The farmlands of Polk County have a rich farming history that dates back generations. In the 1930s, for instance, the region around Salem was dubbed the "Hop Center of the World" and was once the United States' largest hop-producing county.
You'll still see hop plants dotting the region today—but the self-guided Great Oaks Food Trail brings together the region's best growers, eateries, markets, and more to offer a one-of-a-kind introduction to the region's agricultural past and present. So if you're interested in hitting the road and enjoying a taste of Polk County, here's how to make the most of your time along the Great Oaks Food Trail.
The Great Oaks Food Trail is a self-guided tour that covers nearly 50 farms, markets, eateries, breweries, vintners, and producers across the heart of the Willamette Valley.
At those stops, you'll see a variety of crops—including:
How you enjoy those crops is up to you: Pluck them at U-pick farms, enjoy them in craft beers and wines, visit farmers markets for snacking later on, or savor the flavors at restaurants around the region. And the self-guided nature of the tour means you can explore the stops at your own pace—as many or as few as you'd like, whenever you'd like.
The Willamette Valley food trail is west of Salem—with stops in communities such as Willamina, Amity, Dallas, Monmouth, and Independence.
Driving between Willamina (the westernmost community along the Great Oaks Food Trail) and West Salem (the easternmost community) takes about 30 minutes; driving from the trail's northern edge in Amity to its southern border near Monmouth, meanwhile, takes about 25 minutes via Route 99W.
If you're driving the food trail's two-lane highways and country backroads, learn more about exploring Route 99W in the heart of the Willamette Valley.
Salt Creek Cider House crafts small-batch ciders from farm-grown ingredients near the community of Dallas.
Xicha Brewing hosts three locations in the Willamette Valley—two in the Salem area and one in Eugene.
A variety of outstanding craft breweries line the Great Oaks Food Trail. Gilgamesh Brewing, for instance, has used locally grown blueberries, hazelnuts, pumpkins, mint, and more in its various beers over the years. And in West Salem, Xicha Brewing is the only Latino-owned brewery in Oregon—serving easy-drinking ales and lagers alongside Latino cuisine.
Of course, you'll find plenty of farms along the trail. Make some furry friends at Wings & a Prayer Alpacas, home to roughly 60 animals; pick apples, peaches, berries, and cherries at Perryhill Farm in Dallas; and grab a variety of locally produced goods—including meat, eggs, produce, and honey-at Bare Farms near Willamina.
If you want to see what local restaurants do with that farm-fresh fare, bring an appetite to filling restaurants along the food trail:
Blue Raeven Farmstand has been a Willamette Valley mainstay since 1987. (Photo by Joey Hamilton)
The Independence Hotel hosts a rooftop fire pit on the shores of the Willamette River in the community of Independence, OR. (Photo by Joey Hamilton)
You could spend a whole weekend traveling the Great Oaks Food Trail—sampling seasonal dishes, sipping world-renowned wine, and grabbing snacks for the road at local farmers markets.
If you decide to extend your stay and make a weekend out of it, you'll find a trio of popular lodgings along the trail. Those include:
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