Oregon Coastal Mountains

It was a beautiful sunny day near mid-April. We decided to take an outing to the Coastal Mountains.

L.L. “Stub” Stewart Memorial State Park was our destination. It is situated next to the Banks-Vernonia Rail Trail.

The original railway line was built in the 1920s to move logs and lumber from a company mill in Vernonia, as well as freight and passengers to Portland. The railroad line was abandoned in 1973. One year later Oregon bought the right-of-way. In 2007 the State Park opened adjacent to a segment of the rail-trail.

We drove to the upper parking area, used primarily by equestrians. 

Skycar Viewpoint

After a relatively short hike, we made a turn onto the trail leading to Skycar Viewpoint. From the Viewpoint, Boomscooter Pond can be seen in the woods below. We decided to extend our outing and hike down to the pond. It was very pleasant.

One of the fun things about hiking in the Park is that most everything has a name that comes from the days of the old-time railroads – – – skycar, boomscooter, caddywhomper, etc.