When it comes to the
, a more apt title might be “Bike of the Month,” thanks to the 21-mile stretch of pavement’s popularity with local cyclists.
However, the very feature that makes this path so wheel-friendly is what also makes it attractive for hiking… in January… when every other trail in the Portland area is a muddy mess.
Quick facts
- Six trailheads : Banks, Manning, Buxton, Tophill, Beaver Creek, and Vernonia
- Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
- Distances between trailheads range from 3 miles to 5.2 miles
- Route type: Out-and-back with a loop around Vernonia Lake
- Elevation gain: ~1,000 ft
- Trail surface: Pavement (main trail), gravel (equestrian trails)
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes
- Open: Year-round
- Dog friendly: Yes, leashed
Brief overview
From the city of Banks at the southern end, all the way to Vernonia in the north, the trail follows an abandoned railroad bed — in fact, it was Oregon’s first
park. The original line was primarily used to haul timber and freight from 1913 until 1957. After the region’s lumber mills closed, the Vernonia, South Park, and Sunset Steam Railroad operated a