The Banks Vernonia Rails To Trails – One of Oregon’s best kept secrets…

Biking Oregon’s Rails To Trails is a summer must-do.

Oregon is full of old railroad tracks. With logging drying up, the lines that once carried massive old growth trees from small timber towns to  shipping hubs like Portland are now rusting and rotting away. That is unless it’s an old line that gets picked up by the national Rails To Trails program, in which case they paves the way for future tourism and massive outdoor enjoyment. That’s where the Banks Vernonia trail comes in…

Here’s the elevator pitch for this newish rails to trails path: 20 miles of an easy grade, paved path with a flanking equestrian mulch trail, and the best part (drum roll please)… train trestles! Yes, there are at least two of these imposing wood structures towering 80 feet above the ground, one of which you can ride, run or gallop over.

Bike over or under the trestle!

Only a 45 minute drive outside of Portland, by the time you near Vernonia you feel like you’re a world away. Vernonia is a small Oregon logging town that still has a functioning timber industry and a thriving downtown, a combination that is rare to find.

Welcome To Vernonia

A perfect itinerary for biking the Banks Vernonia trail, is to head out in the morning from Portland, stop in for breakfast at one of the many diners on Vernonia’s main street, then head off to one of several trail entrances. A leisurely ride will take most of the day, but serious riders can get through it in a few hours. The trail goes from grassy plains to rich forest and will leave an impression you that is sure to bring you back for more.