The amazing canines from the Border Collie International Performing Canine Team are coming to Vernonia! Since 1994 BCI has uniquely educated and entertained kids of all ages through demonstrations of football, basketball, baseball, soccer and world class Frisbee tricks.

This event is happening courtesy of the Vernonia Public Library Summer Reading Program. Make sure to join us at Hawkins Park at 6pm, alongside the beautiful Rock Creek. Come early to take a refreshing dip in Dewey Pool.

As a courtesy to the performers, no outside dogs will be allowed at this event. Thank you for understanding.

If you haven’t visited L. L. Stub Stewart State Park in the last few years, you should make plans to do so soon.

Since its grand opening in 2007 Stub Stewart State Park has seen many changes and the addition of many services and recreational attractions. Located just ten miles south of Vernonia on Highway 47, the park is a great place to go spend a few hours, a day, a weekend or longer and is great to use as a base camp for local day trips; there is plenty to do in this corner of Oregon.

The park features interpretive programs during the summer months, with ranger led hikes, programs for children and more. Visit the Discovery Depot to find out more about interpretive programs, learn about the history of the region, and pick up park information.

Here are just some of the things to do in this jewell of a park:

Camping: The camping loops at Stub Stewart sure look different from when they first opened in 2007. Two camping loops offer over 75 spacious RV sites with full hook-ups and 12 walk-in tent sites; these loops have flush toilets and hot showers. A play structure has been installed in one loop. The sites are large and spacious and provide a great place for the whole family to relax, play and more.

Brooke Creek hike-in camp is just ¼ mile hike into a grove of large, tall trees for those who prefer a primitive camping experience; communal firepits, pit toilets and water are available at Brooke Creek Campground.

Hares Canyon Horse Camp has 15 full hook-up sites with horse corrals, flush toilets and hot showers.

Mountain Dale Cabin Village offers 15 single and double room cabins (starting mid-June 3 cabins will be pet friendly), flush toilets and hot showers are located within the cabin village. Cabin camping is a great alternative to RV or tent camping, and the cabin village has the best view in the park.

Firewood can be purchased in all camping loops and ice is available for purchase during summer months. Two meeting halls are available for rent for gatherings as well as the covered shelter at Hilltop Day Use Area. Reserve online today at www.oregonstateparks.org!

Mountain Bike Trails: Stub Stewart features one of the best mountain bike specific areas in the region and is being developed by volunteers. The entrance to the area has a kiosk which explains the risk and skill levels on the trails. The easiest level is a cross country trail – a single track which is being built by the Northwest Trail Alliance (NWTA).

The highlight is the free ride area with beginner, intermediate and advanced trails. It is the first mountain bike free ride trail network sanctioned within an Oregon State Park and remains in development by the Westside Trail Federation with more trails and technical features added each season. Skills filters at the start of the trails allow riders to gauge their comfort level for the types of features they will encounter on the trail.

The mountain bike trails are built away from the day use areas. Trail Patrol volunteers provide trail etiquette and safety assistance for users.

Trails: Over 30 miles of mixed use trails, great for hikers, bikers, and equestrian recreation, wind their way throughout the park. There will be continued trail work this summer; bridges are being installed as well as trail re-routes.   Come explore the trails to experience the wildlife that calls Stub Stewart “home.” Hilltop Day Use area is the trailhead for all trails within Stub Stewart State Park, and provides a great view of the coast range! The Banks-Vernonia State Trail offers 21 miles of paved trail with access from trailheads in Banks, Vernonia, Manning, Buxton, Tophill, and Beaver Creek.

Disc Golf: A challenging 18-hole, forested course is one of the top rated in the state of Oregon!   The course travels through large, tall trees and features both professional and amateur baskets. It is recommended to walk the course prior to playing to determine the basket placement. Disc Golf course maps are available at the Discovery Depot. A 3-hole mini course located between the camping loops acts as a casual starter course for all ages.

Make sure to make a visit to Stub Stewart State Park part of your camping plans this year. You just might be surprised by what you find.

L.L. Stub Stewart State Park is located at 30380 Hwy 47 in Buxton, OR 97109

Park information: 1-800-551-6949 Reservations: 1-800-452-5687

When you ask most Vernonia area residents for their favorite recreational activity you will hear something about the forest. Hunting is a big deal in this small town and on opening day you can be sure to see a parade of successful hunters parading down Bridge Street, proudly showing off their trophy from the back of their 4×4 trucks.

Located at the border of two ODFW hunting units, Scappoose and Saddle Mountain, Vernonia has a lot to offer for both the serious and casual hunters. Vernonia is home to 3 public campgrounds, one with facilities for RVs, and there are several county and state parks within easy driving distance. The state forest system in nearby Clatsop County permits backcountry camping.

Elk and deer are the biggest draws for local hunters. The Saddle Mountain unit is tag controlled for elk (1320 tags for each of two seasons) and hunters generally enjoy better than a 15% success rate. The Scappoose side is open to all hunters that buy a tag, but expect company on this “spike or better” management unit. It plays host to many Portland area hunters that fail to draw their eastern Oregon tag.

