Find the top rated birding trails in Astoria, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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This easy, twisting, smooth, well-maintained asphalt trail meanders through wavy, grass covered sand dunes along the longest, flattest beach in the United States. To say this ride is beautiful is an understatement. The views are awesome, and the art, historical markers, and other information along the trail greatly enhance the enjoyment.
We traveled all the way from SoCal to experience this and to check off another state in our quest to bike all fifty, so we have especially fond memories of our September 2013 morning on the Discovery Trail. To make a day of it, consider visiting the nearby lighthouses and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center!
In September of 2013 my wife and I biked the Astoria Riverwalk from end to end. For a couple of newly retired southern California teachers, it was our first out of California bike ride. (We're determined to bike in all fifty states, and this trail got us off to a good start.)
We had to dodge the occasional walker, trolley, car, dog walkers, deal with some treacherous gaps in boards, and even a brief shower, but the joys of the ride far outweighed some minor inconveniences.
There are wonderful and spectacular views of the Columbia River, clean air, charming Astoria architecture, seals, wild blackberries, a coast guard base, history galore, and the piece de resistance: the Columbia River Maritime Museum where we parked our bikes and spent a couple of hours.
It's a short, flat, easy, scenic, historical experience perfect for families and/or those who like to travel at a leisurely pace.
We were inspired to ride this trail thanks to an article in an issue of Rails To Trails magazine several years ago, and we were not disappointed. It was definitely a morning well spent!
This trail was built with love, over a long period of time, with multiple users intended. The trail is a connection between small towns with rich historical value. This trail project is intended to be continue reaching onward to Scappoose and potentially other towns looping back to Portland then completing the loop back to Banks or continuing toward the coastal communities and then returning to the original beginning as funding and land rights are available. The project will continue to grow with interest and self sustaining interest and ideas. These ‘Trails’ have done a great job of making themselves friendly for multiple users, from families spending a few hours outside seeing how rich our coastal mountains (even our own rain forests) to the most serious bike riders to weekend horseback riding beginners or highly organized groups. If you can walk your going to enjoy the time you spend on this trail. If you want to start at the beginning, middle or end of this trail you will be able to see why the pioneers would risk the lives of the entire family to come start new lives. I would suggest that you take the time to gather the free information available before you get going on this trail. Having even the basic information you can begin a conversation that will spark the interest of the most aloof people. Looking into the areas historical background would add photos of logging that are hard to imagine! Some of the logs cut and moved with old fashioned people power and horses! Imagine what it would be like to move fallen trees to the trains, using only the simplest of tools will amaze young and old alike. A picture is worth a thousand words and still doesn’t even begin to come close to what you’re able to see with even a few historical photos and stories in hand. Being able to see how much hard work was done by prior generations and how carefully the land has been managed by our past generations is quite humbling. (I have seen some photos where the photographer tried to explain how the horses & wagons with men standing on top of the horses wouldn’t fill the the trees vertically or horizontally) Locally owned logging companies go to great lengths to re-planet and insure the health of the new trees, leaving a variety of trees still standing during each cutting. Making the least known impact on every new section cut. Creating a rapidly filled new habitat and limiting the impact of heavy equipment. Longview Fiber has ownership over much of the land on the PNW trail areas between Banks & Vernonia. They have been eager to demonstrate best practices of land management, wood and wood products/byproducts and the operations used in creating new products. They also have information available to interested audiences. I agree that going along a trail and then bursting out into the middle of a clear cutting area isn’t beautiful. These areas are designed to provide the best recovery possible for the next set of trees, they are watched over, carefully cared for, trimmed and thinned. They grow quickly and within 10 years walking through the area the only thing you might notice is almost all the trees are the same age. I dreaded the time when the property adjacent to mine would be clear cut. After many years of watching the process and reading the most recent documents in best case scenarios I learned how much care Longview Fiber provides for the property they own and manage. I was also surprised at the public access they allow, not if they have a active cut happening for obvious safety reasons. Take the time to review the information from many angles. Find a solution to the abuse of paper products just used in USA. It is truly a complex problem The history and information available for this trail is interesting and telling of how the PNW came to life and provided a living for hard working families
Very scenic ride but trail at times very rough. Needs work!
