Banks-Vernonia State Trail is a 21 mile easy-grade, linear rail trail from Banks, Oregon to Vernonia, Oregon. The Banks-Vernonia State Trail is the first rail trail in Oregon, and repurposes a route that was once used to haul lumber from old-growth forests to Portland. The trail follows an abandoned railroad bed that stretches 21 miles between the cities of Banks and Vernonia.
There are six access points along the trail, but we parked at the Banks Trailhead (Banks-Vernonia State Trail, Banks, OR 97106). It was a well marked, train station kind of parking area, with restrooms available. Banks is a small town, but has plenty of small places to eat as well as gas stations and other amenities. It wasn’t open yet when we were there, but there’s a brewery restaurant that opened very close to the trailhead called Hop Cycle Brewing Company.
When the trail leaves Banks it transitions very quickly to mostly farmland, which describes most of the trail.
Farm fields
Banks-Vernonia State Trail
The Banks-Vernonia State Trail is pretty, but rural, with lots of patches of wind break trees along the trail on either side.
Forests
Banks-Vernonia State Trail
The trail features more than a dozen bridges including views from the 733-foot long, 80-foot high Buxton Trestle which is located approximately 6.5 miles North from Banks.
Bridges
Banks-Vernonia State Trail
Another 3.5 miles or so along the trail, in addition to being the midpoint of the trail you will find a network of about 20 miles (32 km) of unpaved mountain-biking trails in L. L. “Stub” Stewart State Park. The trails in Stewart State Park are mostly on the Eastern side of the trail, and are mostly green (easy) mountain biking trails that also allow horses.
The Banks-Vernonia State Trail is a very nice rail trail and very close to Portland. The Banks Trailhead is an easy 30-minute drive of about 25 miles. Hope you enjoy this great rail trail as much as we did!
