2014 Edition
You must have javascript enabled to see the above contact information
All rights reserved - may not be copied without permission
Hike the Banks-Vernonia Linear Park Trail
An approximately 40 mile round trip hike
I did this in segments in 2010. That trail report can be found
HERE.
GETTING THERE AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
So I'm back in 2014 to see how much this trail and hike has improved over the
past four years.
Segment one:
Banks, Oregon Trailhead to Buxton
Segment two:
Buxton Trailhead to Tophill Trailhead
Segment three:
Tophill Trailhead to Beaver Creek Trailhead
Segment four:
Beaver Creek Trailhead to Vernonia
Segment five:
Anderson Park
Segment six:
Stub Stewart State Park
Segment seven:
Connecting the Banks-Vernonia and Crown-Zellerbach Trails
Segment eight:
The Salmonberry Rails-To-Trails project
SIDE TRIPS:
Caddywhomper
DIRECTIONS
Sunset Highway West past Manning. Turn right on Fisher Road just across from the
Time Gas Station. If you get to the route 47 turn off, you've gone too far.
The trailhead is about 1.2 miles from the Sunset Highway.
You will go through the center of Buxton (such as it is).
The road will change to Bacona Road at this "intersting" intersection
but just follow the trailhead signs and try to forget that the Buxton City
Planners must be on drugs..
The Buxton trailhead is on the right.
Apparently, thieves and vandals breaking into cars parked here is not uncommon
so be advised. I'm sure most of the locals here are nice people but there are
a fair number of trailer dwelling dirtbags living here too...
The Buxton Trailhead is one of the more interesting locations along this hike.
Lots to see, especially if you like old shay locomotive trestles.
After weeks of snow, ice, blowing wind followed by torrential rain, it was about
time to get out again. First decent day in weeks. A little too iffy for a ride
so I figured I'd knock off this next segment of the Banks-Vernonia Linear Trail.
This segment has seen the most improvement since my last visit. Not many people and
all that I saw were on bicycles.
This segment also has the most elevation gain... a little over 500' in 4 miles.
The trail is now 100% paved and ADA accessible.
There are abundant picnic benches installed along this segment which is a
nice little plus!
There are a few unsigned trails like this one along this segment. I may come back
one day to check them out.
The Caddywhomper Trail report will be updated
when I get around to it.
Felling's Wedge could be an interesting side trip. I'll check it out when I do
the Stub Stewart segment update.
Many of the side trails along this segment are for equestrians.
The Holli's Point of View trail looks like it could be interesting. Maybe....
It's only 1/4 mile from the Stub Stewart trailhead so easy enough to check out some time.
Or the Boomscooter Trail. Who comes up with these names?!?!!?
Not to mention the Matchcutter's Trail.
One of the chronic problems getting rails-to-trails projects going are concerns
by local landowners. They seem to think that hikers/cyclists will trespass on private
property, start fires, litter and so on. When the fact is that most trail users
are honest, ethical and responsible. We all live a "leave no trace" lifestyle.
Now let's talk about these local meth users.. and the fact that they frequently
break into cars parked at trailheads to get money to pay for their drug addiction.
So I come up on this old tressle and there's three park rangers investigating the
theft of metal pipes that helped support the safey fencing. Think some hiker
hauled it off in their knapsack? Nope, me neither....
If property owners are so concerned with trespassers, maybe they ought to do something
to make sure that these drug using shitbags stay in prison where they belong. Permanently!
Here's a shot of the old tressle that goes over highway 47. This line was still
in use in the 1960s with passenger service.
The Original Easyrider®
Motorcycle Touring Forum
HOME
These pages were designed for high resolution, wide screen monitors
on computers with a high speed Internet connection
Copyright 1990-2014 Easyrider LAN Pro
All rights reserved - may not be copied without permission