Banks-Vernonia Trail

We got out to the Banks-Vernonia Trail this July and did the 42-mile out-and-back bike ride, beginning and ending at the Banks trailhead. It was beautiful! Mostly tree-lined and nicely paved. We saw rabbits and snakes, babbling brooks and bucolic vistas. Just. Lovely. As the elevation profile shows, the trail rises steadily about 960 feet over the first 11 miles, making that section a nice little cardio workout on the way out and SO FUN on the way back! We had a nice late picnic lunch on the banks of Rock Creek in Vernonia, and had the trail almost entirely to ourselves on our return.