L.L. Stub Stewart State Park — Attraction in Vernonia

Update 10/2024 Hiked Hollies Point of View and Bumping Knots Loop trails. Signs were posted (see photos) asking people to turn around when trails are muddy after winter rains and warning that they don't have access to Bumping Knots in winter for maintenance. Most of these trails appear to be old roads with little maintenance needed except removal of fallen trees (which has been done). Some sections need water bars and/or switchbacks added. A few areas have drainage issues even in fall. Well designed and maintained trails should be usable all year. Maybe Trailkeepers can help (https://trailkeepersoforegon.org/). The start of Timber Beast Trail is unmarked except for a sign about bees/wasps. Update 9/2024 New maps showing closures were posted in the Welcome Center and at all the outdoor map displays we saw. They appeared to be consistent with the closures we saw. Timber harvest project is damaging trees that are left behind. Update 06/2024 A timber harvest project to improve habitat is underway. Trails and portions of trails are closed. Maps posted around the park are inconsistent and don't actually show closures. There are little red squares in the area of closures, but don't indicate which trails or intersections are closed. The volunteer at the Welcome Center was unclear on closure locations. We entered one area past a sign indicating to be careful of the equipment only to find two other accesses to the area posted closed. For info on project, see https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=main.loadFile&load=_sitefiles/publications/stub-stewart-fhp-poster---v11-7.083835.pdf.--- Park has a variety of recreation options including hiking, mountain biking, camping in tents, RVs or cabins, disc golf, and horseback riding. A Picnic Shelter and Meeting Hall are available to rent. There are a variety of plants and animals to view. It appears some of the area we saw is recovering monoculture from timber harvest. The parking lots we saw were all paved. Restrooms we saw were clean and well-maintained. They had flush toilets and sinks, but no paper towels. Just the disease spreading hand dryers or bring your own towel. Most drive in campsites appeared to have hookups. The campground restrooms had showers. Dogs are allowed on leash, in vehicles and in the dog exercise area. The park was out of trail maps pending revisions. They have a simple handout map that leaves out a lot of detail. Might want to take photo of your route on one of the maps posted at parking areas. You can also print a map from their website. Signs are inconsistent so routes may be difficult to follow. Some intersections have signs with trail name and/or destinations. $5 fee for parking can be paid at park machines. Annual pass can be purchased online for $30. It is valid for 12 months after purchase. A temporary pass is emailed for immediate use. The trails we hiked* were mostly dirt. One area was paved. The trails had been cleared of fallen branches and trees, but were otherwise poorly maintained. Trails had gullies and mud puddles resulting in trail widening as users try to avoid the mud. Be prepared to get muddy. Trails were mostly clean with rare pieces of litter. Benches were available at viewpoints. *Hill Top Day Use lot Swing Donkey Trail Boomscooter Trail Unfit Settlement View Peavey Hook Bridle Way N. Caddywhomper Way. Trail update: In May 2023 we hiked from Welcome Center down road to Banks Vernonia trail to Hollie's Point of View Trail to Bumping Knots Loop. Many trees down. Some made the trails impassable for bicycles and horses. Horses have been causing damage by going around obstacles. We were able to get through on foot. Trails are gravel or dirt. They are steep and rough in places. There is a bench on Hollie's Point of View Trail, one on Bumping Knots Loop and one at the intersection. Signs are posted. Saw Canada Jays and...

We stayed in the Dairy Creek West portion of the park with some friends. I didn't get around much, so I cannot speak to the rest of Stub Stewart.

There is a large loop of camping spots. More than half seem to be RV spots, but there are still quite a few tent sites.

Where the tent sites are is a large field with most of the sites tucked in under the trees. Our sites were 2 of the 3 or 4 that are somewhat out away from the trees. When we were there it was in the 90's all three days, so the lack of shade at our site was rough.

The tent sites are large gravel pads with a picnic table which is not bolted down, and a fire pit. The picnic table being movable is nice because it gives you almost unlimited freedom to arrange your site. The picnic tables had an end which hung out away from the bench seats by about 4'. I believe this is to accommodate wheelchairs. For us it was just convenient to have the camp stove where it was not taking up space on the main part of the table.

There were two carts at our end of the field to carry stuff to and from your campsite. We were right next to the parking so we didn't need them, but we saw several other campers using them. I don't know if there were more at the other end or it was just those two.

They sell firewood at the campground. The other could that was with us bought it, so I don't know how much it was. We were able to have a fire while there and that was very nice.

The field has several water spigots sprinkled around which my 3 year old loved playing in.

Near the field was a building which can be rented for events. While we were there a Foursquare Church had their Sunday service in it. I didn't go into the building, but what I saw from outside was nice.

There are heated bathrooms in a concrete building at one end of the field, and there is a slightly larger bathroom building on the upper part of the loop. The bathrooms were pretty clean. They were too hot during our stay, but I imagine the heat would be very welcome during the cooler months. The only other complaint I have is the hand dryers. They don't provide paper towels or anything else which is fairly common for campgrounds, but the hand dryer is extremely loud. It was a little embarrassing going to the bathroom in the middle of the night because how much noise drying your hands makes.

Stub Stewart is supposed to have showers, but I never saw them. They may not be in the Dairy Creek West area, or I might have just missed them in the upper...

My wife and I stayed in the hike-in section this last weekend. The actual hike in section where you have to bring your gear about 1/3 of a mile down a fairly steep hill, then up another one. Plan accordingly if you're one of those campers that likes to bring everything including the kitchen sink.... I was aware of this, and it's why I actually picked the spot. My wife wanted to get into backpacking, and I figured this would be a good first step. We brought all our gear in our packs.

Onto what the park was like.... So in our section, there was only one pit toilet available for all 20 or so spots in our section. It was 90 degrees every day, just about all day... It got stanky in that outhouse.... Could have used a couple of cleanings throughout the day since it was the only one in the entire section open.

In our section, not all campsites are created equal. #9, the site we stayed in, was built on the side of a slope, and there's zero level ground anywhere. The picnic table was downhill, the pad for the tent was downhill, and i still sit with a lean, three days after we got home.

In the area our site was in, the trees are pretty small, so you don't get much relief from the sun.

Outside of hiking and bike riding, there wasn't much to do here. No ponds, lakes, or creeks to cool off in the heat of the day. Nothing.

Onto the good... The park is beautiful! Loads of hiking and biking trails that are in excellent shape. We hiked probably ten miles total and hardly scratched the surface of what there is around there. That's how big the park is! Since our section was foot traffic only, the wildlife was abundant. Loads of birds, saw a handful of deer, and squirrels. Mosquitos were also out in droves, so be ready for those! It was also quiet in this section. Made for easy times falling asleep. The water was delicious! Being a backpacker, a highlight of any trip is always good water. And the wells here didn't disappoint.

If you're a minimalist camper, that wants to just lounge around or hike the grounds, then the hike in section may be for you. Do your homework though and make sure you get...