The Willamette Valley may be considered Oregon Wine Country—but our offerings extend far beyond what we grow and pour. Across the region, you’ll find memorable outdoor activities, including a wide range of hikes, that will take you through bucolic forests, past the Willamette River, and alongside our region’s wildlife.
Outdoor adventure should be available to every ability. We know our visitors with different mobility needs—and those who use extra equipment to recreate, such as wheelchairs or strollers, need more information about which adventures might be a good fit. That’s why we at the Willamette Valley Visitors Association have teamed up with Trailkeepers of Oregon and Access Recreation to visit a number of trails near Salem, McMinnville, and Wilsonville—all near the northern edge of the region— to assess and document accessibility information on each trail so all visitors can better understand what to expect in terms of parking, restrooms, and trail features.
You can find a thorough list of accessible hikes in the Willamette Valley on OregonHikers.org—look for trails noted by a purple-and-white “A” icon—but we’ve brought together our five favorites. Here’s a look at a handful of hikes (and information about the accessibility of each) to help inspire your next epic outdoor adventure.
Molalla River State Park sits where its namesake channel flows into the Willamette River—not far from the communities of Canby and Wilsonville in Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory. There, the 2.5-mile Molalla River State Park Hike gains about 95 feet of elevation while offering forested river views and heading through stands of willow and Oregon ash.
Along the way, you’ll enjoy bluff-top views of the Molalla River below, Mount Hood rising above the treeline, and a variety of wildlife—including red-tailed hawks and bald eagles. In autumn, groves of cottonwood and maple trees light up the forest with dazzling fall foliage displays—turning whole stretches of the trail yellow, red, and orange for a few weeks every October.
Visitors will find two wheelchair-accessible parking spots in the paved lot at the trailhead. From there, users may find occasional potholes, roots growing on the path, and short slopes with grades of up to 7.5% on the trail—whose surface is a mix of dirt, gravel, and grass. The first 0.4 miles of the trail have the most accessible features, while obstacles make it challenging for wheeled users from that point forward. Get more accessibility information for the Molalla River State Park Hike.
The 2.1-mile Baskett Butte Loop Hike sits on Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge and offers something to marvel at in all four seasons—all just 14 miles west of Salem.
In winter, visitors can watch for thousands of dusky Canada geese that spend the season in the quiet refuge; bald eagles, soaring ospreys, and black-tailed deer are also refuge residents. All year long, highlights include stands of old-growth oak trees—once among the most common trees in the Willamette Valley—and views of the Oregon Coast Range to the west. In all, the hike gains about 260 feet of elevation.
One of the trail's most marvelous wonders is the Fender's blue butterfly, which was once thought to be extinct—but was rediscovered in 1989 by a local science teacher. The rare insect, noted for its deep blue hue, can be viewed on Baskett Butte between late May and early June—usually on overcast or sunny days, when it's most likely to take flight.
The path surface is packed gravel for about 0.2 mile, dirt and grass for the next 0.7 mile, and gravel for the rest of the way. All trail users follow a gravel trail between the trailhead and viewpoint. Elevation gains are modest and infrequent, but occasional obstacles include a few buried logs and roots growing onto the trail. Get more accessibility information for the Baskett Butte Loop.
Get a look at the natural beauty of the Willamette Valley from along the Harvey Creek Loop Hike a short drive from Newberg. Views from along the 1.6-mile trail include stands of oak, springtime wildflowers (including yellow flatweed, pink purslane, and the white-and-yellow ox-eye daisy), big-leaf maple trees (which turn yellow, red, and orange every October), and nearby Cascade peaks—including Mount Jefferson. Keep an eye out along the way for grave sites of emigrants that date back to the mid-1800s. Note that the trail gains about 350 feet along the way.
Keep in mind that the trail is a loop amidst a network of several interconnected footpaths; it may be helpful to have the Harvey Creek Loop Hike description printed out or on your mobile phone to help with navigation.
The Harvey Creek Loop Hike is considered difficult due to an occasionally steep grade, rocky surfaces, and a narrow trail at various points. Gates at the starting point and ending point measure 35 inches wide, and dappled lighting—created by a thick forest canopy—can create some difficulties for users with visual impairments during times with less daylight. Get more details on accessibility along the Harvey Creek Loop Hike.
The 3.9-mile Guadalupe Loop Hike is unique among Willamette Valley hikes in that it heads through a forest at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Trappist Abbey near Carlton and Dundee.
Once visitors take care to speak quietly and silence their cell phones, they're transported into a contemplative state while walking through a forest of oak, Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, and big-leaf maple. Occasional views of the Oregon Coast Range and the surrounding Yamhill Valley appear through the brush, and wildflowers—including the purple-hued meadow checkermallow—line portions of the trail in spring. Note that dogs are not permitted on the Abbey's trails.
Wheelchair users will find two accessible spots at the trailhead's upper parking lot (which serves the guesthouse). The trail itself comprises a variety of natural surfaces—including dirt, gravel, bark chips, and long stretches of heavy grass. Recent rains may render the trail muddy. The maximum trail grade is about 18%, most sections of the trail have been found to be about 10% grade, and there are sustained uphill and downhill stretches near the beginning and end of the trail. With an elevation gain of 815 feet, this trail could be difficult for users in wheelchairs. Get the full accessibility details for the Guadalupe Loop Hike.
Measuring 2.4 miles, the Keizer Rapids Loop Hike gains a modest 55 feet while passing numerous viewpoints that provide a quiet escape from the bustling cities of Salem and Keizer nearby. One of the trail's highlights is its namesake rapids in the Willamette River, but the entirety of the trail offers a sense of calm while heading through a forest of grand fir and Douglas fir.
The first mile each way is paved, almost wholly flat, and wheelchair accessible; at that point, the trail surface turns to dirt and is not recommended for wheelchair users. On the paved path, meanwhile, the maximum slope is 4%. Two designated wheelchair-accessible spots are available in the paved parking area at the trailhead. Get more accessibility details for the Keizer Rapids Loop Hike.