I was very excited about this trail last year when I first discovered it. That Fall, I attempted to ride and wiped out on one of the many slippery bridges. This summer I was back and astonished at how much the asphalt in many areas is rutting, crumbling, and breaking apart. I mean really dangerous! The Stubbs Stewart section is in great shape however. But what really turned me off, is the aggressive logging and clear cutting taking place along many sections of the trail. The logging vehicles even share the trail. I bike rails to trails like this to get away from these sad destructive scenes, but no longer can you on this trail - it is in the Oregon culture as one native told me. I will not be coming back!
Used to ride this trail very regularly but no more. The past couple years it’s seen a serious decline. Very rough, rutted and bumpy. How do you acquire potholes in a bike/walking trail?!?
It has been a couple of years since I hit this trail with my road bike and I was pretty amazed and a little disappointed at the lack of maintenance. It is a beautiful trail with fairly easy grades and nice shade. I did the entire length of 42 miles from Banks to Vernonia and back, approximately 2 1/2 hours. The issue is the heaving of asphalt which on a road bike is jarring, to the point of being dangerous if you are in the shade and don't see it coming. On a fat tire bike, not so much. Again, it could be a great trail, but the state or whoever is responsible needs to spend a dime, i.e., our tax dollars, and get it in better shape. Thank you!
Did the entire trail in one ride starting in Banks on a hot day, so all the trees were nice. As mentioned the trail starts a steady incline at about 5 miles and continues for the next 7 or so. Pretty rough in a number of places. The bridges mentioned in the trail description are pretty much all a couple inches higher than the trail which means a pretty sizeable bump up/down. The bad spots are marked with orange paint but you need to pay attention. I found the Stubbs State Park to be pretty easy to miss, could be because you need to climb another hill to get up to it and I wasn't that motivated by that point. The downhill section on the return trip to banks was great, but with the rough trail and bridges pay attention. Overall I am not a big fan.
This is a nice scenic beach trail to ride. It is very well kept and maintained.
On Saturday 7/14 I rode from Pe Ell to South Bend. Then on Monday 7/16 my wife drove me from South Bend to Pe Ell and I rode from Pe Ell to Chehalis.
I love this trail! There are certain sections I would not recommend to the casual rider at this time.
Around Frances and through to Willapa there are several sections where the trail has mostly succumbed to blackberries. At times I picked my feet up on my crossbar and glided through. But other times I had to get out and walk, picking my way slowly and carefully through the thorns for a long, long time. There is at least 2,000 feet of trail like this (at least!).
In Lebam, at Robertson Road, it is incredibly easy to lose the trail. It picks up again right across the road but it is so overgrown that it is almost invisible. According to reports there is a bridge out and you have to take a detour (but alas the detour is not obvious at all). So, what you do is follow Robertson Road to the right of the trail for about 1/2 mile (guessing at the distance) and then take the first trail-like thing you see on your left into the woods. This should get you back on the trail. There are no signs! I biked around Lebam for about 5 miles before I found it. I also discovered later that if I zoomed wayyyy in on Google maps I could see the trail and the detour as well. I hope this saves other people some time and frustration.
Between Pe Ell and Frances there are several railroad trestles without decking. Don't try to ride across these as some of them have ties that are severely rotted and have mostly disintegrated. This bears repeating from the trail description. If I recall correctly the third or fourth trestle out of Pe Ell toward Frances was in the worst condition. The first couple of trestles out of Pe Ell were actually fine but very, very bumpy! The trestles are breathtaking for the natural beauty around them and for the fact that you are wayyy up above the ground on some of them.
I also rode through nettle patches and lots of long, long grass west of Frances.
In Raymond the trail closes and sent me off on a detour to the right. I went to the right then turned left crossing the street (Hwy 101). Once you cross Hwy 101, head back toward the trail you left off - but don't take the first trail to your right. It looks really nice but will lead you to a scenic dead end in a mile or two. Instead, bike along Hwy 101 and the trail will reappear before you.
With all that said, I can't express how beautiful this trail is. It was a great adventure and absolutely worth the effort. For a casual ride, I would recommend starting at Adna and heading west for about 10 miles. The trail is either paved or fairly smooth dirt & gravel for that part. As you get closer to Pe Ell in either direction the gravel gets deeper and wider tires are a big plus. On two-inch tires I found myself swimming around a bit on certain portions.
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