Tracing the Brooks-Scanlon Railroad Right-of-Way

Brooks-Scanlon constructed their railroad from their Bend mill to Sisters and beyond for hauling logs to their mill. Even today, the old railroad right-of-way remains relatively easy to follow using Google Maps.

The railroad right-of-way is identified on maps as the B-S Logging Rd. Use the Terrain or Satellite view. Enlarge the map until the road names appear. Now the right-of-way is traceable from northwest of Sisters all the way to Bend.

Railroad Eastern Spur

The eastern spur of the rail line along Green Ridge and toward northern Deschutes County is located along the east side of Black Butte.

• Locate the Indian Ford Campground near the intersection of Highway 20 and Green Ridge Rd. (NF-11).

• The railroad right-of-way roughly follows Green Ridge Rd. north from Highway 20. The wooden trestle that crossed the highway was removed in the 1970s.

• Explore the area south of Highway  20. The railroad right-of-way can be located as it heads toward the junction with the main line at B-S Logging Rd., along NF-300, as it heads toward the Tollgate neighborhood where the right-of-way turns south along Tollgate’s western boundary.

• The right-of-way ends at the McKenzie Highway. Next, it picks up on the far side on NF-1605. (For some reason, Google Maps skips this section of the B-S Logging Rd.)

• The approach embankments for the wooden railroad trestle at McKenzie Highway are clearly visible. If you are driving west from Sisters on Highway 242 (McKenzie Highway), look for a slight dip in the road between Reed Ranch Rd. and Crossroads Rd.

Railroad Western Spur

The western spur of the rail line cut through the Black Butte Ranch area using today’s Powerline Rd. and portions of Hawks Beard. If you hike south of Black Butte Ranch’s Spring Addition through the Deschutes National Forest, you may run across the embankment of this western spur line.