The coastal jungle can be daunting to the new hunter but there are some local tricks and tips that can help increase your chances of the big score. First, be odor neutral. That means clothing, snacks and beverages. Next, be ready to cover ground. There are plenty of logging roads in the area, and the best hunting is usually behind closed gates. Bring a GPS and a mountain bike and get ready to glass some clearcuts. There are thousands of elk in the area, spread across thousands of acres of land, mostly in young forest that is very difficult to hunt. Early season scouting will go a long way toward success.

Blacktail deer are a whole different challenge to even the most experienced hunter. General season tagged, like most areas on the coast, the easily hunted areas contain does and a few spikes. The 4 point and better bucks are rarely seen because they live where people dare not tread. If you dare hunt, prepare to spend all day in the woods. Prepare by using google maps to find likely territory that is behind locked gates, and get practiced on your mountain bike. Consider purchasing a trailer for carrying game.

The basic rules are simple to remember and difficult to execute. Hunt when the rain is blowing sideways, and keep your binoculars dry. Scout the pre-season for established game trails that lead to water and figure out how to get above the thickets so you can see the bedding areas. Move slower than slow and spend more time looking for deer than thinking about other things. Travel only when it’s too dark to shoot.

Hunting deer and elk in the rugged coastal forests is a test of endurance and skill. Some punch their tags every year, and some eat tag soup. While you are in Vernonia on a scouting trip, make sure to stop by the True Value store for hunting and shooting gear, and ask for some tips. The store owners have been hunting the area for decades, and the mounts on the walls prove it.

Oregon is well known internationally as a bicycling destination. Located in its scenic northwest corner, Vernonia continues to attract its share of those cyclists who are finding the local Banks-Vernonia State Linear Trail to be the perfect excursion.

This past summer Vernonia enjoyed an influx of visitors, many who traveled up the tree lined and paved trail from Washington County and L.L. Stub Stewart State Park to visit this little town. Others started right here in Vernonia and contributed to its growing reputation as a cycling hub for both local and visiting riders alike. Any season of the year will find riders of all ages scattered along the trail, enjoying the scenery, fresh air, and solitude.

The trail is not just for cyclists. Hikers, runners, and horseback riders also congregate on this multi-use pathway. Managed and maintained by Oregon State Parks, the trail was the first Rails-to-Trails project in the state of Oregon. It has an easy grade with thirteen bridges, including the scenic Buxton trestle. The trail can be accessed at any of 6 points along its progression – including trailheads at Manning, Buxton, Tophill, and Beaver Creek, as well as in Banks and Vernonia. Many cyclists have discovered the joy of riding to Vernonia in the morning, stopping off for a bite to eat at one of several eclectic downtown restaurants, before heading back down the trail towards home.

The trail was extended last year by the addition of the newly established Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway. In 2013 the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission formally approved the Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway as the tenth designated bikeway in the state, cementing the region as one of the top spots to cycle in Oregon. The bikeway features the best of the northern Willamette Valley, from friendly downtowns to fertile farmlands and lush natural areas. Set in the heart of Washington County and traveling into Columbia County, the Bikeway runs for 30 miles one way, and connects in Banks with the Banks-Vernonia State Trail.

From the trailhead in Hillsboro, the Tualatin Valley Bikeway travels on mostly rural roads. The middle portion of the Banks-Vernonia Linear Trail travels through lush forests including a portion of Stub Stewart State Park and features a gentle climb of about 600 feet. Overall the Scenic Bikeway is rated as a moderately challenging ride and can be enjoyed by a wide range of cyclists.

With the route’s layout, cyclists have many overnight options for multi-day rides, while day trips covering sub-sections of the route are easy, too. Stub Stewart State Park offers full hook up RV camping, as well as primitive campsites. Vernonia’s Anderson Park, which serves as the trail head in Vernonia, is a full RV park with showers and flush toilets, but also offers primitive tent camping along the Nehalem River. Vernonia Lake and Airport Park in Vernonia offer primitive camping.

Paved trails in and around Vernonia give families a chance to ride together as well. The connection from the Banks-Vernonia Trail to Webb Way at Anderson Park is a flat and easy ride for even the youngest cyclists and takes riders to scenic Vernonia Lake.

For mountain bikes enthusiasts, Stub Stewart State Park, just 10 miles south of Vernonia, has a new Free Ride Skills Area that is open to the public. A session/training area includes options for beginner to advanced Free Ride mountain bikers. Initial construction has focused on beginner and intermediate level trails but construction in the area is ongoing. For others looking to explore more of the outdoors, the Vernonia region is literally covered with logging roads, many of which are open to the public for limited recreational use.

As you can see, it’s no wonder Vernonia is becoming a destination for bicycle riders as well as other trail users who want to enjoy the great outdoors.