Willamette Valley: A Promised Land 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.
In the mid-19th century, nearly a half a million people risked their lives to set out on a perilous journey, traveling over 2000 miles across the virtual unknowns of wild and rugged North America. The route, and the struggle, became known as The Oregon Trail. Their desire was fueled by rumors of a “Promised Land” on the other side of the continent. Oregon’s Willamette Valley was touted as a homesteader’s paradise – a 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. For those who survived the journey, the rumors proved true, and the Willamette lived up to its promises as a veritable “Eden.” More pioneers settled here than anywhere else in what we now call the Pacific Northwest.
Today’s Willamette Valley is synonymous with outstanding wines and beautiful wineries, making it the perfect location for a fantastic cycling adventure. Enjoy mild weather, open horizons, flat to rolling terrain, tranquil back roads, fresh local food, and cozy accommodations as you pedal across the valley from the Coast Range to the Cascade foothills.
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
For our first "taste" of the Willamette Valley, we cycle via Oregon's first rails-to-trails State Park to one of the area's noted wineries.
Meals
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Douglas on Third
Distance
46 miles (or less)
Elevation
+1697 ft / -1849 ft (or less)
Meet in Portland. Shuttle (less than an hour) to the town of Vernonia in the Coast Range to begin cycling on the first “rails-to-trails” state park in Oregon. After lunch you can choose to pedal or shuttle on to Willakenzie Winery for a tasting (included) before we shuttle into McMinnville for two nights at Douglas on Third – a wonderfully restored boutique hotel in a historic building near the heart of town.
Day 02
Forested foothills, bucolic farms, wineries and a mysterious rock are just a few of the things you will encounter on today's loop ride from McMinnville.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
Lodging
Douglas on Third
Distance
48 miles (or less)
Elevation
+2,200 ft / -2,200 ft (or less)
Pedal a loop from McMinnville into the forested foothills of the coast range (the morning hill climb is optional!) before descending back to the wineries in the valley. After lunch you can opt for a longer ride in the afternoon to visit the Brigittine Monks “Chocolate Factory,” or a shorter spin back to McMinnville to spend extra time at the breweries and wineries or just exploring this quaint historical town. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Day 03
Cross the mighty Willamette River on a historic cable ferry as you traverse the valley on the way to Silverton.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Oregon Garden Resort
Distance
40 miles (or less)
Elevation
+1,425 ft / -1,341 ft (or less)
Today we point ourselves east, across the valley toward the Cascade Mountains. Cross the mighty Willamette River with your bicycle on a historic Wheatland cable ferry and enjoy a picnic lunch at Willamette Mission State Park on the river. Spend the next two nights in Silverton at the Oregon Garden Resort, adjacent to 80 acres of gardens showcasing the diverse botanical beauty of the Willamette Valley and the Pacific Northwest (admission included).
Day 04
Immerse yourself in old-growth rainforest ecology and waterfalls on a hike at Silver Falls State Park.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Dinner
Distance
37 miles
Elevation
+3087 ft / -3087 ft (or less)
Pedal (or shuttle) to Silver Falls State Park. Known to many as the “crown jewel” of the Oregon State Parks system, it boasts the 2nd highest concentration of waterfalls in Oregon (the Columbia Gorge is #1). Have lunch on your own at the park café and immerse yourself in old-growth rainforest ecology on a lovely hike to as many as ten waterfalls in this veritable wonderland before deciding whether you want to pedal or shuttle back to the resort.
DAY 05
Savor more scenic and peaceful cycling on your way to Champoeg Heritage Area on the river. Celebrate with lunch and great local wine!
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
Distance
28 miles
Elevation
+518 ft / -674 ft
Cycle via one of Oregon’s famous covered bridges back to the banks of the Willamette River. We conclude our cycling after lunch at Champoeg State Heritage Area – the site of Oregon’s first provisional government until it was destroyed by a flood in 1861. The park recreates the landscape of pioneer times. On our way back to Portland we will stop at one of our favorite wineries for a celebratory toast.
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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!