Veronia Hike
On June 21, 2006, the two Davids (David Honigstock and Dave Liberts) took a short car trip to the town of Vernonia, Oregon. It's about an hour drive northwest of the Beaverton/Tigard area. We went there to walk portions of the 21 mile Banks-Vernonia State Trail. The trail starts in Vernonia and follows an abandoned railroad bed that connects the two towns. The railroad line dates back to 1920 when it was used to haul logs and lumber to and from the lumber mill in Vernonia. About half the trail is paved and glently slopes south from Vernonia, crossing a number of small creeks, bridges and the Nehalem river.
We started in Vernonia, picking up the trail in Anderson Park. Instead of taking the path that led south towards Banks, we decided to go a bit north to the farthest part which ends at Vernonia Lake. The path was clean, pleasant, and quiet.
In 20 minutes were arrived at the lake.
It's a very picturesque small lake that originally was a pond that serviced the mill. The path circled the lake and offered many charming vistas and dozens of pretty birds and ducks.
We also met a good number of people who were fishing. They were all happy to chat with us. Most of them were more into relaxing by the lake than actually attempting to catch anything.
The Nehalem river follows the path to the lake and also offers quite a few pleasant views.
When we got back to the park we met up with the Park Host (Bill Yeo).
He's an older gentleman who is suffering from the Gout but was very nontheless happy to give us a short tour in his golf cart. He took us on the path leading south for about a mile. There two deer came out of the bush and bounded down the trail ahead of us. If you click on the picture below, you'll just see them about in the center of the shot.
Our little trip down the trail was pleasant. Bill had a lot of stories about the area and shared parts of his own life with us. We stopped at a bridge over the Nehalem and I took a few shots.
Bill thought we would enjoy a sign on a bridge neadby that leads to a private property.
After lunch it was back on the road and we headed back south to the Buxton Trailhead. Here, there's a still standing railroad trestle that's in pretty good condition.
One one the posts of the trestle houses a very large family of bees.
We climbed a small embankment to get up to the trestle but were not permitted by a sign and barrier to actually walk across it.
Here's a shot looking down the trestle.
We then walked a mile or two farther south along the paved portion of the rail bed, crossing in and out of warm sunshine. On our return we approached the trestle from the other side but were stymied there as well. But, we were able to pass a pretty little pond that was festooned with insects that skim across the surface.
We then decided it was time to go home. It was a very pleasant few hours.
We started in Vernonia, picking up the trail in Anderson Park. Instead of taking the path that led south towards Banks, we decided to go a bit north to the farthest part which ends at Vernonia Lake. The path was clean, pleasant, and quiet.
In 20 minutes were arrived at the lake.
It's a very picturesque small lake that originally was a pond that serviced the mill. The path circled the lake and offered many charming vistas and dozens of pretty birds and ducks.
We also met a good number of people who were fishing. They were all happy to chat with us. Most of them were more into relaxing by the lake than actually attempting to catch anything.
The Nehalem river follows the path to the lake and also offers quite a few pleasant views.
When we got back to the park we met up with the Park Host (Bill Yeo).
He's an older gentleman who is suffering from the Gout but was very nontheless happy to give us a short tour in his golf cart. He took us on the path leading south for about a mile. There two deer came out of the bush and bounded down the trail ahead of us. If you click on the picture below, you'll just see them about in the center of the shot.
Our little trip down the trail was pleasant. Bill had a lot of stories about the area and shared parts of his own life with us. We stopped at a bridge over the Nehalem and I took a few shots.
Bill thought we would enjoy a sign on a bridge neadby that leads to a private property.
After lunch it was back on the road and we headed back south to the Buxton Trailhead. Here, there's a still standing railroad trestle that's in pretty good condition.
One one the posts of the trestle houses a very large family of bees.
We climbed a small embankment to get up to the trestle but were not permitted by a sign and barrier to actually walk across it.
Here's a shot looking down the trestle.
We then walked a mile or two farther south along the paved portion of the rail bed, crossing in and out of warm sunshine. On our return we approached the trestle from the other side but were stymied there as well. But, we were able to pass a pretty little pond that was festooned with insects that skim across the surface.
We then decided it was time to go home. It was a very pleasant few hours.
posted by Dave Liberts | 6:57 PM
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