Oregon: Willamette Valley's Scenic Bikeways | Bike Tour

Day 1: We meet in Portland, OR at 2:30pm for a rental bike fitting. We’ll have an orientation at 5:00 pm, followed by dinner. If you arrive in Portland early, be sure to explore the world-famous Powell’s City of Books in downtown’s Pearl District, or hike around Mt. Tabor Park, a wooded tract that sits on an extinct volcanic cinder cone and offers majestic views of Mount Hood. 

The city is also beloved for its rose gardens, which should be in full bloom in June. Follow the sweet smell to Washington Park’s International Rose Test Garden and the Peninsula Park Rose Garden. 0 miles.

Day 2: We shuttle northwest of Portland to the historic timber town of Vernonia.  Here we start our Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway trek by hopping on the car-free Banks-Vernonia State Trail, Oregon’s first traffic-free rail-to-trail. Savor the shade and scent of Douglas-firs and western red-cedars and cross more than a dozen old bridges and trestles that line the path.

When the trail ends in Banks, the bikeway continues on quiet Tualatin Valley roads to our overnight destination of Forest Grove, a college town whose historic streets have been featured in film and TV productions. 37 miles +923’/-1353’.

Day 3: Say so long to the Tualatin Valley and hello to the Willamette Valley, whose rich, fertile soils nurture a diverse range of crops, from Christmas trees, berries, and hay to tree fruits, vegetables, and world-class wine grapes -- especially Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

You’ll see the agricultural diversity on today’s ride. You can experience some of the bounty firsthand, at an optional wine tasting before dinner. 28 miles, ±1956’.

Day 4: Today’s ride is almost entirely devoted to the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway, where our eyes will feast on more farmland and wineries. Along the way, we’ll skirt Willamette Mission State Park, where the first mission for Native Americans was established in 1834, and spin through Salem, the state capital.

The route concludes in Independence, a small city with big pioneer history, a hops-growing legacy, and a 30-block stretch of downtown listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There will be plenty of time to roam, so consider a round-trip crossing of the Willamette River via the popular Buena Vista Ferry. Dinner is on your own. 52 miles ±1065’.

Day 5: We'll start the day with the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway, then take a leisurely detour as we approach the Scio area, where we’ll want to be camera-ready for three charming covered bridges coming our way. Built in the 1860s and 1930s, these structures were designed to protect the wooden trusses they covered from slowing rot and decay brought on by Oregon’s ample rainfall, and reinforced the underlying bridges. We’ll settle into Lebanon for the night. 58 miles, +1214’/-1040’.

Day 6: Let’s say farewell to the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway, and then follow the Willamette River via a bike path to our riverside hotel in Eugene. If you’re a runner, you know Eugene as TrackTown; if you’re a movie buff, you might remember it as the filming location for the 1978 classic, Animal House. Whatever the connection, it’s a fun place to hang. 45 miles +1313’/-1245’.

Day 7: The Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway is our third and final bikeway of the week, and includes a pleasant loop around Dorena Lake. Expect views of the tree-covered foothills of the Cascades to emerge, and, as the name suggests, more historic covered bridges. The most famous, the Dorena Bridge, is a popular spot for wedding photos.

We’ll stay the night in Cottage Grove, where many films have been produced, including Buster Keaton’s The General in 1926 and Stand by Me in 1986. We’ll celebrate Oregon’s bikeway splendor at our final group dinner tonight. 50 miles +2157’/-1920’.

Day 8: After breakfast, we will shuttle back to the Portland airport and train station, arriving by noon. Hope to see you again soon! 0 miles.