Olympic Discovery Trail

The new Railroad Bridge trestle

The new trestle on the Railroad Bridge has been completed, opened, and dedicated. After nearly a year since the old trestle was damaged in flooding, I can humbly say it was well worth the wait. Thank you, Jamestown S’Klallam!

The Jamestown S’Klallam tribe, which owns the property, led the $1.53 million replacement project and solicited grant funding to contribute to the work. The new steel span has fewer piers in the Dungeness River and was designed to help restore the river’s salmon habitat. Railings are high on the new deck but there are plans for an observation section.

S’Klallam tribal elders performed a blessing ceremony last week at the formal opening of the bridge. Cedar boughs were blessed and used as a ceremonial “ribbon” to cut and visitors at the ceremony brushed the sides of the bridge with boughs as they traversed. We are blessed to have this beautiful span which is also a link in the Olympic Discovery Trail.

Here’s a view of the Olympic Discovery Trail (ODT) looking west from Kitchen-Dick Road. The ODT is an ambitious trail project which, when completed, will stretch 130 miles from Port Townsend to the Pacific Ocean. Five original railroad trestles have been converted for trail use. This year is expected to mark the completion of 53 miles. It is an interesting trail in that it traverses towns, farms, fields, and the rivers and streams of the Olympic Peninsula. It is a wide, paved multi-use pathway. Unlike wildland trails, it crosses city streets so users do need to be mindful of traffic hazards.