OC&E Woods Line State Trail facts for kids

OC&E Woods Line State Trail
OC&E Trail through Klamath Falls at Wiard Park
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Type	Public, state
Location	Klamath and Lake counties, Oregon
Nearest city	Klamath Falls
Operated by	Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
Open	Year-round
Status	Day use, fee-free

The OC&E Woods Line State Trail is a special pathway in Oregon, a state in the United States. It's known as a "rail trail" because it follows old railroad tracks. This trail is Oregon's longest state park, stretching across Klamath and Lake counties.

The trail uses the paths of the old OC&E (Oregon, California and Eastern) and Weyerhaeuser railroad lines. It starts in Klamath Falls and goes all the way to Thompson Reservoir. The trail is about 105-mile (169 km) long. Along the way, it passes through small towns like Olene, Sprague River, Dairy, Beatty, and Bly.

The first part of the trail, from Klamath Falls to Olene, is paved. This paved section is about 8 miles (13 km) long. After Olene, the trail changes to a firm, packed dirt surface. This makes it great for different activities. Many people enjoy mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and horseback riding here. It's also a wonderful spot for watching wildlife. The trail is mostly flat, with a gentle 2 percent slope.

Discovering the Trail's Past

The OC&E Railroad, also called the Klamath Municipal Railway, started being built in 1917. The goal was to connect Central and Eastern Oregon with train lines. This would help transport timber from the area. The city of Klamath Falls helped fund the project by selling bonds.

Soon, logging camps and smaller train lines appeared. By 1919, four lumber mills were operating along the main line. After some delays, the OC&E railroad officially opened in the fall of 1923. It was later extended to Bly in 1927.

Who Owned the Railroad?

From 1925 to 1974, Southern Pacific and Burlington Northern railroads shared the line. Then, in 1974, a company called Weyerhaeuser bought the entire railroad. They used it just for their timber business. In the late 1970s, the OC&E was very busy. It was reported to move 35,000 loads of wood products each year!

In the early 1980s, fewer trains used the OC&E line. It became too expensive to move logs by train. So, Weyerhaeuser decided to stop using the line. In 1992, they gave the land to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The very last logging train came into Klamath Falls on April 29, 1990.

Enjoying the Trail Today

The OC&E Woods Line State Trail is a great example of how old railroad lines can be reused. It's now a path for people to walk, bike, jog, and ride horses. This "linear park" stretches through farms and forests. It's a popular spot for outdoor fun. More than 130,000 people visit the trail every year. For example, the unpaved section from Olene goes through ranch lands, along rivers, and into forests.

The trail connects to eight communities and five schools. It also links to several neighborhoods in Klamath Falls. Along the trail, you'll find 13 special signs. These signs tell stories about the trail's history as a railroad. One interesting spot is the historic steel bridge from 1898. It crosses the A Canal. Near the steel bridge, there's a restored caboose. This was the last caboose to run on the rails to Klamath Falls.

Where to Start Your Adventure

You can find major starting points, called trailheads, along the trail. They are marked with an OC&E State Trail railroad sign. Some of these trailheads are at Crosby Street in Klamath Falls, Wiard Park, Oregon Route 39, Reeder Road, Switchbacks, Bly, and Horse Glades.

The A Canal trail also connects to the OC&E trail. This happens near Summers Lane and Boardman Avenue. The A Canal trail runs from Esplanade Avenue to Homedale Road. Another connection is the Kit Carson trail. It starts near Portland Street and goes to the Oregon Institute of Technology and Sky Lakes Medical Center.

Exploring Different Sections

The trail from Klamath Falls to Olene is paved. It crosses the A Canal bike path and goes over the 1898 steel railroad bridge. This section runs along Wiard Park.

From Olene to Dairy, the trail follows the beautiful Lost River. You'll see ranchlands, Sweede's Cut, and Dairy Y Siding.

From Dairy to the Sprague River, the trail becomes gravel. It goes through the Winema National Forest, Devils Garden, and Double Switchbacks. These switchbacks are built around hills and have camping areas.

From Sprague River to Beatty, you can enjoy fishing in the Sprague River. It's also a great place for wildlife viewing. You'll see the Buttes of the Gods near Bly Mountain. The section from Beatty to Bly offers similar activities. It also has several old railroad bridges, called trestles.

The Woods Line Trail Branch

The Woods Line is a special branch of the OC&E State Trail. It splits off near Beatty and heads north. This trail crosses the Sprague River and goes past the Sycan Shops.

About 10 miles (16 km) later, the trail meets Five Mile Creek. It then follows the creek for about 6 miles (10 km), crossing it several times. The Horse Glades trail branches off after mile 19 of the Woods Line. This area has restrooms and places to camp.

The most famous part of the Woods Line is the Merritt Creek Trestle. This old bridge is 400 feet (120 m) long and 50 feet (15 m) high! The Woods Trail ends about 7 miles (11 km) north of this trestle. It finishes at a spot called Sycan Marsh, at the north end of Ferguson Mountain. This area is very popular for birdwatchers. You can reach the Horse Glades trail from Oregon Route 140 using Ivory Pine Road.