We Are Making Major Momentum…
This project is taking major leaps forward! On May 20, 2023, we broke ground on the project’s very first trailhead in the City of Elgin, construction started in September, and we’ll have a ribbon cutting this spring. In October, we were awarded a grant from Travel Oregon that will fund construction of the project’s second trailhead in the City of Wallowa. We’re working hard to launch construction of the project’s first two trail sections — one in Elgin and one in Wallowa. (You can watch a short video of the groundbreaking celebration HERE.)
A Trail-With-Rail Through a Stunning Landscape
The Joseph Branch Trail Consortium is developing a non-motorized trail alongside the existing railroad tracks within the publicly-owned Wallowa-Union Railroad Authority corridor. Starting in Elgin, Oregon, the trail winds through the Grande Ronde and Wallowa river valleys, terminating 63 miles later in Joseph, Oregon. Along the way, the trail connects the small towns of Minam, Wallowa, Lostine, and Enterprise, offering residents of all ages and abilities a safe and accessible way to get outdoors to recreate, commute, and exercise away from the ever-busier roads and highways.
The Joseph Branch Trail-With-Rail
Provides a safe route for all people in our communities, especially children, to ride bicycles, walk, and recreate
Improves transportation safety by offering an alternative route away from vehicle traffic
Provides accessible opportunities for recreation to improve the health of people with disabilities or other conditions that limit access
Provides an almost flat trail for recreational opportunities including biking, hiking, and horseback riding
Connects the Nez Perce National Historic Trail with the Wallowa Nez Perce Homeland Project in Wallowa, Oregon
Connects to ODOT's Wallowa Lake Pedestrian/Bike Trail and the Enterprise Wildlife Refuge & Fish Hatchery
Questions? Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page, or contact us.
Here’s what Weiser River Trail Founding Board Member, Ron Hundahl says about his experience with their trail project:
“When we started planning the Weiser River Trail in 1998, there was opposition from some people that users would trespass on adjacent land, cattle would be harmed, and property vandalized. But it's been 25 years now and none of that has happened -- we've not had one instance of trail users vandalizing adjacent property or hurting livestock. Today, the children and grandchildren of some of those early opponents are now riding and using the trail. And realtors listing property tout the proximity to the trail as a selling point."