Together, We Can Save Our Trail
Help protect the Yamhelas-Westsider Trail corridor for future generations.
Next Steps to Save Our Trail
We are preparing a countywide ballot initiative to protect the Yamhelas-Westsider Trail and ensure that this public corridor remains available for future generations. Over the next few weeks our focus is on:
- Educating the community about the history and importance of the corridor
- Building our network of supporters
- Recruiting volunteers
- Raising the funds we'll need when signature gathering begins
Signature gathering will begin soon. And we need to be ready on day one. You can help us prepare:
Why This Matters
The Yamhelas-Westsider Trail isn’t just a path - it’s one of the county’s most valuable public assets. This corridor has linked communities for more than a century as a transportation route. Preserving it keeps that connection alive for future generations.
Keeping this corridor public means:
- A safer alternative to Highway 47 for families and cyclists
- Opportunities for recreation, health, and community connection
- Economic benefits for small towns and agritourism
- Preserving a transportation and recreation corridor that cannot be replaced
- Ensuring future generations have access to the lands we inherited
That’s why protecting this public corridor matters. and you can help by volunteering, donating, and joining our email list.
Latest Update
Here’s what’s happening right now in the effort to Save Our Trail.
We’ve been in the news a lot lately.
Here’s a roundup of recent headlines covering our ongoing effort to protect the Yamhelas–Westsider Trail corridor for public access.
Since many of these stories ran, there’s been an important update: our initiative petitions have been approved by the Yamhill County Clerk, confirming they meet Oregon’s constitutional requirements.
Follow us on Facebook or joining our email list for continued coverage and updates as this effort moves forward.
A Brief History of the Trail
The corridor now proposed for the Yamhelas‑Westsider Trail has deep historical roots. The original rail line — known as the “Westsider” — opened in the early 1870s, linking communities in Yamhill county to the outside world.
Over decades, the rail line served freight and passengers, helping shape the region’s economy and community.
Key Timeline Highlights:
- Late 1800s – 1980s: Westsider rail line operated for freight, passenger service, and regional connectivity.
- 1984: Southern Pacific Railroad (successor to the original line) abandoned the rail line north of Gaston.
- 1996: Yamhill County adopted its Transportation System Plan policy supporting conversion of abandoned rail lines into community trails.
- 2012: By Ordinance 880, the county formally recognized the corridor as part of its future active‑transportation network.
- 2017: The county purchased a 12.48‑mile segment from Union Pacific Railroad, opening the corridor for public‑use planning.
- October 2, 2025: County Commissioners directed staff to repeal Ordinance 880 and remove the corridor from the Transportation System Plan — a step that would eliminate protections and put the publicly-owned corridor at risk of being sold.
- December 4, 2025: After a 4.5-hour public hearing attended by hundreds of supporters, the Planning Commission voted to recommend removing the trail corridor from the Transportation System Plan. Their recommendation now returns to the County Commissioners for a final vote.
- Today: The corridor remains public but unprotected. Its future depends on community involvement — including education, volunteers, fundraising, and a countywide ballot initiative to secure permanent public access.
About TRAILS PAC
TRAILS PAC is a grassroots organization dedicated to protecting public land, improving active transportation, and supporting vibrant communities in Yamhill County. Our work focuses on preserving corridors like the Yamhelas-Westsider Trail and ensuring they remain available for future generations.
Want to learn more about our mission and history? Read More About TRAILS PAC
Your involvement makes a real difference.
Take the next step and join the effort.
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