nearly every freight train, their use has declined and they are seldom seen on trains, except on locals and smaller railroads.-Function:The caboose provided the...
, the last one used to run the rails to Klamath Falls.
Major trailheads are located along the trail identified by an OC&E State Trail railroad sign, including Crosby Street in Klamath Falls, Wiard Park, Highway 39, Reeder Road, Switchbacks, Bly and Horse Glades.
Trailhead activities
| Trailhead | coordinate |
|---|---|
| Klamath Falls | 42.20749°N 121.75190°W |
| Olene Olene, Oregon Olene is an unincorporated community in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. It is located 10 miles southeast of Klamath Falls on Oregon Route 140. Olene has a store and at one time it had a school. In 1940 Olene had a population of 62 and was considered a suburb of Klamath Falls... |
42.17136°N 121.62996°W |
| Dairy Dairy, Oregon Dairy is an unincorporated community located in Klamath County, Oregon, United States.- Geography :Dairy is located on Oregon Route 140 at the west end of Oregon Route 70, and is approximately 19 miles from Klamath Falls.-History:... |
42.23462°N 121.52218°W |
| Sprague River Sprague River, Oregon Sprague River is an unincorporated community in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. It is located about northeast of Klamath Falls near the Sprague River, northwest of Oregon Route 140.-History:... |
42.45715°N 121.50501°W |
| Sycan Siding | 42.44867°N 121.24804°W |
| Bly Bly, Oregon Bly is an unincorporated community in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. It is about east of Klamath Falls. , the population was 486.- History :... |
42.39523°N 121.03739°W |
| Sycan Marsh | 42.78002°N 121.11442°W |
The trail from Klamath Falls to Olene is paved, crosses the A Canal bike path and over the Canal through the 1898 steel railroad bridge shortly after running along Wiard Park. From Olene to Dairy the trail runs by the scenic Lost River
Lost River
-Communities:In Canada:*Lost River, QuebecIn the United States:*The town of Lost River, Idaho*The community of Lost River, West Virginia-Rivers:*A losing stream, that is, a river that decreases in volume as it flowsIn the United States:...
, ranchlands, Sweede's Cut and Dairy Y Siding. From Dairy to the Sprague River, it becomes a gravel trail through the Winema National Forest
Winema National Forest
The Winema National Forest is a United States National Forest in Klamath County on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range in south-central Oregon, and covers . The forest borders Crater Lake National Park near the crest of the Cascades and stretches eastward into the Klamath Basin...
, Devils Garden and Double Switchbacks built around the hills, which have camping areas, shortly before Bliss Road meets the Sprague River Highway. From Sprague River to Beatty the trail gives chance for fishing off the Sprague River, as well as Wildlife viewing and the Buttes of the Gods next to Bly Mountain. The same activities are presented from Beatty to Bly along several trestles and the cutoff of the Woods Line Trail.
Woods trail
The Woods Line is a trail that branches off the OC&E State Trail near Beatty outside of Klamath Falls and heads northward. The trail crosses over the Sprague RiverSprague River
The Sprague River is a tributary of the Williamson River, approximately long, in southwestern Oregon in the United States. It drains an arid volcanic plateau region east of the Cascade Range in the watershed of the Klamath River....
and next to the Sycan Shops. The trail meets Five Mile Creak after 10 miles and runs along as its companion for 6 miles crossing over it several times. The Horse Glades trail takes off after mile 19 of the Woods Line, an area provided with restrooms and camping areas. The most notable structure of the Woods Line is the Merritt Creek Trestle, running 400 feet long and 50 feet high. The Woods Trail ends seven miles north of the trestle
Trestle
A trestle is a rigid frame used as a support, especially referring to a bridge composed of a number of short spans supported by such frames. In the context of trestle bridges, each supporting frame is generally referred to as a bent...
at a point called Sycan Marsh at the north end of Ferguson Mountain, an attraction for birdwatchers
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
. Ivory Pine Road runs from Highway 140 up to the Horse Glades trail.
See also
- List of rail trails
- List of Oregon state parks
- List of parks in Klamath Falls, Oregon