banks-vernonia state trail

I would not recommend this campground. There is a near constant discharge of firearms next to the campsite. The city requires you to sign a form requiring too much info ( ex soc security number, etc) just for a night's stay. And there is an odor coming from a nearby dairy farm.The campsites themselves are fair. The showers are hot but the loud bangs from rifle fire are a Big Negative, especially if you have pets or small children.

We biked a section of the trail (21 miles round trip) and really enjoyed it. The railroad trestle was our destination. We stopped there and walked down below to rest and take some photos.

Paved and shaded, going downhill is great, coming back up not so fun but is it ever? Grade is very slight so if you are in pretty good shape and have a multi geared bike it's probably easier. Us middle aged folk on 7 speed cruisers did a lot of walking. Many trails for mountain bikes.

If your a bike rider, this is for you. The trail is an old railroad grade that runs from Banks to Vernonia (approx. 26 miles). You don't have to do the whole 26 miles. There are trailheads along the way. It's fairly gradual (remember it's an old railroad grade) and very scenic taking you through the coast mountains.

My husband & I love to ride our bikes on protected pathways. I had heard that this trail is beautiful in the fall so we tried to time our trip to hit the peak of the season. Unfortunately we were off by about one week, as most of the leaves had turned brown and were falling steadily. Even so, we still enjoyed the quiet, fairly easy ride. The trail was in great condition with the exception of a few spots that were clearly marked. Even on a Saturday it was not too busy. There are a handful of places to stop and take a break, although I do recommend bringing plenty of water & snacks as there are no regular businesses along the entire 21-mile road between the two towns.

This in one of the best places you can go bike riding in the northwest. The trail is very well designed, it never gets steep except for one short section, the scenery is interesting, and there are many places to access the trail. There are numerous picnic tables along the trail and most of the access points have restrooms. The trail passes through Stewart State Park and you can access many of the hiking trails from the bike path. Just make sure to bring your bike lock so you can leave your bike to do some of the hikes. If you are on a mountain bike, you can just ride it on the trails. The town of Vernonia, at the north end, has several eating establishments to choose from. The best picnic area there is at Vernonia Lake, which is reached via a bike bath that continues on from the official end of the BV trail. The Banks Vernonia Trail, which is entirely paved, is a prime example of what a "rails to trails" path should be like and one which every bike rider in the area should ride at least once.

The Banks-Vernonia trail was built over a former railroad bed, and the gentle grade and paved surface makes the trail excellent for biking. I believe that all of the trail is now paved, previously certain sections were gravel. One can also do some hiking here, the trail connects to Stub Stewart state park, so many options for shorter or longer hikes are available. There is a soft surface parallel trail for equestrian users. Equestrians do use this trail and there tends to be a lot of horse poop. Since the trail is paved it makes an excellent option for extended walks during the rainy season. The trail isn't super scenic but the more secluded parts are quite peaceful. The sections near Vernonia are right near the shoulder of OR-47, so I prefer the trail section between Manning and the Top Hill trailhead where the trail is shaded and away from roads. With kids we typically park at Buxton and bike all the way to the OR-47 bridge at the end of Stub Stewart and back. Going towards Banks is going downhill. One thing about this place that prevents a 5-star rating is that many people like going downhill extremely fast so it is not ideal for smaller kids who have a hard time remembering proper trail etiquette or how to properly get out of the way.

Love this bike trail. I really like riding into Vernonia for a bite of lunch, then heading back. Paved trail that is well maintained. Lots of places to hop on, so you have all degrees of climb.

It may be pretty warm but the majestic trees that shade this paved trail can fool you into thinking it's early autumn. Formerly a train track, the organization Rails to Trails converted this 21 mile (one way) path to bike friendly. Gently sloping, there are only two truly semi-diabolical hills (11% grade). We cycled to Vernonia, went to Subway in town and ate lunch by the duck filled lake and then cycled back. It's pretty all the way through, even through patches of farmland. And the smell of the clean air and trees can't be beaten with a stick! Relaxing!

23 peaceful miles through the forest. We went on a weekday and it wasn't very crowded. Going TOWARDS Portland is definitely the easier direction

If you want to escape the city and get out into nature without traveling far from the Portland metro area, I would recommend putting on your hiking shoes or loading up your bikes and heading west to the Banks-Vernonia State Trail. It is a trail developed from the old railroad bed and is beautiful, going through forest and over railroad trestles, and also through Stub Stewart State Park. Parts of it are level and easy, other parts more challenging. I have walked portions of it a couple of times, and enjoyed the trail very much, but wish I had a bicycle. The state park is a nice place for a picnic lunch, but I would not recommend starting your ride or walk there, as there isn't much for parking. You can unload your bike near the trail, but you have to park clear up a hill, which presents a challenge if you return and someone has to bike up that hill to get the vehicle. The trail is free, but if you use the state park, you would have to pay a day use fee to park your vehicle. There are other places to unload or start your adventure that have better parking, pick up a trail map or go to http://www.traillink.com/trail/banks-vernonia-state-trail.aspx.

Built over an old RR bed, this is a newish trail so the asphalt is very smooth, the grade is easy and it is shaded so you don't get too hot unless you want to go fast. There are several places along the trail to leave a car so you don't have to do the entire trail. We like to stop at the Buckhorn Restaurant in Vernonia for great food and drink.

Can't get much better than the Banks-Vernonia Trail... delightful scenery. End up your day taking in the sights in Vernonia, have a meal (or two), spend the night at a B&B, then head on down to Scapposse on the CZ Trail!