Banks-Vernonia State Trail

The Banks-Vernonia State Trail is a rail trail in northern Oregon.

Located convert|20|mi northwest of Portland, it runs for convert|21|mi, primarily north-south, between the towns of Banks, Oregon and Vernonia, Oregon. The trail is eight feet across, on a raised berm, alternating between asphalt and packed-gravel sections. About convert|14|mi are asphalt, including the portions leading from Vernonia and Banks. The trail is open to all non-motorized uses. Users include hikers, bicyclists, and equestrian enthusiasts. The trail includes 12 bridges, as well as Horseshoe Trestle and Buxton Trestle, which are two convert|600|ft|adj=on long, convert|80|ft|adj=on high railroad trestles.

History

This trail was the first example of a "rails-to-trails" project in Oregon, where an abandoned railroad right-of-way was redeveloped into a recreational-use trail. The railway line was constructed from 1920 to 1922 to move logs from Vernonia to the Banks and other areas in the Tualatin Valley. The largest user was the Oregon American Lumber Company who shipped lumber from the mill in Vernonia. The line was part of a larger network of rail lines covering logging operations throughout the area, and extending as far north as Linnton. There also was freight and passenger service on the line.

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 Railroad, which operated a steam excursion train for five years.

The line was abandoned in 1973. The right-of-way was purchased by the Oregon Department of Transportation in 1974, and was officiallytransferred to Oregon Parks and Recreation Department in 1990. In 2007 L.L. "Stub" Stewart Memorial State Park opened adjacent to the trail.Gorman, Kathleen. "Park laying groundwork for outdoors enthusiasts," "The Oregonian", August 10, 2006.]

References

External links

* [http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_145.php Oregon Parks and Recreation Department website]
* [http://www.oregonstateparks.org/images/pdf/bv.pdf Brochure and map of the trail]
* [http://www.abandonedrailroads.com/or_sps_banks_keasey.htm "History of United Railroads" by Brian Edwards]