Banks Vernonia State Park | trail, nature conservation park / area

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This is a gem of a path and actually a state park. Starting in a beautiful valley made by the West Fork of Dairy Creek near Banks, it heads north through lovely forests to Vernonia, following an abandoned section of the old Spokane Portland Seattle Railway. The path has a very slight uphill grade to about the halfway point then a very slight downhill grade to Vernonia. Along the way, you will pass some primarily agriculture areas and some very lush forests. The only downside to this path is that it's not completely paved and one and a half miles of it is on a gravel road due to a property dispute.

Starting in Banks, the path is made up of alternating paved and non-paved segments. Specifically, 3.3 miles paved, 1.6 gravel, 1.5 paved, 7.4 gravel, and finally 8.7 paved ending at Lake Vernonia, known locally as the Mill Pond. If you begin your trip in Banks, there is no parking near the actual beginning of the path which is at 15028 NW Highway 47, 0.6 miles north of Banks on Hwy 47. The closest place to park is 0.2 miles north of Banks along the side of busy Hwy 47. Alternatively, you can park in the town of Banks and pedal the little more than half mile to the path start. If you just want to do the longest paved section, start at either the Beaver Creek Trailhead or the town of Vernonia. Starting in Tophill is also an option if you a willing to go 1 mile on gravel to reach the Vernonia paved section.

Attractions along the path include a fossil bed (called The Railroad Trestle Quarry) at the Tophill Trailhead (see map), two trestles over 600 feet high - one partially destroyed by a fire, and the pretty town of Vernonia. Due to safety concerns, the trestles are closed to any traffic and the path detours around them. The state park map issued for this trail is highly recommended.