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Banks-Vernonia State Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 55 Google reviews · Running trail in Buxton, Oregon · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Banks-Vernonia State Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Well-kept, mostly shaded trail system popular with cyclists and hikers alike, and known to be home to fossils.
What runners say about Banks-Vernonia State Trail
“There are paved trails on both side of the HWY 47 in great condition.”
“Beautiful pathway, and well maintained too.”
“Riding through a canopy of lush green trees and vegetation and nice cool air was welcome respite from the hot weather”
This is a great way to access the banks vernonia trail. Basically gives you a ride / jog that is about 16mi if you go into vernonia and back. Parking for about 15 cars and a nice bathroom to start your journey.
Rain or shine, this is wonderful place for biking, walking, mushroom hunting or just making a pit stop. There are paved trails on both side of the HWY 47 in great condition. Unfortunately, the picnic table that used to be at the parking lot is no longer there, but that might be temporary.
The trail is very popular for bicyclists. So much so you have to be careful. Not all of them are experienced. The trail is like a one lane road and meant to be used in a single file in each direction. When passing other cyclests or hikers. Some of the folks we encountered didn't seem to know or didn't care.
We started at Top Hill, and rode toward Vernonia. A fair amount of downhill riding this direction. It was simply beautiful. Riding through a canopy of lush green trees and vegetation and nice cool air was welcome respite from the hot weather
Trail conditions & character
“Unfortunately, the picnic table that used to be at the parking lot is no longer there, but that might be temporary.”
“There are paved trails on both side of the HWY 47 in great condition.”
“Riding through a canopy of lush green trees and vegetation and nice cool air was welcome respite from the hot weather”
“Parking for about 15 cars and a nice bathroom to start your journey.”
Plan your run at Banks-Vernonia State Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Saturday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Sunday | 7 am–9 pm |
Running trails near Buxton
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Bard Park
4.2 ★★★★☆ 158 reviews
Recreational area with basketball hoops and a playground, plus covered picnic tables for outings.
Fernhill Wetlands
4.8 ★★★★★ 668 reviews
Bird-spotting refuge (where dogs and bikes are not allowed) featuring walking trails, picnic tables, wetlands and waterfalls.
