More updates for Stub Stewart State Park trails!

Forest health operations will start back up on Monday, July 15 in the very north area of the disc golf course. This includes work near the switchback section of the N. Caddywhomper MTB connector trail. Bike riders will need to follow posted detours through the Horse Camp Loop and come into the MTB area from ... Read More

Forest health operations will start back up on Monday, July 15 in the very north area of the disc golf course. This includes work near the switchback section of the N. Caddywhomper MTB connector trail.

Bike riders will need to follow posted detours through the Horse Camp Loop and come into the MTB area from the north starting this week (July 8). This detour route is estimated to last from July 15 to July 31. The exact closures may vary from day to day, and riders are advised to be on the lookout for detours in place.

During this time, the park advises that the best place to park for mountain bike trail riders will be Clayhill Horse Staging Area.

The MTB area is slated for a temporary closure in mid-August due to the same operations. Park staff are working closely with the foresters to keep the MTB area open for as long as possible using different access trails. HOWEVER, please double-check the Stub Stewart State Park website before you plan a trip, and read the updated park signage when you arrive. 

The Banks-Vernonia Trail is now completely re-opened as the re-paving and bridge approach work is done.

Why is the park conducting a forest health project?

Before the property was a state park, it was a heavily logged private timber farm. The vast majority of trees in the park were planted in thick stands following a harvest. In order to promote a more natural, native forest habitat and pattern of tree growth, the stands are selectively thinned. Thinning also allows more light to reach the forest floor to benefit native understory plants. Furthermore, thinning reduces the fire danger level. Forest health operations and selective thinning do not usually need to happen in perpetuity. Oftentimes, it takes a couple of cycles over the course of a number of years, but the ultimate goal is to allow the forest to return to a more native growth pattern and habitat. Foresters at Stub Stewart State Park have pointed to Silver Falls State Park. The majority of Silver Falls was also historically heavily logged, and forest health operations through the early years have allowed that forest as we now know it to better flourish.

Official park news release: 

Trail closures are in place at L.L. Stub Stewart State Park through March 2025. During this time workers will remove trees in phases to improve the overall health of the forest and trails and infrastructure will be re-built. The park remains open, but trail closures will be in place at different times. The phased work means not all trails will be closed at the same time. The work is in a 164-acre area, primarily in the eastern section of the park. See map

The Mountain Bike Trail area is currently open. Exercise caution at the Hares Canyon trail crossing. Heavy machinery and logging trucks may be driving up and down the road.

Both the 9-hole and 18 hole disc golf courses are currently completely closed to the public until March of 2025.

The following trails may be fully or partially closed:

• Unfit Settlement View Trail
• Hares Canyon Trail north of the Widowmaker Way junction
• Widowmaker Way east of the Heartwood connector trail
• Hooktender Horseshoe Trail
• Bullbucker Trail
• Crosstie Trail
• Brush Monkey Trail

The following trails will be under a long-term closure for the duration of the
project:

• The north half of Hares Canyon Trail (between the junction with Bullbucker Trail and the junction with Peavey Hook Bridleway Trail)

For more information, contact the park office: 503-324-0606 x226.