1979 Map of Nehalem River

About this map

The Nehalem River winds through a heavily forested landscape defined by the expansive Tillamook State Forest and Clatsop State Forest. This late-twentieth-century survey documents the transition from the timber-rich interior mountains, including peaks like Saddle Mountain and Kings Mountain, to the busy coastal communities along the Pacific Ocean. Settlement patterns are concentrated at the water's edge, from the resort towns of Cannon Beach and Rockaway to the industrial and fishing hubs at Garibaldi and Bay City on Tillamook Bay. Transportation infrastructure is a central feature, showing the Burlington Northern Railroad and Southern Pacific Railroad navigating the river valleys alongside the Sunset Highway. The map also highlights the complex drainage systems of the Salmonberry River and Gales Creek, which carved the routes for early rail and road development.