L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park sits in Oregon's Coast Range about 35 miles west of Portland, offering 159 sites across tent, RV, primitive, and cabin options. Sites in Dairy Creek West and East run up to 63 feet long with full hookups, while walk-in sites provide a more primitive experience. The park charges $5–7 per night and stays busy on summer weekends, so reserve early.
L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park offers a diverse range of camping accommodations, including standard full hookup sites for RVs, tent camping sites, walk-in sites, primitive hike-in sites, equestrian sites, and cabins.
Historical Significance
The park connects to the Banks-Vernonia State Trail, a linear park following an old railroad corridor from Oregon's logging era. The landscape has been restored from industrial timber monoculture, though this transformation is ongoing rather than complete.Weather and SeasonsSummer delivers the driest conditions, with daytime highs in the mid-60s to upper-70s °F and cool nights in the mid-40s to mid-50s °F. Trails dry out, making it the best season for mountain biking and multi-day trips. Winter brings rain and mist that turns trails muddy. Reviewers mention needing to prepare for wet conditions. Mosquitoes are a problem in warmer months, and multiple visitors flag this in their reviews.
ElevationThe park's rolling terrain creates diverse microclimates and varied hiking experiences throughout the property.
Natural Features and SceneryThe campground is part of the 1,654‑acre L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park, set on a **forested hillside** in the northern Oregon Coast Range near Buxton[1][3][4]. The landscape combines **dense Douglas‑fir and mixed conifer forests**, meadowlands, and rolling hills at roughly 760–800 feet elevation[3][6][7]. Canyons, small creeks, and seasonal streams cut through the terrain, creating shaded gullies and varied topography[1][4][6]. Open meadows and viewpoints offer **expansive views of the Coast Range foothills** and surrounding forested ridges, particularly from Hilltop Day‑Use and various trail vantage points[4][5]. In spring, the park’s fields and forest edges are noted for **abundant wildflowers**, making that season visually distinctive[2]. The nearby Banks–Vernonia State Trail adds a scenic corridor of second‑growth forest and a dramatic **200‑foot railroad trestle suspended about 80 feet above the forest**, accessible to cyclists and walkers from the park area[5]. Overall, campers describe the setting as a mix of accessible, developed camping loops set among rolling, wooded hills with easy access to more secluded forest and canyon environments.[2][4][6][9]
Geological RegionDiscover the natural splendor of Oregon's Central Valleys Region, where the northern Coast Range creates a stunning tapestry of wooded hillsides and meadowlands. This distinctive geological setting, shaped by millennia of natural forces, offers visitors a chance to explore one of the Pacific Northwest's most characteristic landscapes, where coastal mountain forests meet rolling valleys in perfect harmony.
Scenic Views"Great view of the rolling hills turning into the Coast Range" and "spectacular stargazing opportunities" are emphasized in user reviews.
Lodging & AccommodationsThe park includes 15 cabins, three of which are pet-friendly, located in the Mountain Dale Cabin Village. Cabins are well-insulated, heated, and suitable for year-round use. Three cabins are pet-friendly.