Oregon Coast and Willamette Valley Bike Tour
It was a great experience. We loved the challenge and being surrounded by the beautiful scenery. The guides were fun and easy to be around.
Wonderful, well designed trip. No worries, just have fun and enjoy beautiful roads, delicious food and make new friends. And get lots of exercise in too.
The natural beauty of the Oregon Coast needs no introduction. Formidable cliffs and “sea stack” rock outcroppings rise dramatically from countless miles of tranquil, sandy beaches. Once upon a time (decades ago, before the coast highway got busy with traffic) we ran a lot of bike tours here. And while Oregon has tried very hard to keep the route as pleasant as possible for cyclists, the hard truth is that this scenic road is a motorway first, and a bikeway second. On this tour we venture to give you the “Oregon Coast Experience” while staying off the busy highway. We connect coastal villages, beaches and vista points via inland river roads as we explore along the coast before heading inland to the lush Willamette Valley, a homesteader’s paradise, otherwise known as the end of the Oregon Trail. In the mid-19th century, it was the lure of this “Promised Land” that caused nearly a half a million people to risk their lives on a perilous journey, traveling over two thousand miles across the virtual unknowns of wild and rugged North America. Indeed, this one-hundred-mile-long valley of lush oaks, wild berries, hazelnuts, wild game, timber for homes, temperate weather, rivers for travel and crop irrigation, and rich agricultural lands proved to be true. More pioneers decided to settle here than anywhere else in what we now call the Pacific Northwest.
If you are looking to combine this tour with one of our other adventures, both the Columbia Gorge and Oregon Crater Lake tours make a great “pairings.” If you are eager to explore Portland by bicycle while you are in the area, we encourage you to check out our sister company, Cycle Portland’s offerings.
Itinerary
Day 01
Cycle inland on forested country roads to connect spectacular coastal viewpoints and beaches.
Meals
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Rockaway Beach Resort
Distance
44 miles (or less)
Elevation
+2,108 ft / -2,280 ft (or less)
Meet in Portland. Shuttle (about 1.5 hours) to begin cycling in Oregon’s Coast Range. Pedal inland valleys along the Nehalem River and a short section of Highway 101 up to the famous Neahkahnie Viewpoint before descending to the tiny, artsy town of Manzanita. Try and spot a snowy plover in Nehalem Bay State Park. Finish at Rockaway Beach – a sleepy coastal hideaway. Take a moment to stroll the open beach and contemplate the rocky sea stacks from your hotel, or check out the town’s Old Growth Nature Preserve, which showcases a 900-year-old western red cedar! Stay tonight at Rockaway Beach Resort.
Day 02
Say “Cheese!” - Ride the Three Capes Scenic Byway from Tillamook Creamery to Pacific City.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Inn at Cape Kiwanda
Distance
43 miles (or less)
Elevation
+3,280 ft / -3,232 ft (or less)
Shuttle (or pedal) to the hallmark of Pacific Northwest dairy producers, Tillamook Creamery, for a self-guided tour of its state-of-the-art facility. Pedal side roads through the region’s dairies before tackling the challenging Three Capes Scenic Byway. Pedal past Bayocean Peninsula’s “lost city” and over Cape Meares to its eponymous lighthouse. Sample locally harvested and infused salts at the Jacobson Salt Co. before lunch at Cape Lookout State Park. After one final climb through dense forest on quiet roads ride through the sand dunes of Sand Lake Recreation Area. Spend two nights at the Inn at Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City. Eat dinner tonight at Pelican Brewery, right on the beach with an epic sunset view.
Day 03
Go for a whale-watching hike with us in the morning and spend the rest of the day exploring the beach and Pacific City on your own.
Meals
– Breakfast
Lodging
Inn at Cape Kiwanda
Distance / Elevation
Hike: 4.7 miles · +772 ft / -778 ft. (Some exposed sections near the end of the hike.)
After breakfast, join us for a rewarding hike. Bring your binoculars! The trail along Cape Lookout’s towering cliffs is the best place in Oregon to spot gray whales without a boat. Back in town, there are great lunch and dinner options to check out on your own. Besides strolling the beach: you can ask your guide to book a whale-watching tour for you (not included); learn the fascinating story of Pacific City’s famous Dory Fleet, regard the lengthy list of famous shipwrecks which have occurred along this stretch of coast (and be thankful you are standing on dry land!); sample flights of beer at Pelican Brewery; walk up the nearby sand dunes at Cape Kiwanda; or cycle on your own (GPS device and route provided).
Day 04
Pedal from the pounding surf and dramatic cliffs of the coast to the prodigious and peaceful agricultural region of the Willamette Valley.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Douglas on Third
Distance
39 miles (or less, or more!)
Elevation
+3,476 ft / -2,910 ft (or less, or more!)
Today we will begin our day in Beaver, a short shuttle from the hotel. Pedal on quiet, forested Nestucca River Road over the crest of Oregon’s Coast Range and down into the Willamette Valley. Catch a few glimpses of local fisherman, likely chasing the region’s plentiful salmon or steelhead. After cresting over the range, we coast into an outstanding winery for a tasting (included) while we soak-in delicious views of the valley below. End your ride here, or pedal the remaining 15 miles into McMinnville, complete with a charming historic downtown district. Stay at Douglas on Third, a wonderfully restored boutique hotel in a historic building near the heart of town.
DAY 05
Cross the mighty Willamette River on a historic cable ferry as you traverse the valley on your way to Silverton.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Silverton Inn and Suites (or the Oregon Garden Resort)
Distance
52 miles (or less)
Elevation
+1,682 ft / -1,597 ft (or less)
Continue cycling east across the Willamette Valley toward the Cascade Mountain foothills. Pay homage to the power of nature (and the scientists who tracked down its story) in the form of a 90-ton boulder that “sailed” here in an iceberg from more than 500 miles away. Cross the mighty Willamette River – just like the settling pioneers did! – on the historic Wheatland cable ferry. Established in 1844, it is considered the oldest continuously operated ferry in Oregon. Enjoy lunch at the Willamette Mission State Park on the river. Spend tonight in Silverton at the Silverton Inn and Suites, (or the Oregon Garden Resort).
DAY 06
Cap off your tour with old growth rainforest, a wonderland of waterfalls, and a celebratory toast!
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
Distance / Elevation
Hike: 2.4 miles · +346 ft / -343 ft
Ride: 26 miles · +1,438 ft / -2,598 ft.
Shuttle to Silver Falls State Park after breakfast. Referred to by many as the “crown jewel” of the Oregon State Parks system, Silver Falls boasts the second highest concentration of waterfalls in Oregon (the Columbia Gorge is #1). Immerse yourself in old-growth rainforest ecology on a lovely hike (about 2 miles or so) to several waterfalls in this veritable wonderland before we saddle up for one last afternoon of riding. Descend from the cascade foothills via one of Oregon’s famous covered bridges and conclude your tour with a celebratory toast at the Mt. Angel Benedictine Brewery! The drive back to Portland takes about one hour from here.
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Bikes (See our Guest Info Packet for specific bike make and model.)
Have you been to Portlandia?
Our sister company, Cycle Portland, offers guided small-group bike tours exploring the vibrant city, bountiful breweries, or culinary wonders. The tours are a great way to explore the City of Roses before your bike tour begins, or after you’re out of the saddle.
Discover Portland by bike!