Yarnell

Oregon's ghost towns are timber camps and high-desert gold strikes, preserved by dry air and long distances.

Yarnell is an unincorporated historic locale in Lane County, Oregon, United States. It was located about 5 miles south of Mohawk, in the Mohawk Valley. Yarnell was a station on the now-defunct Marcola line of the Southern Pacific Railroad. It was established in 1901, and was likely named for Jere Yarnell, a local resident listed as living in the area in the 1880 census. There was a Yarnell covered bridge about a mile north of the station that carried Hill Road over the Mohawk River. The bridge was built in 1916 and demolished in 1958. In 1915 there was a Yarnell School.

The on-the-ground condition of Yarnell is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Yarnell is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.