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Cyclists love Oregon, and the scenic wine country roads of the Willamette Valley make McMinnville, Oregon a prime destination for road cycling enthusiasts. Set a route for a bike ride through winding back roads for breathtaking vineyard views. Head west to pedal the hills of the Coast Range along the Nestucca River. Or, ride a relaxing loop from McMinnville to other charming wine country towns. Then return to McMinnville for rest, relaxation and a good meal.
Watch the Dustin Klein video of this ride: Will Travel For Gravel
Enjoy a mix of adventure and civilized gravel in this loop starting and ending in McMinnville’s historic downtown. Views, unexpectedly awesome Mirkwood-style forests, a few climbs, and a fantastically fun experience await you on this challenging ride into the Coast Range.
Get a taste of the McMinnville American Viticulture Area (AVA) on this easy loop from Tommy’s Bike Shop near historic 3rd Street. Expect a few hills and outstanding wine country views with potential stopping points at Youngberg Hill Vineyards & Inn, Yamhill Valley Vineyards, and Coeur de Terre Vineyards.
A unique visitor to McMinnville Wine Country, the “Erratic Rock” is a 90-ton rock deposited during an Ice Age flood on the top of a hill – from which you can enjoy amazing valley views. This 18 mile out-and-back easy/moderate ride will also take you to historic McCabe Chapel and past Yamhill Valley Vineyards, the oldest winery in the region.
After exploring the Evergreen Museum (home of Howard Hughes’ famed Spruce Goose!), discover the scenic Grand Island area southeast of McMinnville. This long, moderately difficult country ride will take you through lush, rolling farmland with a stop in historic Dayton.
This is a flat 31-mile route from McMinnville east to the fertile Grand Island area near the Willamette River. After a short lap across the farmland, retrace your path, head for downtown Dayton and a return to the Evergreen museum. While most roads do not have shoulders, traffic is light across most of the route.
Named after the Muddy Creek that flows through the area, this route takes you into the heart of the McMinnville American Viticulture Area (AVA). Stop in at wineries like Maysara to learn their history, or just enjoy the slight hills (and views) of the rolling vineyards.
Enjoy a pleasant 37-mile ride through the McMinnville countryside, where you’ll roll past vineyards, creeks, and farmland views. Some moderate hills add to the challenge, and stops can be made at multiple winery locations and Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. End your ride in McMinnville’s Granary District, where Grain Station Brew Works will make sure you’re refreshed.
Road surfaces are good with rare exception. While most roads do not have shoulders, traffic is light across most of the route.
Not for the faint of heart – but definitely for the lover of dramatic climbs and coastal mountain scenery. Expect some gravel and a big elevation gain in the first half of the ride, followed by a more flat trip through the heart of Oregon wine country in the second half of your 40 mile excursion.
Spend the day exploring wine country by bike! This challenging ride with long, steep hills will wind you through some of the most beautiful parts of the Willamette Valley American Viticulture Area (AVA) with a stop halfway along the way in the city of Amity.
Perfect for those seeking a challenge and some scenery, this 28.5 mile loop starts with a climb up Meadowlake Road. Reward yourself with some stellar views as you coast down the remaining 2/3, and really treat yourself with a baked goodie at Carlton Bakery afterwards. You’ve earned it.
Long smooth climbs, plenty of gravel, and gorgeous forest and lake scenery await you on this ride. Looping around the McGuire Reservoir, the lake that provides the city of McMinnville with water, you’ll get the full Coast Range forest experience.
With road names like High Heaven, you know what’s coming: great climbs, and even better views. This short loop starts and ends at Ed Grenfell County Park – a great place to relax and BBQ with friends after your rewarding ride.
Start and finish this scenic loop of paved and low-traffic gravel roads in historic Yamhill, childhood home of Beverly Cleary. This quick ride offers bucolic views of farmland before heading up a short, punchy climb up to rare oak savannah uplands. A gentle but fun descent on gravel twists past vineyards back to town where refreshing food and beverages await.
Ride Courtesy of Mac Cycling Club
Start and finish this scenic loop in historic Yamhill, childhood home of Beverly Cleary. With some of the finest gravel riding the Coast Range foothills has to offer, you’ll be treated to dense forests, open hilltops, sublime gravel roads, steep climbs, and one of the best downhills in Yamhill County. Don’t let the ride length fool you, either; it’s only 40 miles but satisfies like a much bigger ride.
A premium gravel adventure that is a perfect way to beat the summer heat! Ramble through a slice of history on the Trask Toll Road, and don’t forget the shuttle back after your hard work.
Start in Yamhill County wine country and end up at the Pacific Ocean for an amazing adventure through Oregon’s Coast Range. A solid Metric Century with 5K’ of climbing (and descending!), this is the ride to escape the summer heat. After getting your fill of lush coastal forest, you’ll end within sight of Oregon’s famous Haystack Rock but don’t worry, you don’t have to turn around and pedal back: you can save your legs by taking a shuttle to McMinnville.
Starting and ending right in downtown McMinnville, this quick jaunt takes you from the local bike shop and returns you to local beers. It is heavy on reward with a low-traffic, paved climb and fast gravel descents, taking you quickly into the scenic farmland for which Yamhill County is famous.
Start and finish this classic Coast Range gravel ride in the vibrant town of McMinnville. The ride packs a punchy gravel climb that leads to premier logging road rambling through quiet forests. This loop can be done in either direction (try both and see which one you like best!).
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