Archive for the ‘Biking’ Category
October 15th, 2009 by Angie Marsh
On a recent crisp fall day, I made a date with Stub. That is, a picturesque cabin at a new (circa 2007) Oregon park in Washington County–L.L. Stub Stewart State Park.
Cabins with a view in the "Mountain Dale Cabin Village"
The online booking process allowed me to view available options for my specified overnight stay, so cabin #1 it was–and just 10 days in advance. I paid online as well, which meant I didn’t have to check in and was e-mailed the code for unlocking my cute lil’ cabin.
I was en route to the Coast, and this proved to be the perfect stopover for the night; a welcome respite from Friday rush-hour traffic on Highway 26, which is just 4 miles from this site. Signage to the park off Highway 47 made for an easy drive to what felt like a remote area, but now boasts 78 camping sites, 23 hike-in primitive campsites, 12 walk-in tent sites, 16 horse camp sites and 15 cabins in the Park.
With shining wood floor, heat and insulated windows, I commented, “This is my kind of cabin!”
The tidy fire pit and nearby water spigot made “roughing it” that much easier as well. The restrooms & showers are centralized, as is the parking–a design that means any of the 15 cabins are great options.
Choosing from the myriad trail options
Hiking paths snake in all directions from the Park, and many are specified for bikes and/or horses. The new Banks-Vernonia State Trail–once a railroad and now a paved, multi-use path–is nearby as well, offering 21 miles of smooth and scenic exploration.
No need for our flashlights when the full moon rose over the Douglas Fir stand adjacent to our cabin, and my daughter (age 3) instructed me to “tiptoe down the moon path.”
Heading to the day-use overlook area
A stop at the Visitor's Center
Tags: banks-vernonia state trail, Family Fun, LL Stub Stewart State Park, oregon cabins, oregon camping, Stub Stewart, washington county oregon
Posted in Biking, Family Fun, Nature | 2 Comments »
September 22nd, 2009 by Angie Marsh
As summer sunshine extends into fall, this coming weekend offers perfect conditions for fair-weather hiking, biking and tracking in Washington County.
Saturday, Sept. 26:
* Stub Stewart State Park hosts its final guided Saturday hike of the year at 10 a.m., and all are welcome.
Explore the area’s natural and cultural history in this free hike. A park ranger leads participants on a trail in the Stub Stewart State Park forest.
* Join author and walking guru Laura Foster for a
Fanno Creek Greenway Trail walking tour. Participants in this free event, sponsored by Metro, will stride along the paved multi-use trail bordering Portland Golf Club, ponds and marshes. To join in, meet at 8:45 a.m. at the Garden Home Recreation Center’s main entrance. Foster is the author of several guidebooks, including “Portland City Walks: Twenty Explorations In and Around Town.”
Sunday, Sept. 27:
* Enjoy a two-wheeled outing in the Second Annual Hillsboro Tour de Parks, where all are invited to tour a sampling of Hillsboro’s parks by bike. This family-friendly ride offers 3 route choices: 15 miles, seven miles or three miles. To participate, meet at Civic Center Plaza, where there will be tire pressure checks, brief riding rules discussion and final route maps. Start times are between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. based on which route riders are taking.
The event emphasizes the rules of the road for cyclists, and offers leisurely stops at the city’s parks, such as Shadywood and Shute. At the finish line all will receive ribbons and enjoy festivities.
* Join Metro naturalist and animal tracker Deb Scrivens at Cooper Mountain Nature Park for a workshop to learn the basics of animal signs, track identification and interpreting animal movement. Learn the stealth skills needed to watch wildlife at close range then make plaster casts of tracks to bring home. Practice your skills the following Sunday during a special tour of the park. Meet at the Nature House. Suitable for ages 10 and older.
Registration and payment required in advance; call 503-629-6350. Hosted by Metro and Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District.
