Summer is magical time in Oregon Wine Country. Mild temperatures and endless sunshine encourage you to take advantage of life's simple pleasures—and what those simple pleasures look like is entirely up to you.
If food and wine brought you to the Willamette Valley, kick back on tasting-room patios with an award-winning glass of Pinot Noir, find farm-fresh fare at local farmers markets, and see how creative chefs work the bounty of the region into their seasonally driven menus at popular restaurants.
If you're heading outdoors, your opportunities for adventure include flowy mountain bike trails, enchanting waterfall hikes, and easy walks in urban parks.
History buffs, meanwhile, love checking out our abundance of covered bridges.
Whatever adventure looks like to you, you'll find it here. Keep reading for 12 summer adventures you can only have in the Willamette Valley.
You have plenty of opportunities for guided tours throughout Oregon Wine Country—but few are as creative or scenic as Equestrian Wine Tours.
The Carlton-based outfitter leads a four-hour tour through the Red Hills of Dundee. Each outing includes plenty of time with your own Tennessee Walking Horses and stops at two of the Willamette Valley's most acclaimed wineries. For an added fee, you can enjoy wine tastings, snacks, or even lunch at each tasting room.
There are so many incredible waterfalls in Oregon, but did you know that you can see ten of them in one hike?!
The Trail of Ten Falls is located in Silver Falls State Park. It's a well-marked, 7.8-mile loop that includes options for a longer or shorter outing. The family-friendly trek lets you head behind four of those waterfalls and marvel at a handful that are more than 100 feet tall.
For overnight stays, FAQs, history, and other helpful information, check out our guide to Silver Falls State Park. And while you're there, scale one of the park's signature old-growth Douglas Fir trees through Tree Climbing at Silver Falls.
Head east from Eugene and up the McKenzie River for an afternoon—or a whole weekend—chockablock with outdoor adventures for travelers from all walks of life.
Our guide to outdoor recreation on the McKenzie River helps you plan an unforgettable adventure amidst the region's mossy forests and crystal-clear waters.
Hike to emerald pools and past thundering waterfalls, sit on a leafy patio while eating pub grub crafted with local ingredients, pitch your tent along the turquoise McKenzie River, and kick back after a day of adventure at a popular hot springs resort.
Willamette Valley growers produce more than 170 crops all year long, so you're never far from fresh, seasonal fare at local restaurants and markets.
Our guide to farm-to-table food experiences in the Willamette Valley breaks down the many ways you can connect with our top growers and develop a deeper connection with the region's lifeblood. Suggestions for a memorable trip include creative restaurants and eateries, farmers markets, boutique producers, farm tours, and self-guided tours.
For more, get a deeper dive into the Willamette Valley's world-class wineries, truffle foraging, and other fun food experiences on our Farm and Food page.
The arrival of spring and summer means the return of sunshine, baby animals being born, and—of course—fresh produce and U-Pick farms across the Willamette Valley.
Learn about the top U-pick farms in the Willamette Valley—where you can pluck fresh blueberries, juicy strawberries, tart raspberries, and a wide variety of fruits and veggies—including pears, cherries, tomatoes, and apples. (Check out our guide to growing seasons in the Willamette Valley to find out we grow—and when it's freshest.)
Many farms also host on-site markets, petting zoos, eateries, and other attractions that turn your U-pick adventure into a day full of fun.
Minto-Brown Island Park covers over 1,200 acres of forest, wetlands, and meadows—making it Salem's largest park and larger than Central Park in New York City.
Roughly 29 miles of hiking and biking trails crisscross the massive park, offering nine loops of varying lengths that hug the Willamette River; head into forests of fir, ash, and dogwood; and afford occasional views of local wildlife (including turtles and migrating waterfowl). If you'd like to hop in the saddle, rent a bike at The Bike Peddler in downtown Salem—or bring your own.
Learn more about why the park is a worthy side quest on your magical weekend in Salem.
Enjoy a retreat from city life, and get a feel for life on the farm at Leaping Lamb Farm in the Oregon Coast Range—less than 25 miles from Corvallis.
Stay overnight on the working farm—either in the farm cottage that sleeps up to six or a farmhouse that can house 10 guests. During your stay, you may choose to help with a variety of chores—like feeding chickens and other animals, collecting eggs, picking produce, and (when needed) bottle feeding baby goats. When the chores are done, take a stroll along on-site hiking trails, or cook a homemade breakfast with farm-fresh eggs.
While you're in the area, check out other rustic attractions throughout farm country near Corvallis.
Only being an hour or so away from the Willamette Valley, the Oregon Coast is a must visit place for the summer. The entire Oregon coast is amazing and you can't go wrong no matter where you go. If you're feeling ambitious, hike up to Marys Peak, the highest point in Oregon's Coast Range. If you are traveling from the McMinnville area a great place to start the road trip would be from Lincoln City and go down to Florence, Oregon making stops in between. Florence, Oregon is a perfect place to experience adventure in the sand dunes that stretch for 40 miles from the charming old town of Florence to Coos Bay. After exploring the coast you can take head to Eugene, OR to see more of the Willamette Valley!
The appropriately named Clear Lake is the headwaters of the McKenzie River in the heart of the Cascade Range—and offers plenty of summer fun.
Get on the water with a person-powered watercraft rental; options include rowboats for up to five and kayaks for up to two. If you'd rather stretch your legs, consider the 5.3-mile Clear Lake Loop Hike. Extend your stay with a night in one of the cabins or yurts at the rustic Clear Lake Resort.
If you're coming from Albany, check out five outdoor adventures around Albany—where you'll find waterfalls, national wildlife refuges, and other fun stops.
The Willamette Valley sits between two mountain ranges, making it a popular mountain biking destinations all summer long.
Choose among top-rated trails around Westfir and Oakridge in the Cascade Range, visit less-trafficked trails in Oregon's Old Cascade Crest, ride the fast and flowy McKenzie River National Recreation Trail, and ride the technical features at Alsea Falls near Corvallis.
Take a deep dive into the region's best trails with our guide to mountain biking around the Willamette Valley.
Hop in the saddle, strap on your helmet, and immerse yourself in the region's rolling hillsides, vineyards, and winding waterways along the 134-mile Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway.
In all, the officially designated scenic bikeway mostly follows the Willamette River while running north-south between Newberg (in the heart of Oregon Wine Country) and the northern edge of Eugene. Campgrounds and small towns offer overnight stays if you'd like to turn the ride into a multi-day outing—and plenty of access points make it easy to tackle shorter legs of the broader route.
For more on scenic bike rides, check out our guide to cycling in the Willamette Valley.
The Willamette Valley, steeped in history, is chockablock with covered bridges dating back decades. Many are still standing today and open to passenger vehicles and pedestrians.
Lane County, at the southern edge of the Willamette Valley, has more remaining covered bridges than any county west of the Mississippi River. Hop on your bike, and see them from the 36-mile Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway outside Cottage Grove.
To the north, a half-dozen covered bridges are outside Albany—and can be visited on a fun day trip through the Cascade foothills. We've included a few food stops and attractions to round out your adventure.
Article adapted from a piece by Katie and Alex Gensitskiy—known as That One Adventure Couple
