Salmonberry River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Salmonberry River |
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The Salmonberry River and the damaged Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad in February 2008
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 Location of the mouth of Salmonberry River in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Tillamook |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Tillamook State Forest, Northern Oregon Coast Range 2,090 ft (640 m) 45°44′44″N 123°23′34″W / 45.74556°N 123.39278°W |
| River mouth | Nehalem River 236 ft (72 m) 45°45′03″N 123°39′12″W / 45.75083°N 123.65333°W |
| Length | 20 mi (32 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 66 sq mi (170 km2) |
The Salmonberry River is a cool river in northwest Oregon, United States. It is about 20 miles (32 km) long. This river flows into the Nehalem River. It drains a quiet area of the Northern Oregon Coast Range. This area is part of the Tillamook State Forest. It is about 65 miles (105 km) west-northwest of Portland.
The river flows through a region that had big wildfires. These fires, called the Tillamook Burn, happened between 1933 and 1951.
Where the River Flows
The Salmonberry River starts in the northeastern part of Tillamook County. This is near the border with Washington County. It then flows west-northwest through the mountains. The river joins the Nehalem River from the southeast. This meeting point is about 15 miles (24 km) northeast of the city of Nehalem.
How the River Got its Name
The river's name comes from a plant. This plant is called the salmonberry plant. Its scientific name is Rubus spectabilis.
The Railroad Story
An exciting train ride, the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad (OCSR), travels near the Salmonberry River. This train is an excursion railway. It also offers dinner trips. The train goes up the Nehalem River canyon from Wheeler. It reaches the mouth of the Salmonberry River.
The OCSR is a group run by volunteers. They use old railway tracks for their trains. These tracks were once used by the Southern Pacific Railroad. They were also used by the Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad. The railway track continues up the Salmonberry River for about 14 miles (23 km). However, floods and erosion badly damaged this part of the track. Because of the damage, it was closed in 2007.
Some groups, like the Wild Salmon Center, care about fish. They are worried about salmon and steelhead fish in the Nehalem and Salmonberry rivers. They prefer that the track along the Salmonberry River stays closed. They are concerned about landslides near the tracks. They also worry about chemicals sprayed along the railway. These things can harm fish and their eggs.
