OC&E Woods Line State Trail

The OC&E Woods Line State Trail is a former railroad route that runs approximately 109 miles from Klamath Falls through ranch lands, forests, and valleys to Thompson Reservoir. The first 8 miles from town feature pavement suitable for all users, while the rest transitions to gravel surfaces.

The route started in 1917 as the Klamath Municipal Railway, hauling timber products across the landscape for decades. In 1990 Weyerhaeuser donated the corridor to Oregon Parks, transforming it into a public recreation corridor.

Communities along the route have built their identity around the timber trade that once defined the region. Local interpretive stations tell stories of how this work shaped settlement patterns and daily life for families living nearby.

The trail starts smooth near town but becomes rougher as you progress outward, so choose footwear and equipment suited to changing conditions. Water sources and rest stops are scattered along the way rather than clustered together.

A steel trestle crosses Merritt Creek at mile 27, standing roughly 50 feet (15 meters) high and stretching about 400 feet (120 meters) long. This striking structure reveals the engineering effort needed to carry the old line over challenging waterways.

Location: Klamath County

Location: Lake County

Website: http://oregonstateparks.org/park_230.php

GPS coordinates: 42.20750,-121.75200

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:07