PORTLAND

LAKEOSWEGO

CANBY

NEWBERG

HILLSBORO

BEAVERTON

BANKS-VERNONIASTATE TRAIL

BANKSVANCOUVER

ST. HELENS WA

SH

IN

GT

ON

VERNONIA

FOREST GROVE

McMINNVILLE

Columbia

River

Neha lem

River

Nehalem

River

McGuireReservoir

Nestucca R

iver

Wil

lame t

te

River

26

205

547

6

30

26

8

21947

E99

W99 5

Stub StewartState Park

Banks-VernoniaState Trail Banks-VernoniaState Trail Banks-Vernonia State Trail is the first “rails-to-trails”

linear state park built in Oregon. The trail follows an abandoned railroad bed that stretches 21 miles between the cities of Banks and Vernonia.

Most of the route consists of an eight-foot wide hiking and bicycle trail paralleled by a four-foot wide horse trail. The gentle grade in all but one area allows hikers, bicy-clists, equestrians and people of all abilities to enjoy the scenic mountains, fields and forests of Washington and Columbia counties.

History of the line

The route’s railroad history began in the 1920s when trains moved logs and lumber from mills in Vernonia and Keasey to Portland. When the lumber mill closed in 1957, the railroad stopped using the line. In 1960, the line was leased to the Vernonia South Park and Sunset Steam Railroad, which operated an excursion train for five years.

After the line was abandoned, the state began purchasing the right-of-way in 1974. Trail building started in 1991.

Trail highlights

Trail views include two 700-foot long, 80-foot high railroad trestles (Buxton and Horseshoe). The Buxton Trestle, which has a new deck and guardrail, is open to hikers and bicyclists. A ground-level equestrian bypass crosses Mendenhall Creek. The trail also has 13 bridges, such as the one below.

Trail Rules

Share the Trail• Hikersyieldtoequestrians.• Bicyclistsyieldtohikers

and equestrians. • Bicyclistsannounce

themselves within 25-50 feet of encountering others. Ring a bell or shout. Make eye contact and pass slowly. Equestrians and hikers acknowledge and indicate the best way to pass.

• Keepright,passleft.Keepasafedistancefromothers.

Trail Safety• Travelatasafespeed.Thismulti-use,recreationtrail

is intended for slow speed use.• Approachandcrosstrailbridgeswithcaution.The

wood decking is uneven and can be slippery.• Neverhikeorridealonewithoutinformingothers

of your plans. Cell phone service is limited.• Petsmustbeona6-footleash(maximum)inall

areas, at all times. Voice command of unleashed pets is unacceptable. Owners of pets running loose may receive fines.

Trail Courtesy• Stayonthedesignatedtrail.• Pleaserespectprivateproperty.• Pleaseridesinglefile.• Equestriansmustusethewoodchippath,where

provided, and spread or kick animal waste off the trail, or move their animals to the side of the trail.

• Tiehorsestohitchingpostsorhorsetrailers, not to trees.

• Donotcamporbuildfiresalongthetrail.• Pleaseusetherestroomsatthetrailheads.

Trails have no restrooms.• Packitin,packitout.• Petownersmustpickupandproperlydispose

of waste.

www.oregonstateparks.org

This publication is available in alternative formats on request. Call 1-800-551-6949 (for the hearing impaired 1-800-735-2900).

63400-8512 (12/10)

For More Information:Banks-Vernonia State Trail

L.L. “Stub” Stewart Management Unit 30380NWHighway47

Buxton, OR 97109

Phone: (503) 324-0606

Printed on Recycled Paper

Banks-Vernonia State Trail

West For k Dair y Creek

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MILE 2

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VERNONIA

BANKS

TREHARNE

W A S H I N G T O N

C O L U M B I A

Burgholzer Creek

Robins on Creek

Wirtz Branch

Strass

el C reek

Buxt

on Cr

eek

Logg

ing Creek

Denny Creek

Roc

k Cr

eek

Poliwaski Canyon

Bear CreekKenusky Creek

Swam

p Cr

eek

Roundy Creek

Dell Creek

Kist Creek

Paisley Canyon

Whiskey Creek

Campbell Creek

Cummings Creek

Kuder Creek

Park Farm

s Creek

Elk C

ree k

Gar

rigus

Creek

Bausch Creek

William

s C

ree k

East Fork

Nehalem River

Jim George C

reek

Coal Creek

Whitcher Creek

Cedar Canyon Creek

M urtaugh Creek

Mendenhall

Cre

ek

East F

ork

Dairy C

reek

B eaver Creek

Nehalem River

Pebble Creek

Peb

ble

Cre

ek

Beaver Creek

Wes

t Fork

DairyCreek

Pihl

Rd

Sunset Hwy

Aer

ts R

d

Banks Rd

Nehalem Hw

y

Johnson Rd

Mead

Rd

Selle

rs R

d

Pebb

le Cr

eek

Rd

Cedar Canyon Rd

Baco

na R

d

Neh

alem

Hw

y

Nowa

kows

ki Rd

McDonald Rd

Neh

alem

Hw

y

47

Sell Rd

Fish

er R

d

6

47

47

47

6

26

26

26

TOPHILL

BUXTON

MANNING

0 1 20.5Miles

1 inch = 1.2 miles

Wilson River Hwy

L.L. “Stub” StewartState Park

Hike-in Camp

Welcome Center

Hilltop Day-use Area

Legend

Paved TrailUnpaved Trail

Trailhead

Parking

Restroom

Vault Restroom

Interpretive Exhibit

Park BoundaryStub Stewart State Park

(ADA accessible)

(ADA accessible)

Highways

Roads

Water

Picnic Shelter

B-V Trail

Beaver Creek

B-V Trail

Nehalem Highway

Hor

sesh

oe

Tre s

tle

OR 47

Up to 11% grade

Up to 11% grade

Pihl

Roa

d

US 26

Sell RoadB

-V Trail

Park

Boun

dary

Mendenhall C

re

ek

ut n T

tl

Bx o

rese

0 300

SCALE INFEET

Trestle opento hikers

and bicyclists.

Bacon

a Roa

d

Trailhead access and equestrian bypass

B-V

Tra

il

Nehalem River

B-V Trail

Ros

e Av

e.

Wee

d Av

e.

Umatilla St.

Beaver

Cr eek

B-V

Trail

Nehalem Highway

Vernonia Trailhead

Tophill TrailheadADA Accessible Equestrian Loading PlatformHorseshoe TrestleParkingRestroomHitching Posts

Beaver Creek TrailheadParkingRestroomPicnicking

Buxton TrailheadADA Accessible Equestrian Loading PlatformBuxton TrestleInterpretive TrailParkingRestroomPicnickingWhistle Stop Shelter

Manning TrailheadParkingNo Restroom

Please stay on the designated trail. DO NOT TRESPASS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

Banks- VernoniaState Trail

B-V Trail

Parking

NW

Sellers Rd

NW Banks Rd

Banks TrailheadParkingRestroomInterpretive ExhibitNo RV or Trailer Parking