Tags: fanno creek greenway, Hillsboro, LL Stub Stewart State Park, portland metro, tour de parks, washington county oregon
Posted in Biking, Events, Family Fun, Nature, Seasonal Fun | No Comments »
July 22nd, 2009 by Sunyi
On July 25, Saturday, thousands of cyclists will ride through scenic Washington County – including stretches of the new Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route – for the annual Tour de Cure, the American Diabetes Association’s nationwide fundraising event.
This is the first time the annual ride comes to Washington County. In previous years, the event, formerly titled “Summit to Surf,” has taken place in the Mt. Hood Territory. “We are thrilled to have this year’s Tour de Cure in Washington County,” said Ruthie Reinert, president and CEO of the Washington County Visitors Association. “The Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route is an exceptional complement to the event, and will give riders a variety of scenic views and terrains unlike any other.”
While you’re out riding and supporting the American Diabetes Association, take some pictures and enter our Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route photo contest. There are nice prizes to be won.
To participate, riders must raise a minimum of $150, plus submit a registration fee. Proceeds will benefit the American Diabetes Association’s mission to “prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.” All monies raised will be used for research, information, advocacy and local programs. Come one – come all! Riders of all levels are welcome, there’s something for everyone.
Tour de Cure website and registration. >
Tags: Biking, cycling, Events, Hillsboro, Tour de Cure, washington county oregon
Posted in Biking, Events, Family Fun, Sports | 2 Comments »
June 2nd, 2009 by Julia Adam
This Saturday, June 6, is Oregon State Parks Day. Stub Stewart State Park is offering a full slate of events to get kids of all ages outside to celebrate; activities range from guided mountain bike rides and trail hikes to disc golf demonstrations and bike safely checks.
You can get a guided tour of the upcoming single track biking trail, and a preview of the location for the park’s Gold Tee Disc Golf Course, to be built this summer. The park is also hosting a hot dog lunch from 11:30-1:30, so don’t miss out!
•Stub Stewart Activities •State Parks Day Flyer
Oregon State Parks are also offering FREE day-use and overnight camping (in traditional campsites only).
To reserve your campsite for June 6, call 800-452-5687 today!
Tags: disc golf, Events, family activities, Family Fun, hiking, mountain biking, outdoors, parks, state parks, Stub Stewart, trails
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April 22nd, 2009 by Julia Adam
Mt. Hood from a hill.
Mt. St. Helens (left) and Mt. Adams from the route.
Yesterday, in the glorious sunshine, I had the chance to drive our new Vineyard and Valley scenic tour route. It’s a brilliant glimpse into Washington County’s past, present and future. Historical sites include the Old Scotch Church and the Joseph L. Meek land claim historical marker. The plethora of vineyards, nurseries and farms attest to the perseverance of early settlers and demonstrate just how much of a player Oregon has become in the agriculture industry. All of this bucolic splendor has been preserved for the future through fortuitous legislation limiting urban sprawl and ensuring that our open spaces are protected. In these last few days of sunshine, myriad trees and plants have burst into bloom, and it is truly a perfect time to explore the area; if you’re lucky, the mountains might come out for a photo op for you, too!
Tags: agriculture, driving routes, farms, history, itinerary, Nature, nurseries, tour route, Vineyard & Valley scenic tour route, Wineries
Posted in Arts & Culture, Biking, Family Fun, Food & Drink, Shopping, Wineries | 2 Comments »
July 24th, 2008 by Rhiannon
By Julia
I’m still behind schedule on this blogging thing, but I’m trying to get better! So Cherie and I were lucky enough to have some great site tours last week, and I wanted to share some of the highlights with you all. Tuesday we visited the Bamboo Garden which is a great spot for you if you (a) love bamboo – they have over 300 varieties! – or if you (b) love the outdoors. In addition to bamboo, the property is filled with an interesting variety of fruit trees and flowers which attract hummingbirds. Schedule a tour in advance and someone will be available to show you around; it’s definitely worth planning ahead. Oh, and be prepared, because the last mile or so to the property is unpaved, though the road is still perfectly passable. On the way back, we stopped in North Plains at the Rogue Brew Pub & Eatery for some sandwiches (though unfortunately not for a brew – being on the clock as we were). The place isn’t fancy, but it was good, and the service was great.
