Built by Weyerhaeuser in 1941, this 90,000-pound Snow Dozer was one of three powerful plows tasked with keeping the OC&E Railroad clear between Klamath Falls and Bly. The lightest of the trio, it often struggled against the deep snow, especially compared to its heavier counterparts. Still, it played a crucial role in ensuring log trains could move timber from the forests to the mills.

The OC&E Railway reached Olene in 1918, using this natural passage as its route. At the time, the gap was just wide enough to accommodate both the railway and the Lost River.

Clicking on the map to the left will give you a better view of the topographic lines that highlight the Olene Gap—a distinct cut in the landscape.

The Lost River Gap, also known as Olene Gap, is a natural constriction in the Lost River. This narrow passage has historically served as a vital crossing and meeting point.

It was here on April 3, 1872, Major Elmer Otis of the US Army held council with Modoc leader Kintpuash, also known as “Captain Jack” by the American public, to address tensions between settlers and the Modoc people. Unfortunately, the summit did not provide resolution.

Tensions escalated when the U.S. government attempted to forcibly relocate the Modoc to the Klamath Reservation, leading to the Battle of Lost River on November 29, 1872. This skirmish marked the beginning of he Modoc War (1872–1873), a significant conflict between the Modoc people and the United States Army.

Explore this historically significant war in depth in this NPR documentary.

Constructed in the early 20th century, the Olene Flume was designed to support the irrigation needs of the region’s expanding agricultural activities. Its construction enabled the diversion of water from the Lost River to previously arid lands, transforming them into productive farmland.

This was all part of the Klamath Reclamation Project, a bold effort to reshape the landscape and fuel economic growth. Learn more about its impact and history here.

For its first thirty miles, the OC&E Railroad follows gentle grades, gradually climbing into the forests of the eastern Klamath Basin. To reach Pine Flat (just beyond this point), engineers carved the railroad’s deepest cut here, blasting through 40 feet of ancient basalt with dynamite. The curved right-of-way took weeks of labor to complete.

The origin of the name “Swede’s Cut” remains uncertain. Some believe it honors Swedish immigrants who worked on the construction crew, while others say a Swede was killed by a train at this site.

[Ref: On-site kiosk]

The region surrounding Dairy has a rich history of dairy farming (go figure!) and agriculture. In the late 1800s and 1900s, Dutch settlers established dairy farms to supply milk, butter, and cheese to the growing population. The community’s name, was chosen by pioneer settler William Roberts, who named it after a previous hometown in the eastern United States. Roberts served as the first postmaster of the area beginning in 1876.

By 1927 the OC&E railway had reached Dairy, facilitating transportation and contributing to the area’s development.

This area was originally known as Alkali Valley and later renamed Yonna Valley in the language of the Klamath people (Klamath Indian Tribe). The name “Yonna” may derive from the Klamath word “yana,” meaning “below,” referring to the valley’s location.

“Alkali” refers to soils and water with a high pH (>8.5), often appearing white or gray due to surface salt deposits. These soils contain high sodium levels, which disrupt soil structure by dispersing clay particles. As a result, they have poor drainage, low permeability, and form hard, crusty surfaces when dry. Alkali soils are common in arid regions with high evaporation, where minerals accumulate as water evaporates.