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Airport (GSP) is about 14 miles from the
trail. Amtrak’s Greenville Station (1120W.
Washington St.) is only about a half mile
from the Swamp Rabbit. Drivers will find
no shortage of parking in the numerous
parks along the route, and the trail is
easy to reach fromHighway 276, which it
loosely parallels.
MORE INFO:
swamprabbit
Banks-Vernonia State Trail
(Oregon)
A thread of black in an emerald blanket,
the Banks-Vernonia State Trail weaves its
way between two peaceful towns in the
foothills of northwest Oregon’s Coast
Range, less than an hour’s drive from
Portland. Most of the 22-mile paved
pathway is enveloped by the tall trees that
attracted the lumber industry in the early
1900s—a verdant mix of
Douglas fir, maple, cedar
and alder.
At its northern end,
you’ll find the Vernonia
Pioneer Museum (verno
nia-or.gov/Recreation/
Museum.asp), which tells
the story of that lumber
history. The town, no lon-
ger revolving around the
large mill that once thrived
here, is reinventing itself as
a destination for outdoor
enthusiasts. Visitors will find
charming restaurants, coffee
shops, bed-and-breakfasts
TAD REEVES
the Blue Ridge Mountains. Following the
course of the scenic Reedy River, the paved
pathway covers nearly 20 miles, including
passage through the beautiful campus of
Furman University.
With a relatively flat surface, safe
and pleasant environment, and numer-
ous neighborhood connections, the trail
provides a convenient way for people of
all ages and abilities to exercise, a point
encouraged and promoted by its primary
corporate sponsor, the Greenville Health
System. Highlights of the corridor include
the spectacular waterfalls of Greenville’s
Falls Park, a pair of fighter jets displayed in
Cleveland Park, and the wildlife-abundant
forests and wetlands of Lake Conestee
Nature Park.
Since opening in 2009, the trail has
kept business hopping in the two towns
it connects, Greenville and Travelers
Rest. With 500,000 users annually, the
trail is the most-used recreational asset
in Greenville County. It has spurred the
opening of more than 40 new businesses,
some with nods to the thriving biking cul-
ture via such names as Swamp Rabbit Cafe
and Grocery ,
Swamp Rabbit Brewery &Taproom
and
Tandem Crêperie & Coffeehouse (tandem
. If picked for the Rail-Trail Hall
of Fame, this successful community con-
nector would be the first trail in South
Carolina to achieve such an honor.
GETTINGTHERE: The trail is about a two-
hour drive fromAtlanta and Charlotte.
Greenville-Spartanburg International
and an art gallery downtown.
Although more of a country cousin,
Banks, at the other end of the trail, sees its
share of tourists too. Here, the trail’s first
few miles offer a contrasting openness, as
farm fields in subdued earth tones unfurl
under a canopy of clouds. This fertile land-
scape—the Tualatin Valley—is well known
for its wine, especially pinot noir. Find a
list of local vineyards online (tualatin
to plan a
wheels and wine vacation.
Mid-trail, visitors will cross L.L. Stub
Stewart State Park (oregonstateparks.
org). A variety of recreational amenities
and camping options (tent sites, rustic cab-
ins, RV hookups) in a postcard-perfect set-
ting make this 1,800-acre park immensely
popular.
Another highlight of the route is the
Buxton Trestle, spanning 735 feet and
curved so you can’t see the other end from
the start. Rising 80 feet above Mendenhall
Creek, this railroad relic is an impressive
sight from above or below. A dozen other
trestles dot the route as well.
GETTINGTHERE: Portland is about a
45-minute drive away.The closest major
airport is Portland International Airport
(PDX).The trail has six trailheads with
parking between Banks and Vernonia:
Banks,Manning, Buxton,Tophill, Beaver
Creek and Vernonia.
MORE INFO:
COURTESY GREENVILLE COUNTY PARKS
destination
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