Now, hold onto your hats, because I know some of you are going to be really excited about this one! After lunch, we got a special tour at Roloff Farms! For all of you who aren’t familiar with the TLC show Little People, Big World, I’ll clue you in. The Roloffs are a family of six, four of whom are Little People. They run a farm here in Washington County, and they open to the public during pumpkin season when they offer tours and pumpkin picking. They’ve expanded their season this year and will be open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10am-6pm, September 27 through October 26. Matt Roloff was kind enough to take us on a tour in the Mule, and I’ll just bet that the place is a whole lot of fun when the big orange pumpkins are dotting the fields and kids are hopped up on pre-Halloween candy. If you’re a fan of the show, definitely plan a trip that falls within their open dates.
Friday we got to visit the new and coming-soon properties of Old Recreation B&B in Forest Grove. One of two houses is open, and it’s a beautiful craftsman that’s been remodeled into a 5-bedroom B&B. The other property, just around the block, will be a 6-bedroom. Either, or both, of the properties is ideal for a group get-away like a wedding or family reunion, and the Forest Grove location makes it a perfect jumping-off point for wine tours and outdoor adventure. I can’t wait to plan a visit myself!
Last but not least was my Saturday adventure. After rolling straight out of bed and to Cedar Hills Crossing, I went to see The Dark Knight (along with 15 million other people). It was so great that I was all revved up and raring to go, so I ran home, changed into some biking gear, loaded up the new mountain bike, and headed off to Hagg Lake in western Washington County. I’d heard tell of the 15-mile single track trail surrounding the lake, and in my post-TDK euphoria, I though “oh, I can do 15 miles at 3pm.” Now, in post-euphoria, I would not recommend such an undertaking. Luckily, Cherie called and invited me over for a barbecue, so I cut the ride short. Next time, I’ll be starting early! The trail is serious single track, lined in many places by blackberry brambles, and it features (from the southeastern portion that I rode) quite a few switchbacks and steep inclines/declines. Definitely check it out, but be prepared! The trail is multi-use, non-motorized, so be sure to keep an eye out for pedestrians, horses AND bikes!
Posted in Biking, Food & Drink | No Comments »
May 28th, 2008 by Rhiannon
Note: To celebrate our new blog, our writers will be sharing what a perfect weekend in Washington County would look like for them. Stay tuned! There will be a chance for you to tell us yours, and maybe even win something in the process.
After making it through my first gray Northwest winter, I can’t wait to get outside! After loading up a couple of friends and our mountain bikes, my ideal Saturday would start in Beaverton where we’d pop into AVA Roasteria for an Oregon Chai latte and one of their yummy pastries. Then it would be time to head west on Sunset Highway for the scenic drive out to L.L. “Stub” Stewart State Park. It’s $3 to park at the Hilltop Day Use Area, which is the perfect starting point for a big loop ride. We’d curve our way down to the Banks-Vernonia State Trail, where we’d experience the only paved trail riding to be seen in the park. From there, we’d have to decide whether to brave a muddy ride down Bumping Knots Trail, or make the climb up Hare’s Canyon Trail which loops all the way back up to Hilltop. No matter which route you take, it’s a beautiful new park with awesome facilities.
After a morning of mountain biking, we’d be starving, so we’d head south to Forest Grove to grab a picnic lunch at Maggie’s Buns. I might even be tempted to get one of their gigantic cinnamon buns – I burned a lot of calories, right?! Then we’d take our food out to Scoggins Valley Park and Henry Hagg Lake for a picnic followed by a round on the 18-basket Sain Scoggins Disc Golf course. After some lolling about on the lakeshore, it would be time to head back to civilization.
After this active day, we’d have worked up quite a thirst! Next stop would be the SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Hillsboro, where we’d wash off the mud from our day outdoors. After we got prettied up for a night out, we’d head right down the road to the Cornelius Pass Roadhouse for live music and McMenamins beers brewed right on site. It would be the perfect spot for a relaxing evening with good food, good brews and good friends.
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