Explore the best rated trails in Kelso, WA. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Frenchman's Bar Trail and I-205 Multi-Use Path. With more than 37 trails covering 282 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Really nice trail that connects three parks. Decent enough tree cover on some to keep rain at bay.
I have ridden this trail three times now start to finish and it is hands down my favorite around. People complain because it's not paved the whole way but that is my favorite part. It's not all cookie cutter and neat, it is an adventure! 56 miles of the most beautiful scenery you have ever seen. I am going to ride it start to finish for the fourth time next weekend. Can't wait! If God rode, this would be His trail. 5 stars!
This trail and it's construction is nothing short of amazing. Yet the pictures on the Rails to Trails website tell it all. It is not being used. Maybe it is because people are afraid of the homeless encampments that you see or because it is next to a freeway. But the homeless encampments would be much less of a problem if there were more people on bikes utilizing the trail. This trail I am sure cost millions yet just a few people use it. Get out there people!
Stayed at cabins at mid trail…cabins are small and clean…showers/bathrooms close… though went at mid-day, the trees make the trail eerily dark, headed to Veronia first (~12 miles). Short distance to hilltop (switchbacks and short), then pretty flat. In Veronia, loop around lake. After back to mid-point from Veronia, all downhill, then flat. Huge open field is highlight here. Tressle was goal and cool, but overrated. From Banks (the return way) chunk is all uphill. At trailhead (downhill and fast from cabins), you then must make it back up to cabins which is ~half mile and pretty steep.. drained my battery…battery drained just short of coasting down into cabins. downhill into cabins.
Large numbers of homeless people live along this trail. The amount of used needles, human feces, and trash is incredible. It is not safe, and definitely not a family-friendly environment.
Rode from South Bend to past Raymond yesterday. There are lots of tree roots making it dangerous. Once you get past Raymond it is fairly smooth and asphalt for about a mile then it turns to gravel, which was much smoother riding. Trouble is after a couple of miles the trail is no longer navigable. All broke up with chunks in it. I wouldn’t hike it at that point. Why aren’t our tax dollars being used to keep it usable? Grays Harbor County and Lewis County deserve a better trail.
We started in South Bend and went as far as we could to Heckard Road. The trail comes to an end there. Past that point it is impassable on a bike. From South Bend to Raymond is very lumpy, close to dangerous. We crossed the highway in Raymond and the trail was pretty good even though it turned to gravel after a mile or so. The gravel was smooth. We wouldn’t do this trail again. We plan to try other sections.
The trail is currently closed beyond Capt Clark park while work is being completed on the National Wildlife Refuge. Length of trail is about 1.5 miles as of 8/22/22.
I read a lot of the reviews and some said the road was not paved well, pot holes etc…overall I felt the road was fine. All issues are clearly marked so you are aware of them. People are all respectful of others on the trail. We liked it so much we are doing it again tomorrow. It is fun, beautiful and we appreciated all the spots to stop along the way.
I rode the trail from Banks to Vernonia (21 miles one way) and back with some extra explorations for a total of 49 miles on a Trek Dual Sport. The trail is a beautiful trail migrating through the woods. It does have a long 7-mile uphill that starts about 5 miles into the ride, but it is not a serious grade. That said, my lady will tell you that it is uphill for a long time. There is one very serious switchback trek that is about a 10 percent grade. It can be done, and it is fairly short. Overall, getting to Vernonia was a good ride, but anticlimactic once I arrived. The best part of this ride is going through the woods. However, where I would probably give the ride a 4/5 rating, the condition of the path destroys much of the beauty. If you are not paying attention, you just might go down. The condition is dangerous especially on the 7-mile downhill. Why? Because a large portion of the path was done with chip seal. If you do not know what it is, see: https://www.bicycling.com/rides/a21074245/why-chip-seal-is-absolute-worst-surface-for-road-riding/
Beyond the horrible chip seal surface is the degradation of sections that have morphed into craters and potholes. If that is not bad enough, every bridge is between 2" and 6" higher that the path surface. If you do not brace yourself, good luck.
Bottom line, I am sad that the trail is listed as a must and one of the best in Oregon, but it does not warrant that billing in the present day condition.
One of our favorite trails! Some challenges (hairpin curves, occasional tree root cracks), mostly shady, wide cement path & goes into a park/lake/campground @ Vernonia, close to a grocery store for ice cream & rest before heading back!
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